ANTHONY ROLLS was a pseudonym of C.E. Vulliamy (1886-1971), a biographer, soldier and archaeologist of distinction who also wrote ten crime novels, four of which were published during the golden age of British detective fiction between the world wars.
A deliciously anti-cozy tale of murder most multiplied that's
perhaps the choicest blast yet from the past almost-masters of
mystery resurrected by Poisoned Pen's British Library Crime
Classics.-- "Kirkus Reviews"
This deliciously sly murder mystery, first published in 1933, is an
example of the inverted detective story in which we get to know the
murderer before the crime is committed. In this case, there are two
would-be murderers, one motivated by the hatred engendered by how
her husband treats her, the other apparently motivated by sheer
sociopathy. The hoped-for victim, Robert Arthur Kewdingham, is
unappealing on every level. He ignores his family (wife and child)
as they sink into genteel poverty, and he indulges himself in
hypochondria, mysticism, bad temper, and what would now be
described as hoarding (but he labels it collecting). His young wife
starts adding lead acetate to his food. His doctor (whose elderly
aunt and invalid wife both died suddenly) brews up an experimental
blend of aluminum chlorate for his patient. Part of the chilling
fun of this book is found in the author's stark assessments of his
murderous characters. We don't come to sympathize with them by
knowing their interior worlds; we watch their movements in shock
from the outside. The other part of the fun is observing how the
wife's and doctor's plans unwittingly counteract each other. A
first-rate reissue from the British Library Crime Classics series,
very much along the lines of two of Freeman Wills Crofts' inverted
mysteries from the same series, The 12.30 from Croydon and Antidote
to Venom. (starred review)--Connie Fletcher "Booklist"
With its caustic look at society, marriage and norms Family Matters
is an impudent, lively novel, a delight to read.--Guy Savage
"NetGalley"
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