The Mystery of the Crooked Man

By: Tom Spencer

Narrated by: Claire Warrillow

Meet Agatha Dorn, cantankerous archivist, grammar pedant, gin afficionado and murder mystery addict. When she discovers a lost manuscript by Gladden Green, the Empress of Golden Age detective fiction, Agatha's life takes an unexpected twist. She becomes an overnight sensation, basking in the limelight of literary stardom.

But Agatha's newfound fame takes a nosedive when the 'rediscovered' novel is exposed as a hoax. And when her ex-lover turns up dead, with a scrap of the manuscript by her side, Agatha suspects foul play.

Cancelled, ostracised and severely ticked off, Agatha turns detective to uncover the sinister truth that connects the murder and the fraudulent manuscript. But can she stay sober long enough to catch the murderer, or will Agatha become a whodunnit herself?

©2024 Tom Spencer (P)2024 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

'Not your usual cosy, and that's exactly what I loved! Spencer tip-toes on that line between traditional and modern with a delicate charm and deftness of touch to create a juicy whodunnit. Simply brilliant!' (Jonathan Whitehall, author of The Bingo Hall Detectives)

'With a prickly protagonist and a plot that's twistier than a bag full of corkscrews, this one will keep you guessing until the end.' (Fiona Leitch, author of The Cornish Wedding Murder)

'This edgy mystery takes you down a dark path with unexpected turns, intriguing Golden Age breadcrumbs and a thorny denouement.' (Sarah Yarwood-Lovett, bestselling author of A Murder of Crows)

1 part humor, 2 parts mystery, 3 parts gin!

This finely curated tale centers an unlikely protagonist who attempts to succeed despite herself and her ambitious diet of gin and water. While it took me a minute to get the cutting humor and London slang, once I did I was laughing every chapter at this ridiculous and captivating tale that pulls you in the deeper you go.

Agatha can be very annoying

As much as I really do enjoy annoying female characters, this one’s traits included self-pity, self obsession, and whining—which made her often tiresome. Several times fairly early on I seriously considered returning the book but finally got caught up in the plot and made it to the end. This is a good book—the plot is interesting, and Agatha becomes less of an annoyance as the book progresses—but good grief, I had to struggle for a while.

Top notch

One of the funniest, most enjoyable books I’ve stumbled across in ages. The narrator was also a dream.

The fabulous narration by Clare Warrilow

I particularly enjoyed the witty, acerbic voice of the protagonist. Although I liked the twists and turns of the plot, I am tired of female characters who are constantly drunk. Agatha is much more interesting when she is sober.

Intriguing mystery with eccentric protagonist. Big fan of this book

Almost finished this and have been obsessed with this story. Agatha’s eccentric and erratic behavior is perfect to push the plot forward, wondering if she having alcoholic hallucinations or if the crooked man is real and who he is.