Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles
Published: 1931 | Series: Standalone
In this inverted mystery, the murderer's identity is revealed in the novel's first sentence: "It was not until several weeks after he had decided to murder his wife that Doctor Bickleigh took any active steps in the matter."
About Francis Iles
Anthony Berkeley (1893-1971) was an influential British crime writer who revolutionized detective fiction through psychological complexity and unreliable narration. Writing also as Francis Iles, he founded the Detection Club and authored classics like The Poisoned Chocolates Case and Malice Aforethought, profoundly influencing the genre's evolution toward darker themes.
There are several episodes that reference Anthony Berkeley in the archive: The Psychology of Anthony Berkeley, The Detection Club and The Crime Clubs. His novel The Poisoned Chocolates Case has also appeared in the Green Penguin Book Club series. Malice Aforethought is discussed in A Second Century of Whodunnits and Howdunnit.
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