Book Beginnings on Friday & The Friday 56: The Hog’s Back Mystery

Every Friday Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader where you can share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading. You can also share from a book you want to highlight just because it caught your fancy.

I’m featuring The Hog’s Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Crofts one of the books I’m currently reading. I’ve read about half of it and am enjoying it although it is a bit repetitive. It’s a “Golden Age” mystery, first published in 1933.

Book Beginning:

‘Ursula! I am glad to see you!’ Julia Earle moved forward to the carriage door to greet the tall, well dressed woman who stepped down on the platform of the tiny station of Ash in Surrey.

Also every Friday there is The Friday 56, hosted by Freda at Freda’s Voice, but she is taking a break and Anne at My Head if Full of Books has taken on hosting duties in her absence. You grab a book and turn to page 56 (or 56% of an eBook), find one or more interesting sentences (no spoilers), and post them.

Page 56:

‘Well,’ said Sheaf, with a keen glance,what does it look like to you?’ ‘

This was the sort of question which on principle French never answered. He was certainly not to give an opinion until he had had time to think over the facts and come to a reasoned conclusion.

Description from Goodreads:

Dr James Earle and his wife live in comfortable seclusion near the Hog’s Back, a ridge in the North Downs in the beautiful Surrey countryside. When Dr Earle disappears from his cottage, Inspector French is called in to investigate. At first he suspects a simple domestic intrigue – and begins to uncover a web of romantic entanglements beneath the couple’s peaceful rural life.


The case soon takes a more complex turn. Other people vanish mysteriously, one of Dr Earle’s house guests among them. What is the explanation for the disappearances? If the missing people have been murdered, what can be the motive? This fiendishly complicated puzzle is one that only Inspector French can solve.

~~~

What do you think, does it appeal to you? What are you currently reading?

8 thoughts on “Book Beginnings on Friday & The Friday 56: The Hog’s Back Mystery

  1. Some of the Inspector French novels really are quite good, Margaret (I admit I’ve not read them all). In my opinion, he put together some interesting puzzles. I’m glad you’re enjoying this one.

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    1. The Hog’s Back is a hilly ridge that looks just like a hog lying down. It’s part of the North Downs in Surrey, England. It runs between Farnham in the west and Guildford in the east. It’s now the A31 – a major trunk road. The Earles’ house is near the ridge.

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  2. Oh! This sounds like a good mystery! I don’t think I’ve read anything by Freeman Wills Crofts. I hope you have a great weekend!

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  3. One of my favourite GA mysteries, possibly influenced by the fact that I read it just after we got back from a few days in Surrey and how much I loved the area.

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