George Sims (1923–1999)

I enjoyed this one from Sims a bit more than the last one of his I read: the structure is really different from the usual, and works very well. Also some good insight into the antiques and rare book trade.

Decently intricate and suspenseful tale of mid-sixties London, not that it particularly feels like that's when the mystery is set. Good wordplay and interesting plot.

It felt in parts like something that I had read before - The Antiquarian - being an art dealer involved in something a little shady. It was an okay read for me - just no connection.

Slightly better read than my last outing with Sims - The End of the Web. There is a little more of a mystery to solve - why his friend committed suicide and why is he being warned off - could the two be related (of course they are). Ned Balfour is your typical noir character and perfectly at home on the pages of Sims' novel. Readers should allow for the obviously different social mores as this was written over 50 years ago.