Antidote to Venom

Antidote to Venom by Freeman Wills Crofts delivers a captivating puzzle for all mystery enthusiasts, as praised by the Times Literary Supplement: "Mr Wills Crofts is deservedly a first favourite with all who want a real puzzle." Similarly, the Daily Mirror commends, "He always manages to give us something that really keeps us guessing."

George Surridge, the director of the Birmington Zoo, finds himself consumed by numerous worries: his marriage is crumbling, his finances are precarious, and a disease outbreak threatens the animals under his care. As Surridge's debts accumulate and pressure intensifies, he begins to fantasise about miraculous solutions. But is he shrewd enough to turn his dreams into reality? Perhaps even to the extent of committing a devious murder to achieve his goals?

This ingenious crime novel, with its distinctive 'inverted' structure and a compelling portrayal of a man teetering on the brink, stands as one of the greatest works by this esteemed author. The elaborate and intricate means of murder devised by Crofts's characters is possibly unmatched in English crime fiction for its audacious intricacy.