Malice aforethought

This novel is a standalone work and does not require reading any other books by Anthony Berkeley to understand its plot or characters.

Unlike many Golden Age mysteries that focus on who committed the crime, this book reveals the murderer from the very beginning. The narrative instead explores the psychological aspects of the killer and the intricate planning of the murder, shifting the focus from a whodunit to a howdunit and whydunit.

The novel was adapted into a British television film in 1979, starring Hywel Bennett as Dr. Edmund Bickleigh.