Twice Round the Clock (British Library Crime Classics)

"It is past the half-hour. My time is coming nearer with every tick of the clock."

Horace Manning, scientist, recluse and "closed book" even to his friends is found dead in his study at 4am, following a dinner in honor of his daughter's engagement. An ivory-handled carving knife rests between his shoulder blades as the house guests gather round to witness the awful crime. The telephone line has been sabotaged – a calculated murder has been committed.

Rewinding twelve hours, the events of the afternoon and evening unfold, revealing a multitude of clues and motives from a closed cast of suspects until the narrative reaches 4am again – then races on to its riveting conclusion at 4pm as the reader is led twice round the clock.

BILLIE HOUSTON was the pen name of Glasgow-born writer and entertainer Sarah McMahon Gribbin (1906–1972), who found fame on stages across Britain performing as one half of the Houston Sisters alongside her sister, Renee. Billie was a voracious reader of crime novels and decided to write her own, reportedly during spare moments in the dressing rooms and backstage areas of her shows.