The 12.30 from Croydon cover art

The 12.30 from Croydon

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The 12.30 from Croydon

By: Freeman Wills Crofts
Narrated by: Gordon Griffin
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About this listen

We begin with a body.

Andrew Crowther, a wealthy retired manufacturer, is found dead in his seat on the 12.30 flight from Croydon to Paris. Rather less orthodox is the ensuing flashback in which we live with the killer at every stage, from the first thoughts of murder to the strains and stresses of living with its execution. Seen from the criminal's perspective, a mild-mannered Inspector by the name of French is simply another character who needs to be dealt with. This is an unconventional yet gripping story of intrigue, betrayal, obsession, justification and self-delusion. And will the killer get away with it?

©2016 Estate of Freeman Wills Crofts (P)2016 Soundings Crime Fiction Detective Fiction Mystery Suspense Thriller & Suspense Traditional Detectives Crime

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All stars
Most relevant
Written in a time gone bye, old fashioned phrase but easy listening.
Overall story ok and well worked

Dated but easy listening

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This was well performed and I listened to the end
Think I prefer a classic whodunnit though.

It's a good story

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Written from the killer's point of view with very little French actually in the book. And it's not an exciting story, even by the rather slow and meticulous normal standard of Inspector French books

Not really an Inspector French book

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This was a really gripping murder mystery write from two points of view. I didn't want it to end.

Excellent

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Golden Age fiction . the names that survive and are read generally are Christie , Allingham, Marsh and Patricia Wentworth. the reason being that they all entertain. this book by FWC is at the opposite end of the spectrum. written mainly from the point of view of the murderer it is a thought by thought day by day diary of a bore. FWC can be dry as an author but this must be his driest. no subplots and no amusing social interaction, which you would have with the authors mentioned above. ( you may think Sayers should be included in the entertaining group but she had a tendency to transcribe chapters from legal tomes so is a half dry ) GG has a very good voice, but unfortunately that is also slightly dry. the effect of having a dry book read by a dry voice was rather like having plain biscuits crumbled in my ears. if you can listen to this all the way through, rather than just having it on as background, I commend you.

exhaustive and exhausting

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