Twice Round the Clock

It is past the half-hour. My time is coming nearer with every tick of the clock. A scientist, recluse, and 'closed book even to his friends' is found dead in his study at 4am, with an ivory-handled carving knife rests between his shoulder blades. The telephone line has been sabotaged, leading to a calculated murder. The sole novel from the actor and dancer Billie Houston is a lively country house mystery and a true lost gem of the Golden Age of crime writing.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 10 April 2023
Publisher: British Library Publishing

“It is past the half-hour. My time is coming nearer with every tick of the clock.”

Horace Manning, a scientist, recluse, and "closed book even to his friends," is found dead in his study at 4 a.m., following a dinner in honor of his daughter's engagement. An ivory-handled carving knife rests between his shoulder blades as the houseguests gather round to witness the awful crime. The telephone line has been sabotaged, a calculated murder has been committed.

Rewinding twelve hours, the events of the afternoon and evening unfold, revealing a multitude of clues and motives from a closed cast of suspects until the narrative reaches 4 a.m. again—then races on to its riveting conclusion at 4 p.m. as the reader is led twice round the clock.

First published in 1935, the sole novel from the actor and dancer Billie Houston is a lively country house mystery and a true lost gem of the Golden Age of crime writing.

The house was quiet, save for the ticking of the clock on the mantle. The guests had settled in for the night, and the atmosphere was tense with anticipation.

As the clock struck 4 a.m., a loud knock echoed through the house. The housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, rushed to the door, but it was already locked. She tried to call the police, but the telephone line had been cut.

The guests began to panic, and the housekeeper tried to calm them down. She suggested that they search the house for any signs of a break-in.

As they searched, they noticed that the study door was open. They entered the room and saw Horace Manning, the scientist, lying on the floor, his throat cut.

The houseguests were shocked and horrified. They couldn't believe that someone had committed such a crime in their own home.

The police arrived soon after, and they began to investigate the crime. They interviewed the houseguests, examined the evidence, and tried to piece together the events of the night.

As they dug deeper, they discovered that there were a multitude of clues and motives from a closed cast of suspects. There was the butler, Mr. Johnson, who had a history of violence and had been seen arguing with Horace Manning earlier in the evening. There was the housekeeper, Mrs. Jenkins, who had been seen leaving the study shortly before the murder and had a motive for wanting to protect her employer. There was the maid, Miss Smith, who had been seen cleaning the study and had access to the murder weapon.

The police were unable to determine a clear motive for the murder, and the case remained unsolved for months.

However, one day, a breakthrough came. A witness came forward, claiming to have seen a man fleeing the scene of the crime. The police were able to track down the man and arrest him.

The man was revealed to be a former employee of Horace Manning, who had been fired for stealing research data. He had been jealous of Horace Manning's success and had planned to kill him to gain control of his research.

The case was finally solved, and the man was sentenced to life in prison. The houseguests were relieved that the murderer had been caught, but they were also haunted by the memory of the crime.

Years later, the house was sold, and it was eventually torn down. However, the legacy of the murder remained, and it became a local legend. People still talked about the case, and some even claimed to have seen ghostly figures in the house at night.

In conclusion, "The Clock" is a thrilling and suspenseful mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. It is a testament to the Golden Age of crime writing and a lost gem that deserves to be rediscovered by a new generation of readers.

Weight: 244g
Dimension: 189 x 131 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780712354035