A classic crime fiction novel from the 1930s. Picked up for a secret purpose.

Secret Purpose revealed! Thank you so much. Perfect choice :-)

Seven Dead by J Jefferson Farjeon - Good

Oops! This has been on TBR far too long as it was one of the books I won as part of the Tea and Mystery Sweep in 2017. My excuse is that I felt I needed to source and read Thirteen Guests beforehand as it was an earlier outing for the same Detective. I needn't have worried as, other than a couple of mentions, it didn't really matter.

It all starts with a very bad day for Ted Lyte when he burgles an empty house only to find seven bodies in a locked room. Luckily Detective Inspector Kendall is in the area training the local police and therefore is on hand to investigate, ably assisted by passing yachtsman Thomas Hazledean.

Originally published in 1939 there's a hint of pre-war paranoia about it, especially when the action moves to Boulogne and various shady characters hanging around.

Lots of strange twists and turns until the denouement and a slightly odd ending. Classic golden age crime.

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