The 12.30 from Croydon by Freeman Wills Crofts

The 12.30 from Croydon (British Library Crime Classics)

by Freeman Wills Crofts

'Crofts constructs his alibi with immense elaboration...The story is highly successful, and Mr Crofts is to be congratulated upon his experiment' - Dorothy L. SayersWe begin with a body. Andrew Crowther, a wealthy retired manufacturer, is found dead in his seat on the 12.30 flight from Croydon to Paris. Rather less orthodox is the ensuing flashback in which we live with the killer at every stage, from the first thoughts of murder to the strains and stresses of living with its execution. Seen from the criminal's perspective, a mild-mannered Inspector by the name of French is simply another character who needs to be dealt with. This is an unconventional yet gripping story of intrigue, betrayal, obsession, justification and self-delusion. And will the killer get away with it?

Reviewed by Aidan Brack (Mysteries Ahoy) on

4 of 5 stars

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I thought that the resolution to the story was extremely well managed and I was impressed by the detective’s chain of reasoning that leads him to his conclusion.

Read my full review at Mysteries Ahoy!

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 18 November, 2017: Finished reading
  • 8 September, 2020: Reviewed