Description

An enthralling lockedroom murder mystery inspired by crime fiction of the Golden Age Death and the Conjuror is the debut novel by acclaimed shortstory writer Tom Mead In 1930s London celebrity psychiatrist Anselm Rees is discovered dead in his locked study There seems to be no way a killer could have escaped unseen There are no clues no witnesses and no evidence of the murder weapon Stumped by the confounding scene the Scotland Yard detective on the case calls on retired stage magician turned parttime sleuth Joseph Spector Spector has a knack for explaining the inexplicable but even he finds that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye As he and the Inspector interview the colourful cast of suspects they uncover no shortage of dark secrets or motives for murder And when a second murder occurs this time in an impenetrable elevator they realize the crime wave will become even more deadly unless they can catch the culprit soon
A sharply drawn period piece Lockedroom mysteries shine best with memorable characters which is one of Meads strengths NEW YORK TIMES