One Across, Two Down

A stand-alone novel published by Hutchinson in 1971

There are only two things in life that interest Stanley: solving crossword puzzles and getting his hands on his mother-in-law’s money.

For twenty years, nearly all his adult life, the puzzles have been his only pleasure; his mother-in-law’s money his only dream. And in all those years, it has never once occurred to Stanley that she would try to outsmart him, and the money might never be his. Until now.

It is only now that Stanley, so clever at misleading double meanings and devious clues, decides to construct a puzzle of his own and so give death a helping hand.

Notes

• Adapted for film as Diary of the Dead in 1976.

Contemporary Reads ¹

• E.M. Forster - Maurice

• Agatha Christie - Nemesis

• P.D. James - Shroud for a Nightingale

• Elizabeth Taylor - Mrs Palfrey at the Claremont

• Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö - The Abominable Man

• James McClure - The Steam Pig

Footnotes

1. Book links may earn this site a small commission. ↩︎