'The 12.30 from Croydon' by Freeman Wills Crofts is a gripping detective novel that delves into the twisted mind of Charles Swinburn. Set in 1933 Yorkshire and London, Swinburn, a factory owner facing financial ruin, devises a malevolent plan to secure his inheritance. Fueled by unrequited love and avarice, he orchestrates the poisoning of his uncle. As the story unfolds, Swinburn believes he has executed the perfect crime, only to face unexpected blackmail and resort to even darker deeds. With Detective-Inspector Joseph French unraveling the mystery in the background, the novel offers a chilling exploration of a criminal's motivations and the ensuing consequences.