Surfeit of Suspects
Surfeit of Suspects by George Bellairs, published by Sourcebooks, Incorporated in 2019, is a historical mystery novel comprising 224 pages. This edition presents a classic narrative set against the backdrop of a small town in Surrey, where a devastating explosion at the Excelsior Joinery Company leads to the discovery of three dead directors and a web of intrigue. As Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard investigates, he uncovers a community rife with hidden grievances and a cast of suspicious characters, each with their own motives.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of traditional crime elements woven throughout the story, reflecting the golden age of detective fiction. The plot revolves around the explosive crime and the ensuing investigation, highlighting the complexities of small-town dynamics and the myriad possible solutions to the mystery. Surfeit of Suspects invites readers to delve into a world of misdirection and suspense, making it a notable addition to the British Library Crime Classics.
Official synopsis Publisher
Discover the captivating treasures buried in the British Library’s archives. Largely inaccessible to the public until now, these enduring classics were written in the golden age of detective fiction.
“At 8 o’clock in the evening on the 8th of November, there was a terrific explosion in Green Lane, Evingden.”
The offices of the Excelsior Joinery Company have been blown to smithereens; three of the company directors are found dead amongst the rubble, and the peace of a quiet town in Surrey lies in ruins. When the supposed cause of an ignited gas leak is dismissed and the presence of dynamite revealed, Superintendent Littlejohn of Scotland Yard is summoned to the scene.
But beneath the sleepy veneer of Evingden lies a hotbed of deep-rooted grievances. The new subject of the town’s talk, Littlejohn’s investigation is soon confounded by an impressive cast of suspicious persons, each concealing their own axe to grind.
First published in 1964, Bellairs’ novel hearkens back to the classic British mysteries and crime books. A masterpiece of misdirection, Surfeit of Suspects is a story of small-town grudges with calamitous consequences that revels in the abundant possible solutions to its central, explosive crime.
Other books in the British Library Crime Classics:
Death in Fancy Dress
Smallbone Deceased
It Walks by Night
Measure of Malice
The Body in the Dumb River
Death Has Deep Roots
The Notting Hill Mystery
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