A review by mehlsbell
Warrant for X by Philip MacDonald

starting in and its descriptions of the long and somewhat arbitrary string of events which lead to an inciting incident is hypnotic in prose, driving along as incessantly as fate or change or whatever you may have.

look this is an exercise in excessive descriptions of simple events. Dickens wishes he could come up with this many words to describe a man springing into action, a woman sitting and staring at a clock. but the prose is amusing, evocative, and not until the halfway point or so - when you're invested in the methodology - does the repetitive nature kick in.