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vsbedford's review against another edition
5.0
A fun collection of book-centered mysteries wherein books, booksellers, book enthusiasts, and writers all play interesting parts. Perhaps because writers like writing about their craft there's hardly a stinker in the bunch - a solid 95% are As and the other are probably Bs just by comparison (although I'd give "We Know You're Busy Writing" a fairly low grade as it just grated immensely). Christianna Brand's "Dear Mr. Editor..." is amazingly modern and striking for its sort of "off" tone - it's as if Ms. Brand got a writing prompt from Shirley Jackson and went ham. The gem, for me, of this anthology is Marjorie Bremner's "Murder in Advance." I'll be pursuing her (only two!) mystery novels as her writing is fresh and cinematic and her mystery plays fair with the reader. All in all a strong recommend.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
amalia1985's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
‘’That’s our daily job, inventing stories; making a definite pattern of a number of incidents. Dammit, I could contrive some sort of story out of any assortment of facts: a spot of candlegrease, a badly sharpened pencil, a canary which wouldn't sing any more and a man who went to bed one night in his wooden leg.’’
A Lesson In Crime (GDH and M.Cole): I am sure that most of us would like to confront several writers regarding their implausible stories and inaccuracies but the eccentric reader of this wonderful story took things a little too far…
Trent and the Ministering Angel (E.C.Bentley): A mystery of wills, a formidable wife, flowers and arcane messages with the aid of Lewis Carroll.
A Slice of Bad Luck (Cecil Day-Lewis writing as Nickolas Blake): A disgusting, albeit famous writer is found dead after the lights go out. Many had reasons to kill him, but the missing detail will reveal the culprit.
The Strange Case of the Megatherium Thefts (S.C.Roberts): Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson are asked to investigate the case of missing books and meet a man of peculiar vices. Fret not, this is not glorified fan-fiction but a story true to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s spirit.
Malice Domestic (Philip MacDonald): A writer is suffering from strange stomach disturbances and his doctor is convinced that foul play is involved.
A Savage Game (A.A.Milne): Colonel Saxe challenges a famous writer to solve a very real murder with an alarming lack of suspects. Coleby does so without leaving his living room…
The Clue in the Book (Julian Symons): Francis Quarles, a private detective, investigates the murder of a collector of manuscripts written by murderers.
The Manuscript (Gladys Mitchell): In what seems an open-and-shut case, a girl who has stolen a manuscript is found dead. Yet Detective - Inspector Rogers has a few aces up his sleeve…
A Man and His Mother-In-Law (Roy Vickers): In an exciting story, a despicable man who wants his wife to be nothing more than a brainless puppet is brought down by two brilliant women and a book. Even the noose is too gentle for his type…
Grey’s Ghost (Michale Innes): John Appleby narrates the haunting (and ingenious) story of a wronged ghostwriter who decides to teach his ungrateful employer a powerful lesson.
Dear Mr. Editor (Christianna Brand): A satanic woman gets what she deserves in this absolutely, massively thrilling story. My favourite in this outstanding collection.
Murder in Advance (Marjorie Bremner): A playwright who intended to write a rather controversial play is murdered, and Scotland Yard investigates in high places.
A Question of Character (Victor Canning): A failure of a writer plots to murder his famous wife but Fate has other ideas. The twists in this story are supremely satisfying!
Book of Honour (John Creasey): A young man involved in the publishing industry finds himself a witness to a feud between a father and a son in Bombay.
We Know You’re Busy Writing, But We Thought You Wouldnt Mind If We Just Dropped In For A Minute (Edmund Crispin): In a story that starts in a comical tone but becomes rather eerie as we go, a writer struggles to write THAT scene while the entire universe is knocking on his door or calling him on the phone. I mean, I don’t blame the poor chap in the slightest…
Chapter and Verse (Ngaio Marsh): An intricate mystery within the pages of an old Bible.
Another glorious addition to the British Library Crime Classics, superbly introduced and edited (as always) by Martin Edwards.
‘’I must introduce myself.
None of this is going to be read, even, let alone published. Ever.
Nevertheless, there is habit - the habit of putting words together in the most effective order you can think of. There is self-respect too. That, and habit, make me try to tell this as if it were in fact going to be read.
Which God forbid.’’
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
vesper1931's review against another edition
mysterious
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
1. A Lesson in Crime by G.D.H. Cole and M. Cole (1953
Crime writer Joseph Newton is killed while travelling on the Cornish Riviera express. Who and why was this simple murder committed.
2. Trent and the Ministering Angel by E.C. Bentley (1938)
A client of solicitor Arthur Selby has died. But he states his suspicions about the will to Philip Trent.
3. A Slice of Bad Luck by Nicolas Blake (1939)
A group of people called the Assassins - Crime writers, judges, etc attend a dinner party when one of them is murdered.
4. The Strange Case of the Megatherium Thefts by S.C. Roberts (1945)
Who is stealing the books from the Club and why.
5. Malice Domestic by Philip MacDonald (1946)
Is someone trying to kill Crime writer Carl Borden.
6. A Savage Game by A.A. Milne (1950)
Chief Constable Saxe gives writer Mr Colby details about the latest murder to see if he can solve the case.
7. The Clue in the Book by Julian Symons (1952)
Who dies kill invalid Silas Brinn. This was just too obvious.
8. The Manuscript by Gladys Mitchell (1953)
Why was a manuscript burnt and a female convict killed. Not that interesting.
