At first, I wasn't sure about this 1927 mystery – the slow start almost made me put it down. But then, BAM! The plot twisted like a billiard ball ricocheting off the cushions. By the end, I was hooked harder than Anthony Bathurst on a fresh crime scene.

What really got me was how Flynn plays with classic tropes. You've got your country manor, your cricket week, even your Holmes-and-Watson duo (though Bathurst's smugness took some getting used to). But then he throws in that bizarre double-method murder – strangled AND knifed? Now that's what I call overkill!

The real magic happens in the billiard room scenes. Flynn describes that green-felted battlefield with such atmosphere you can practically smell the chalk and hear the balls clicking. When the big reveal came, my jaw actually dropped – and I'm someone who usually spots twists chapters ahead.

Perfect for: Classic mystery lovers who enjoy their murders served with a side of cricket and a dash of dry British humor. Not for: Readers who need constant action – this is more about the slow unraveling of clues over brandy in the library.

After finishing, I immediately downloaded three more Flynn novels. There's something special about discovering an author who's been forgotten for decades – it's like finding a secret passage behind a bookcase!