Moonflower Murders: A Novel

Moonflower Murders is deeply rooted in the traditions of the golden age of detective fiction, a genre popularized in the 1920s and 1930s by writers like Agatha Christie and Ngaio Marsh. The fictional novel within the text, Atticus Pünd Takes the Case, is a direct homage to the Golden Age whodunit. Alan Conway’s fictional detective, Atticus Pünd, is a tribute to Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. Methodical and brilliant, he uses his intellect to solve complex puzzles, offering a sense of reassurance that truth and justice can be uncovered through reason. Alan Conway’s narrative follows the classic conventions of this genre, featuring a quintessentially British country house hotel in a picturesque rural setting. Although centering on murder, the novel’s tone is comforting, set in a bygone England where moral order is ultimately restored by the end of the narrative. The fictional novel’s plot is characterized by familiar Golden Age tropes, including a cast of characters who all harbor secrets and Conway’s liberal use of red herrings scattered amongst genuine clues. Atticus Pünd Takes the Case adheres to the “fair play” rule of murder mysteries, where the author must provide enough valid clues to give the reader a chance to solve the crime.