When reading Agatha Christie's books, you have to be aware of when they were published to fully appreciate Christie's enourmous writing and plotting talent. This one was published in 1925 and therefore one of her first ones. It is the author's first novel featuring Superintendent Battle, of Scotland Yard.

This book has all the traits of a Christie's book: aliases, Royalty, blackmail, jewel theft, murder, colourful (and not so colourful) characters, intrigue, confusion... You end up wondering whether everyone is indeed who they say they are! The intrigue has quite a few complicated plots, which are all intertwined, with a surprise twist at the end.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, which got me guessing till the end.