Janet A. Ohles

This is standard Christie fare—well almost. Given the novella format, the plot moves at a fast pace, which does not allow Christie to develop her characters as fully as in her novels. Nonetheless, die-hard Christie aficionados will be curious about this long-lost piece. Those readers who feel cheated by the skimpy character development will benefit by reading the full novel after they finish the novella.

Jansson's second book to be translated into English (after Strange Bird) is sure to be a hit with avid fans of Scandinavian crime fiction. Book clubs will find that this story provides many current and relevant topics to discuss.