The Sanfield Scandal
Book •
Richard Keverne's The Sanfield Scandal (1929) is an interwar crime thriller focused on the aftermath of a wartime theft at the Tower House estate and a later hunt for hidden papers and a necklace.
Told without a central detective, it follows a small set of characters — including Faith Stanhope and Hilary Borden — as revelations and adventures unfold around a ruined castle.
The narrative leans toward light, Famous Five–style adventuring and MacGuffin-driven plot turns rather than formal clue-driven detection.
Critics note its readable, unornamented prose and its placement within 1920s thriller traditions rather than the more deductive Golden Age novels of the 1930s.
The book is discussed in the episode for its plotting, period context, and the controversial killing of a dog within the story.
Told without a central detective, it follows a small set of characters — including Faith Stanhope and Hilary Borden — as revelations and adventures unfold around a ruined castle.
The narrative leans toward light, Famous Five–style adventuring and MacGuffin-driven plot turns rather than formal clue-driven detection.
Critics note its readable, unornamented prose and its placement within 1920s thriller traditions rather than the more deductive Golden Age novels of the 1930s.
The book is discussed in the episode for its plotting, period context, and the controversial killing of a dog within the story.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 0 episodes
Discussed by ![undefined]()
![undefined]()
Caroline Crampton
Jim Noy
The Sanfield Scandal (Green Penguin Book Club 14)
