The Amazing Chance: A Golden Age Mystery

Ten years He had been dead ten years

Uncannily alike in appearance were the twins, Jim and Jack Laydon. Both, too, loved beautiful Evelyn Prothero. For three mad, ecstatic days early in the Great War, Evelyn had been engaged to Jack. Then the engagement was broken, for reasons the girl chose never to make public. Soon after, she abruptly married Jim, but no one who saw it could ever forget Jack's face during the ceremony. A week later, on the same day, in the same raid, both brothers went missing. Now, ten years later, Evelyn is still a widow grieving - some say for Jack, some say for Jim.

Then suddenly in Germany a mute peasant is struck on the head. When he recovers consciousness he claims his name is Laydon - Jim or Jack, he will not say. And how is Evelyn to know, when every distinguishing trait has been lost? Who - Jim, Jack, or A.N. Other - has grasped at a chance for a new life, and what steps has he taken to live it?

The Amazing Chance was originally published in 1926. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

"When I pick up a book by Patricia Wentworth I think, now to enjoy myself--and I always do." Mary Dell, Daily Mirror

About the Author
Wentworth, Patricia: - Patricia Wentworth was born Dora Amy Elles in India in 1877 (not 1878 as has sometimes been stated). She was first educated privately in India, and later at Blackheath School for Girls. Her first husband was George Dillon, with whom she had her only child, a daughter. She also had two stepsons from her first marriage, one of whom died in the Somme during World War I. Her first novel was published in 1910, but it wasn't until the 1920's that she embarked on her long career as a writer of mysteries. Her most famous creation was Miss Maud Silver, who appeared in 32 novels, though there were a further 33 full-length mysteries not featuring Miss Silver-the entire run of these is now reissued by Dean Street Press. Patricia Wentworth died in 1961. She is recognized today as one of the pre-eminent exponents of the classic British golden age mystery novel.