Once dubbed 'The King of Detective Story Writers', Freeman Wills Crofts was an Irish railway engineer whose brilliant first mystery novel, The Cask, was motivated by an extended illness in 1919. Outselling Agatha Christie, and renowned for his ingenious plotting and meticulous attention to detail, Crofts followed up with The Ponson Case (1921) and no less than thirty books featuring the iconic Scotland Yard detective, Inspector French.
`Because he is so austerely realistic, Freeman Wills Croft is deservedly a first favourite with all who want a real puzzle.' TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT If there is a better writer of detective stories alive, I would like to know his name. GLASGOW CITIZEN