9. A Man and his Mother-in-law by Roy Vickers (1953)
How did Arthur Penfold end up as a murderer
10. Grey's Ghost by Michael Innes (1956)
A conversation overheard - Grey's ghost was black - is finally explained
11. Dear Mr. Editor by Christianna Brand (1958)
In response to a request for a story the author sends a document to an editor - Detailing attempts at killing Helen
12. Murder in Advance by Marjorie Bremner (1958)
Why was likeable playwright Lewis Maynard murdered wonders Inspector Dacre to his friend Dr Allerton
13. A Question of Character by Victor canning (1960)
Geoffrey Gilroy has decided to murder his wife, a more successful and famous novalist.
14. The Book of Honour by John Creasy (1965)
Why does Barurao's son hate him.
15. We Know You're Busy Writing.... by Edmund Crispin (1969)
What is a stay at home writer to do when he keeps getting interrupted while writing.
16. Chapter and Verse by Ngaio Marsh (1973).
Book man Timothy Bates has a mystery for Superintendent Alleyn concerning entries in an old bible he has discovered.
A collection of short stories all with a connection to books, for example crime writers.
There were only a couple of stories that I was not impressed with as far as they were not that entertaining. But overall the collection is an enjoyable set of mystery short stories, well-written and in the confines of shortness, well-plotted, with its collection of interesting and somewhat likeable characters.
Crime writer Joseph Newton is killed while travelling on the Cornish Riviera express. Who and why was this simple murder committed.
2. Trent and the Ministering Angel by E.C. Bentley (1938)
A client of solicitor Arthur Selby has died. But he states his suspicions about the will to Philip Trent.
3. A Slice of Bad Luck by Nicolas Blake (1939)
A group of people called the Assassins - Crime writers, judges, etc attend a dinner party when one of them is murdered.
4. The Strange Case of the Megatherium Thefts by S.C. Roberts (1945)
Who is stealing the books from the Club and why.
5. Malice Domestic by Philip MacDonald (1946)
Is someone trying to kill Crime writer Carl Borden.
6. A Savage Game by A.A. Milne (1950)
Chief Constable Saxe gives writer Mr Colby details about the latest murder to see if he can solve the case.
7. The Clue in the Book by Julian Symons (1952)
Who dies kill invalid Silas Brinn. This was just too obvious.
8. The Manuscript by Gladys Mitchell (1953)
Why was a manuscript burnt and a female convict killed. Not that interesting.
9. A Man and his Mother-in-law by Roy Vickers (1953)
How did Arthur Penfold end up as a murderer
10. Grey's Ghost by Michael Innes (1956)
A conversation overheard - Grey's ghost was black - is finally explained
11. Dear Mr. Editor by Christianna Brand (1958)
In response to a request for a story the author sends a document to an editor - Detailing attempts at killing Helen
12. Murder in Advance by Marjorie Bremner (1958)
Why was likeable playwright Lewis Maynard murdered wonders Inspector Dacre to his friend Dr Allerton
13. A Question of Character by Victor canning (1960)
Geoffrey Gilroy has decided to murder his wife, a more successful and famous novalist.
14. The Book of Honour by John Creasy (1965)
Why does Barurao's son hate him.
15. We Know You're Busy Writing.... by Edmund Crispin (1969)
What is a stay at home writer to do when he keeps getting interrupted while writing.
16. Chapter and Verse by Ngaio Marsh (1973).
Book man Timothy Bates has a mystery for Superintendent Alleyn concerning entries in an old bible he has discovered.
A collection of short stories all with a connection to books, for example crime writers.
There were only a couple of stories that I was not impressed with as far as they were not that entertaining. But overall the collection is an enjoyable set of mystery short stories, well-written and in the confines of shortness, well-plotted, with its collection of interesting and somewhat likeable characters.
1mpossiblealice's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed this very much. Obviously with a short story collection some are better than others, but overall it was an enjoyable, fun to read collection with some great stories.
captaincymru's review against another edition
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
4.0
catebutler's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
3.75
A Lesson in Crime - 4 Stars
Trent and the Ministering Angel - 3.5 Stars
A Slice of Bad Luck - 3 Stars
The Strange Case of the Megatherium Thefts - 3 Stars
Malice Domestic - 3.5 Stars
A Savage Game - 3 Stars
The Clue in the Book - 3 Stars
The Manuscript - 2.5 Stars
Grey’s Ghost - 4 Stars
Dear Mr. Editor - 3.5 Stars
Murder in Advance - 3 Stars
A Question of Character - 4 Stars
The Book of Honour - 4.5 Stars
We Know You’re Busy Writing…. - 4 Stars
Chapter and Verse - 3 Stars
Trent and the Ministering Angel - 3.5 Stars
A Slice of Bad Luck - 3 Stars
The Strange Case of the Megatherium Thefts - 3 Stars
Malice Domestic - 3.5 Stars
A Savage Game - 3 Stars
The Clue in the Book - 3 Stars
The Manuscript - 2.5 Stars
Grey’s Ghost - 4 Stars
Dear Mr. Editor - 3.5 Stars
Murder in Advance - 3 Stars
A Question of Character - 4 Stars
The Book of Honour - 4.5 Stars
We Know You’re Busy Writing…. - 4 Stars
Chapter and Verse - 3 Stars
charlottelh's review against another edition
4.0
A book of short stories about book themed old school British murder mysteries *chefs kiss*
han2709's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
2.5
Good collection of short stories but it felt like some of the attetudes towards mental health, women, race and those with disability should have been left in the past.