Monday, September 5, 2016

The good taste of a classical crime novel

As much as I am keen to follow international conspirations and bloody viruses and eventually some Cold War intrigues, I offer myself once in a while the pleasure of a classical crime novel, well portioned and where you don't have to run thousands of miles while leaving corpses in pools of blood every single page, in just one single story. 
Margery Allingham, praised by Agatha Christie and an inspiration for many contemporary writers, among which J.K.Rowling, belongs to the Golden Age of crime writing. She died in 1966, but many of her books were republished regularly, such as her first successful novel, The White Cottage Mystery. The edition I was offered for review was published this year by Bloomsbury Publishing. 
A diabolic character is killed, and all the seven people present at the precinct of the crime do have more than one reason to do it? But are they entitled to? Everyone seems to have a secret to hide, but he, the evil one, knows it all and even more. He is using this knowledge to manipulate or play the game of psychological torture. Does any of his victims the right to kill him, though? The author's solution to an intricated labyrinth of confessions might seem deceiving, but in fact it develops the psychological topics professionally approached. 
What I personally appreciated at this book is the economy of details - the right word at the right time avoiding the fluffy logorrhea. Also called the art of good writing.
Recommended to anyone keen to fill an autumn afternoon with a good book.
Rating: 4 stars
Disclaimer: Book offered by the publisher in exchange of an honest review

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