Reviews

Bodies from the Library: Lost Classic Stories by Masters of the Golden Age by Tony Medawar

searchandrescueteam's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.25

The stories: they're short, obviously, and I think I like my crime fiction to have the greater depth of plot and character of a novel. There tends to be a "gotcha" moment rather than an "aha". However they are, for the most part, beautifully crafted. Each writer being skilled, and characters often if not funny, at least bemusing.
The history: really doesn't add anything to the volume for me. I guess I just came for the fiction, not the facts.

kirstenfindlay's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

wasuretta_'s review

dark mysterious tense

4.75

schellenbergk's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

As with a lot of compilations, it’s mixed. Some stories are great, others are a chore to read.

halellery's review against another edition

3.0

It's a book of short stories - classic detective stories from some of the great criminal authors. All good and well, except that short stories aren't my cup of tea. I don't know why I keep doing this to myself.

sadiqua_fatima's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

floragata_lee's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

4.0

1mpossiblealice's review against another edition

4.0

I enjoyed this - part of the reason it's 4 stars instead of 3 is that this collection contained stories I've never read before (they haven't been published anywhere else, that's part of the point of the book) and writers I'd never heard of. Having read lots of Golden Age collections, that's unusual. 
I really enjoyed some of the stories, some were just fine, some were in between. Nothing that I thought was awful, although there are two stage play type things in here that I admit I skipped because I didn't want to read a play! 
I really liked the Cyril Hare story and the AA Milne in particular. I'll definitely be picking up the second of these collections. 

sara_h's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

judyward's review against another edition

4.0

An anthology of 16 short stories written by some of the best authors from the Golden Age of Mystery. Very enjoyable.