The Mystery of the Crooked Man

Spencer, Tom. The Mystery of the Crooked Man. 2024. 303p. ISBN 9781805335115.

Agatha Dorn is an eccentric British middle-aged archivist with a sharp wit, a love for gin, and a passion for classic detective fiction. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she stumbles upon a lost manuscript by the renowned Golden Age author Gladden Green. This discovery catapults Agatha into the literary spotlight, bringing her sudden fame and recognition.

However, Agatha's newfound celebrity is short-lived. The "rediscovered" novel is revealed to be a forgery, and her reputation is tarnished as a result. Adding to her woes, her former lover is found dead with a piece of the fraudulent manuscript nearby, leading Agatha to suspect foul play. Determined to clear her name and uncover the truth, Agatha embarks on a quest to solve the murder and expose the connection between the killing and the fake manuscript. But can she manage to stay sober enough to catch the real killer, or will she become another victim in this intricate whodunit?

Fans of Agatha Christie's novels will love this well-crafted mystery. Agatha's quirks, such as her love of gin and her prickly personality, make her memorable and entertaining.