Joanna Cannan

> As daughter of the Dean of Trinity College, Joanna Cannan was uniquely well-placed to write this book. It is her finest novel - a sympathetic study of character, and a candid and searching account of Oxford academic life in the early part of the century. >In the years leading up to the First World War, Theodore Fletcher achieves a lifetime's ambition and is elected to the Wardenship of St Mary's College. But it isn't long before he discovers that he was a compromise candidate and, in reality, is despised by his fellows. He begins to see his life as an uneventful and trivial succession of failures. What he doesn't suspect is that this is soon to change in a most alarming and regrettable way. >>'A plot of extraordinary delicacy, pathos, and irony. It is rare indeed to find a tale, so ruthless in its probing of shame and grief, at the same time so sure in its grasp of significance and beauty." - Observer >>'A novel of uncommon qualities. Miss Cannan has sympathy and insight, she can hit hard, she can be witty, she has a fine gift of phrase.' - Spectator

An inverted crime novel, meaning the murderer is known to the reader from the beginning. Rather than examine clues and deductions by clever cops, the novel fastens on the personalities and character of the people involved. Excellent in style, straightforward plot, positively brilliant ending. Has drawn comparison to Francis Iles's 'Malice Aforethought.'

Description of the region and its people.

> This story of a doctor's family begins before the First World War. Their daughter, Mildred, was awkward and shy, and 'only a girl' overshadowed by her boisterous brothers. >On holiday in France, Mildred keeps Adam Burns company when he is recovering from the effects of a jellyfish sting, and their friendship develops. When they grow up, Mildred hopes that they might be married, but Adam falls in love with the beautiful Lady Anabel Hardcastle. >This is a touching story of a young girl who is hampered by ignorance, and made to feel dull and stupid by her father and brothers. Even marriage brings disillusionment, but Mildred shows that she has surprising strength of character.

An ingenious murderer caught out by a persevering policeman. A small cast of varied suspects, with an "impossible" murder. A lot of insight into the mind of the detective -- about the murder, and about other things. An engaging personality. Set in the an English village (in Loamshire) during the World War II blackout. This is the second of the author's books about this detective, Guy Northeast. She apparently abandoned him as being "too nice", and her later books featured a more objectionable detective.