Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
This well-named golden age mystery is longer than the usual books of the type. Too long, I thought. Some of the long expositions could have been shortened, or deleted, such as the five pages explaining the science behind fingerprint identification in eye-glazing detail. The dialogue between Beale and his helpers kept me reading since it's snappy and realistic.
As with many of its ilk, there are maps of the area, but I felt one of them was not only a letdown, but misleading (railroad stations are mentioned more than once but the only indication on the map states "R.Station" but shows no tracks, so is that a railroad station? And which one?)
After the 32nd chapter the author challenges the reader to name the killer; those of us who cannot (or do it by guesswork alone) are thought to be "less intelligent." Sort of an arrogant statement. (My guess was wrong, but since I read so slowly, many of the clues were long forgotten by the time I reached chapter 33.)
As with many of its ilk, there are maps of the area, but I felt one of them was not only a letdown, but misleading (railroad stations are mentioned more than once but the only indication on the map states "R.Station" but shows no tracks, so is that a railroad station? And which one?)
After the 32nd chapter the author challenges the reader to name the killer; those of us who cannot (or do it by guesswork alone) are thought to be "less intelligent." Sort of an arrogant statement. (My guess was wrong, but since I read so slowly, many of the clues were long forgotten by the time I reached chapter 33.)
