Novel, 1907

Early example of a locked room mystery and for all the labyrinthine plot twists, fairly easy to read and follow. The use of red herrings and characters not essential to the plot help measure rather than drag the narrative and the setting up of situations and cliff hangers makes for an absorbing read. Some may find the precociousness of the main character a little hard to entirely stomach, but the reminder of the boy detective helps with context and interest into wildly unfolding developments which often defy adult logic.