Golden Age (37) : The Affair of the Blood-Stained Egg Cosy

Although set in the Golden Age, and often has the look and feel of such this was written in the 1970s by James Anderson and is the first of a series set in the same country house. Therefore it is a pastiche but don't let that put you off as it is indeed pretty good. 

The story is highly complicated and has all the tropes you expect from a Golden Age mystery, its set in a dark country house and includes a cast of toffs, flappers, a bumbling (but ultimately efficient) police detective, perky keen amateurs and plenty of red herrings and puzzles. There is even a map!

The book is well written and an enjoyable read, it just about manages to err on the right side of parody though at times a close run thing. A superb send-up and celebration of a genre.