Anthony Berkeley was a well known writer of detective fiction during the golden age (under different names) and the first president of the detection club. After hearing him name checked multiple times on the All About Agatha and Shedunnit podcasts I decided it was time to give him a try. This is a very pleasant read, where a dying man decides to benefit society before he goes by murdering an obnoxious person, only another is condemned for the crime and he now must prove that it was he who did it. The first section of the book is most enjoyable establing the modest and retiring character of Mr Todhunter and showing him making up his mind to murder and selecting a victim. I found the trial section a little less engrossing however the final section was back to the form of the earlier chapters. I also spotted the mechanism of a potential twist but the actual solution had me guessing to the end. Very readable and enjoyable, I'll look out for more by this neglected author. Oh - the cover of this edition does not do it justice... ( )

El señor Lawrence Todhunter, escrupuloso y atildado caballero inglés, oye de labios de su médico que una falla en el corazón lo llevará muy pronto a la tumba. Decide que antes de morir cumplirá una acción benéfica y útil, eliminará de la tierra a una persona perjudicial. Tras maduras reflexiones elige a su víctima y urde y ejecuta un crimen perfecto.

good editing would have brought it from B+ to solid A with cheers ( )

Fascinating conceit. Underwhelming execution. ( )

Trial and Error is a re-issue of Anthony Berkeley's 1937 novel. It fits fairly neatly into the 'classical puzzle' pigeon hole of crime fiction in that it's the mystery itself that takes centre stage, as opposed to the psychological elements that are more the hallmark of contemporary examples of the genre.

Mr Todhunter is a late middle aged fussy bachelor who, when given a diagnosis of a terminal illness, decides to commit a murder (as you do!). The first half of the story concerns his motivations (such as they are) for the murder and then the selection of his victim. It's a clever story and the puzzle is complex and satisfying, but I had to read this with increasing amounts of disbelief and frustration at its preposterousness. None of the characters or their behaviour were in any way believable and the fussiness and preciseness of the writing were another distraction.

A book for diehard officionardos of crime fiction only, I would suggest.

© Koplowitz 2013

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