The Cask

The Cask is a detective novel by Freeman Wills Crofts published in 1920. The story centers around a murder mystery involving a wine cask. A valuable cask of wine is delivered to a London wine merchant but when opened it contains the body of a murdered man. Inspector French a recurring character in Crofts detective stories leads the investigation. With meticulous attention to detail and a logical methodical approach Inspector French works to unravel the complex web of clues suspects and motives surrounding the murder. The Cask is a classic example of puzzle-style detective fiction from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction focusing on intricate plotting and the process of solving the mystery.