The Viaduct Murder by Father Ronald Knox is a brilliant little book. It is erudite but not pompous like I think Dorothy L. Sayers can be. It is sly in its humor and a bit different from other murder mysteries as the sleuths never do figure out who did it! The murderer eventually confesses.
Paston Oatvile is an old estate that has been turned into golf links with bungalows and hotel where the patrons can stay while they vacation. Four golfers, who stay or live at Paston Oatvile join together to solve the mystery of the death of another golfer who turns up dead on the links. Actually his body is over in the rough grass under the viaduct where the railroad crosses. The four comrades are Gordon, Reeves, Carmichael and Marryat. Inspired by Sherlock Holmes they want to figure out who murdered Brotherhood (that's the victim's name). They each come up with theories, sometimes very elaborate and all proved wrong eventually. Their thinking processes, as they unfold, can be quite comical at some points and slowly reveal their different characters.
There's a lot going on under the surface here. In fact, I felt like I missed things so upon finishing, I immediately started to reread the book. Knox has a wonderful sense of humor that plays out in his understated way of drawing out his characters and sometimes he just throws in a terrific pun. For example, just as two of the men are going on a wild chase to capture a person who they think is the murderer, they dash to the car the owner has named Tarquin "Superbus." You have to know Roman history to get that one. So silly!
Anyway, this is a fun, intelligent book that says more about morality and character than you think it does. I am enjoying my reread immensely.
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