The Sussex Downs Murder by John BudeMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A real delight from the golden age of crime fiction. First published in 1936 and republished in 2014 as a British Library Crime Classic. John Bude was the pseudonym of Ernest Gilmore (1901-1957) who was a co-founder of the Crime Writers' Association. The wonderful art deco cover was enough to make me pick the book up in Waterstones.
The setting is pretty much my own locale - the Sussex Downs, featuring Bramber, Steyning, Washington, Findon, Cissbury Ring, Chanctonbury Ring and the police headquarters in Lewes.
A classic detective novel featuring Superintendent Meredith and his sidekick Hawkins, who use old-fashioned police work bereft of computers, tablets and mobile 'phones to investigate the disappearance of John Rother, a local farmer and owner of lime kilns (you might have to Google that!). His abandoned car is found and first thoughts are that he might have been kidnapped. But then human bones are found on Chalklands farmland where his brother William and wife also live. Is John's disappearance more sinister? Is it connected perhaps to his growing rather too friendly with his brother's wife? Meredith is a patient, careful detective and his methodical approach starts to disentangle the clues as suspicion shifts from one character to the next. He still finds time to enjoy his afternoon high tea though!
If you like Agatha Christie you will enjoy this elaborately constructed puzzle. It tested my wits and, no, I didn't guess the outcome!
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