A very readable Golden Age mystery set in a small and remote farming community; it has all of the hallmarks of a well-constructed mystery of the era - plenty of secrets, red herrings, and local color, with a mystery which is solved by logical deduction (by a professional, in this case a police officer) - but Carnac approaches all of her characters with a sympathetic or at least understanding eye. They feel real and understandable and she doesn't slide over the line into caricature, which makes spending time in this small community a pleasure - even as mysterious deaths are investigated.

Well written and with red herrings that will keep all readers guessing until the end. This is one of those mystery books where if you think you know the solution, you probably don't. Credit is due to the editor, Martin Edwards, and to the British Library, for continuing to bring back to the public these lesser known, or lost, gems of the British mystery genre.