Double Cross Purposes

Double Cross Purposes is a 1937 detective novel set in the Scottish Highlands, featuring insurance investigator Miles Bredon. The story centers on a treasure hunt for lost Jacobite valuables on a remote island, where a young socialite and his mysterious partner seek a historical fortune. Insurance investigator Miles Bredon arrives to monitor the treasure hunt after multiple insurance policies are taken out by various parties. He brings his wife Angela and friend Edward Pulteney, using salmon fishing as their cover while they observe the proceedings on the island. The investigation takes place against the backdrop of Scottish history and local legends about Charles Edward Stuart's escape after Culloden. When valuable artifacts are discovered and a deadly fire occurs, Bredon must untangle a web of motives, relationships, and competing claims. Knox's final detective novel explores themes of greed, deception, and the intersection of historical legacy with modern ambition. The remote Scottish setting serves as both practical obstacle and metaphorical isolation for the characters involved in this complex case.

Limited reader reviews exist for this lesser-known mystery novel from 1937. Several readers note that while Knox was a pioneer of detective fiction "rules," this book receives less attention than his other works. Readers value: - The intricate code-breaking elements - Multiple layers of misdirection - Fair-play puzzle aspects Common criticisms: - Dense, complex plotting that can be hard to follow - Character development takes a back seat to the puzzle - Some find the code-breaking sections tedious Available ratings: Goodreads: 3.33/5 (9 ratings) No ratings found on Amazon or other major review sites Blog reviews from vintage mystery readers note that it's one of Knox's more challenging works. One reader on a mystery forum commented: "The codes and ciphers make this feel more like a puzzle book than a traditional detective story." Another wrote: "Requires concentration but rewards careful reading."

The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers Lord Peter Wimsey investigates a jewel theft and murder in the remote Fens of East Anglia, with a similar focus on local history and isolated setting as backdrop for complex deceptions.

The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey Inspector Grant travels to the Scottish Highlands where a dead man on a train leads to a mystery involving ancient artifacts and competing interests in a remote landscape.

Hamlet, Revenge! by Michael Innes Inspector Appleby investigates crimes during an aristocratic theatrical production at a remote estate, featuring historical artifacts and multiple layers of deception.

The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley A group of friends in a remote Highland hunting lodge become entangled in murder and secrets, echoing the isolation and Scottish setting of Knox's work.

The Moving Toyshop by Edmund Crispin Professor Gervase Fen pursues a case involving disappeared evidence and competing stories in Oxford, with a treasure hunt element that mirrors Knox's plot structure.

🔍 Knox wrote detective fiction while serving as a Catholic priest, bringing his theological precision to the craft of mystery writing. 📚 "Double Cross Purposes" (1937) was Knox's last detective novel, concluding the Miles Bredon series after only three books. 🏰 The book's focus on Jacobite treasure reflects genuine historical searches - numerous expeditions have sought Bonnie Prince Charlie's lost gold in the Scottish Highlands. 📜 Knox established influential "Ten Commandments of Detective Fiction," rules that shaped the genre and were followed by many Golden Age mystery writers. 🎭 The protagonist Miles Bredon works for the fictional "Indescribable Insurance Company," a clever play on real insurance companies of the era that highlights Knox's wit and satirical style.