Excellent Intentions

Richard Hull's "Excellent Intentions," a droll and inventive Golden Age mystery first published in 1938, plunges readers into a uniquely structured whodunit. The story revolves around the murder of Great Barwick's most unpopular man on a train, an event deemed a 'good thing' from the nation's perspective. The narrative ingeniously unfolds primarily within a courtroom setting, where twelve jurors are presented with four distinct suspects. However, the true twist lies in the identity of the figure in the dock, which remains tantalizingly ambiguous throughout the proceedings. As Attorney-General Anstruther Blayton orchestrates the prosecution and defense, Inspector Fenby simultaneously conducts his own investigation, creating a dual-layered exploration of justice and truth. Laced with irreverent wit, Hull masterfully subverts conventional crime fiction tropes, challenging readers to piece together not just who committed the crime, but who is even on trial.