The Ponson Case

This was my first Crofts novel, and I was a little skeptical because the introduction reeeeaally talked it up, haha. But to me, it seemed the story lived up to the hype, and it kept me guessing until the end! The alibis are incredibly intricate and the inspector (and other detectives) are very, very thorough.

From what I understand, Crofts went on to write about a single detective; but this book, one of his early ones, reads a little more like The Moonstone or similar works where several characters come together to solve the mystery. My one frustration was with the characterization of the mother and daughter. But, it is, of course, a book of its time.

Overall, this was fascinating, especially as another look at early classic mysteries. Very detail-oriented, but the puzzle is rewarding in the end!