... and this really *is* the book where he meets the lady he'll end up marrying. Even though she's got him twisted right around her little finger in every conceivable way from the word "go", and he's not even aware of it ...
I'm not sure this is one where you need to read the print version -- I'd just go for the David Suchet / Hugh Fraser TV adaptation. That tells you pretty much what you need to know about the plot ... and they even managed to squeeze in a bit more on the golfing side (all of which comes tumbling down on Hastings's feet like a pile of bricks, of course).
The whole "romance" subplot of this book made me want to kill someone. Hastings is at his least charming through the entire book, in my opinion. Also, the acrobatic scene towards the end is ridiculous. And it blatantly and irritatingly violates rule 10 of the Ten Rules of (Golden Age) Detective Fiction.
The acrobatic scene was stupid, though I didn't mention it in my review because I thought I'd give it the benefit of the doubt given I listened to a dramatisation where the whole scene was not only ridiculous but awkwardly acted out.
I'm not sure this is one where you need to read the print version -- I'd just go for the David Suchet / Hugh Fraser TV adaptation. That tells you pretty much what you need to know about the plot ... and they even managed to squeeze in a bit more on the golfing side (all of which comes tumbling down on Hastings's feet like a pile of bricks, of course).