From the Bookshelf of Reading the Detectives…

Malice Aforethought

Francis Iles

Start date: August 1, 2022

Finish date: August 31, 2022

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Detection Club challenge
[close] Next in our Detection Club challenge

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Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 168 topics — 7,797 comments total

Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 16 posts · 18 views

last updated Sep 12, 2025 08:12PM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
By Susan · 13 posts · 22 views

last updated Sep 16, 2025 12:58PM

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What Members Thought

Jul 19, 2022 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Francis Iles was a pseudonym used by Anthony Berkeley Cox and this crime novel, written in 1931, is really something new. It was not a typical Golden Age mystery, but rather it was something very new, in which we know who the murderer is. Dr Edmund Bickleigh is a country doctor, hen-picked by his wife, Julia, who reminds him constantly that she has married beneath her. Although he seems a bit pathetic, he has a love for the ladies and, rather like Romeo, who quickly forgets Rosline, when Juliet ...more

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Jul 28, 2022 Frances rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: chose-not-to-finish

Only read the first half, then decided not to waste the time to finish. Billed as a golden age type mystery only without a mystery, I found this a completely unappealing tale with an unlikeable and pettily unpleasant main character, who is inexplicably loved by several young women who could certainly do better. I gave up about half way through.

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Jul 28, 2022 Jill rated it it was ok

This really didn't work for me. The blurb told us that the main character, Dr Bickliegh, was going to kill his wife. The first half of the book was a description of a lecherous older man, who was a family GP, and his various romances. Once I had struggled through to the "Oh Madeleine" "Oh Edmund" I was ready to give up. I don't read romances because of this sort the thing. The second half went on to tell us how the doctor was still ready to "flirt" with anyone once he had murdered his wife, and ...more

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Jun 09, 2021 Geraldine Byrne rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Classic story, full of dark humour

An enduring classic which is surprisingly modern even now, full of scandal, gossip, unforgettable characters and a rich vein of dark humour throughout. Highly recommended

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Aug 04, 2022 Sandy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-classic, mystery-detective-grp, z2022-ga-challenge, rread-2022

A 'reverse' mystery where the reader watchs the murderer plan and execute his crime. This one was completely populated with unlikeable characters but had lots of snide comments. sarcastic humor and a plot that kept my interest. ...more

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