Posted by beardbiter on August 06, 2014 at 01:43:46 user beardbiter.
Just finished re-reading The Big Six as part of my extended treat of acquiring new hardback copies of the twelve. I was struck by the high quality of the sketches ending each chapter, especially some of the studies of birds as well as the fleeing villain, with William attached to his trouser leg on p 240.
The plot was more creditable than I had remembered, the momentum of guilt by association is all too plausible, and the "birds' nesting affair" ( establishing Owdon's motive) not mentioned until the denouement. I did think it was slightly inconsistent; however, that the skipper of the Cachalot should swear the D & Gs to silence when the pike had already been paraded through the Roaring Donkey. Also, a slight continuity error when the mushroom soup on p 130 becomes pea soup on p 132!