R. Furneaux Jordan (1905–1978)

A disappointment. Razor-thin plot fleshed out with guest appearances by every late 19thC British artist you've ever heard of, with a few French Impressionists thrown in for good measure. Main female character psychologically unconvincing in the extreme, although, like the mangled models of the title, her physical assets are described in more-than-sufficient detail.

Characters very cleverly and entertainingly drawn, to the point where the mystery plot loses some urgency, but so what? A rich slice of English life in the Golden Age of crime fiction.

Wonderful, highly recommended minor crime novel with an excellent twist. BUT (and it's a big but) with one of the worst reissue covers of all time. Quite frankly the whole twist is given away by the front cover design of the seventies version of the book. I knew exactly what was coming because of the cover. So be careful if you ever see this one in a shop - look for the spine, grab it, take it to the counter with your eyes firmly closed and then find some brown paper for a loved one to show more disguise the cover with. Then once you've read it and enjoyed it (far more than I did because you won't see the twist galloping over the horizon) then remove said brown paper and boggle at the stupidity of the design staff at Arrow books circa 1974. show less

Readable; you learn the essentials. I read this for a design class while on tour with a dance group. I could pick it up after a long day and still be intrigued. The illustrations are informative and plentiful, and well placed within the text flow.