Let's set the scene: a foggy London morning in 1891. In a boarding house on Big Bow, a landlady discovers her lodger, Arthur Constant, dead in his bed. His throat has been cut. The door is locked and bolted from the inside. The windows are shut tight. There's no murder weapon in the room. It's impossible, yet it happened.

The Story

The investigation falls to two men with very different methods. First, there's the practical, by-the-book Inspector Grodman. Then there's his rival, the young and idealistic Edward Wimp, who is convinced the killer is a fiery socialist neighbor named Denzil Cantercot. The evidence seems to point that way, but the central question remains: how was it done? The story follows the police investigation, the public trial, and the growing frustration as the 'perfect crime' defies all logic. Just when you think all avenues are exhausted, the truth comes from a most unexpected source.

Why You Should Read It

This isn't just a historical artifact; it's a genuinely clever and engaging mystery. Zangwill writes with a dry, witty style that feels surprisingly modern. He pokes fun at the police, the press, and public opinion, making the story about more than just the puzzle. You can feel the influence this book had on everything that came after. Reading it, I kept thinking, 'So this is where that trope started!' The solution is audacious. I had to put the book down for a second when I read it, just to let it sink in. It's the kind of ending that makes you want to immediately flip back to the beginning to see how you missed the clues.

Final Verdict

Perfect for mystery lovers who enjoy a classic brain-teaser and a bit of literary history. If you like the locked-room puzzles of John Dickson Carr or the tidy deductions of Agatha Christie, you owe it to yourself to meet their great-grandfather. It's a short, fast read, but it packs a huge punch. Don't let the 1891 publication date scare you off—this is a sharp, funny, and brilliantly constructed mystery that still works perfectly today.