The Shortest Way To Hades by Sarah Caudwell

In this witty and intricately plotted mystery, a group of young London barristers becomes entangled in a complex case when one of their number is called upon to advise a group of siblings on a tax matter after the suspicious death of their wealthy aunt. As they delve into the family's affairs, another murder occurs, leading the amateur sleuths to navigate a maze of legal twists, ancient Greek references, and sardonic humor to uncover the truth. Their investigation takes them from the Inns of Court to the Greek Isles, where they must use their legal expertise and deductive skills to solve the case and ensure justice is served.

The 5431st greatest book of all time

Ranking Details:

Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:

Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.

Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:

  • Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
  • Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.

Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.

This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.

Total Points: 90

Since this book was first published in 1985, there is a penalty of 17.6%. The age adjusted score is 74.16.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.