Review: The Man Who Knew

The Man Who Knew by Edgar Wallace
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title refers to a kind of savant character who researches and remembers facts about everyone and everything. It's somewhat misleading, though. (view spoiler)[The "Man who Knew" has completely the wrong end of the stick about what's going on, and even though the story follows his investigations, at the end another character gives the true account of events, which he's investigated offscreen. (hide spoiler)]

Even though the solution is something of a letdown, the journey to it is enjoyable, with lots of clues and red herrings and running hither and yon, ranging as far afield as Switzerland. The core plot involves the murder of a curmudgeonly old man who has made a lot of money by sometimes dubious methods, and an associated bank fraud. The old man's nephew is put on trial for the murder. Weaving in and out of the narrative is Mr. Mann, the Man who Knew.

It's a classic Wallace mystery, and even though the twist ending blindsided and disappointed me, I did enjoy it up to that point.

View all my reviews