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.