Mr. Pottermack has had enough of his blackmailed and decides to kill him. But why is he being blackmailed, will it solve all his problems. And what will be the result when Dr Thorndyke involves himself in the case.
Enjoyable though there certainly was a much easier solution to the problem. And at times too much painstaking detail. ( )

Dr. Thorndyke has a small (but important) role in this entry in the series. While I generally don't care for 'mysteries' which are told from the point of view of the culprit, this one surprised me and thanks to the role played by Dr. Thorndyke, I was pleased by the ending. ( )

This is an example of the so-called "inverted" story of which Freeman was a pioneer both in short story and novel form. We first see the crime being committed and the elaborate steps taken by Pottermack to cover it up; afterwards we follow the steps taken by Dr Thorndyke to investigate. Although in theory it could have stopped there, there is then a further development (frankly rather implausible) which leads to Pottermack having to produce a fake body to represent his victim, followed by further detection by Thorndyke and the denouement (in which some may feel that the detective's actions place him on rather dodgy ground ethically speaking). The book, although on the long side for its material, holds my interest throughout each time I read it, although those who (like the late Julian Symons) dislike Freeman's style may disagree. ( )