Here is a detective story in the classic tradition-a model detective story such as you would expect from an author who analysed Sherlock Holmes' methods while at Oxford.
Those who pick out books by Ronald Knox in the certainty of finding witty epigrams and brilliant writing will not be disappointed in his new detective novel. But more than that-they will find that Knox is one of those ingenious people who can still give a new twist to the detective story.
Who has ever before in the history of detection staged a murder in a Silo. What is a Silo, anyway? And what murderer has ever made a more baffling mistake than the unknown person who used the Silo for disposing of the body? A crime, certainly, that needs some explanation.
Yet it all sounds so simple when the author explains through the eyes of the insurance company's detective the exact nature of the murderer's mistake and how it came to pass.
Praise for Ronald Knox
"He introduces us to a most beautiful and original situation. All the qualities that delight us in his work are present here. The clues are marshaled with great care. An exquisite English style, many entertaining characters, and a wealth of witty comment on life and manners lend the true Knoxian savour to the feast of reason."
-DOROTHY L. SAYERS in Sunday Times."Here, again, he displays unusual ability in the construction of a mystery story replete with matter to puzzle and engross the reader. Here, also, as might be expected, is a thriller that is really well written, with a definitely convincing characterisation and a liberal flavoring of humour."
-Scotsman.