All Ludovic Travers expected that day at the Regency Club was a spot of lunch. When David Calne introduces him to Guy Pallart, Travers receives more than he expected. Pallart announces that he intends to commit a murder – a murder that he believes he will get away with. Superintendent George Wharton believed it was just a joke, but Travers is convinced this was something more, and heads to Drowton on a pretext.

Following a tragic accident on a boat trip, Travers is convinced that there was truth in what Pallart said, but the case soon becomes far, far more complex than he initially believed. Murder has been committed – but can Travers prove it? And does he even want to?

I’ve said before how much I’ve been enjoying the Dean Street Press reprints of the Christopher Bush titles. I’ve always assumed that at some point, Bush would hit a bump and his work would start to decline in quality. Well, if it does, it certainly hasn’t happened yet. 34 books into his canon of 63 Travers titles, and this is as wonderfully complex as ever.

Travers’ narration is as charming as ever. As ever, he’s not a flawless detective, almost giving up before murder takes place, and while not one of Bush’s alibi-busting tales, there is still some clever stuff going on here. I think some readers will guess part of the solution, but the overall tale is delightfully complex and there’s some real emotional weight behind the final few chapters.

Fascinating fact of the day: There were still active POW camps in England as late as 1948, as prisoners waited to be repatriated.

A highly entertaining and rewarding mystery novel, that’s well worth your time.

Availability: Out now in ebook and paperback from Dean St Press.

Just The Facts, Ma’am: HOW – Death by Strangulation