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softrosemint's review
3.5
I have been in a bit of a reading slump so I struggled with getting through this. Regardless, I think this is a pretty solid collection. It explores the impossible crime genre beyond the traditional locked-room mystery / murder and features some excellent entries.
Favourites: "The Case of the Tragedies in the Greek Room" by Sax Rohmer, "The Aluminium Dagger" by R. Austin Freeman, "The Diary of Death" by Marten Cumberland, "The Music-Room" by Sapper, "Death at 8.39" by Christopher St. John Spriggm, "The Haunted Policeman" by Dorothy L. Sayers and "The Villa Marie Celeste" by Margery Allingham
Favourites: "The Case of the Tragedies in the Greek Room" by Sax Rohmer, "The Aluminium Dagger" by R. Austin Freeman, "The Diary of Death" by Marten Cumberland, "The Music-Room" by Sapper, "Death at 8.39" by Christopher St. John Spriggm, "The Haunted Policeman" by Dorothy L. Sayers and "The Villa Marie Celeste" by Margery Allingham
fictionfan's review against another edition
5.0
Locked doors don't guarantee safety...
Over the last couple of years, I have developed something of an addiction for the themed anthologies being published under the British Library Crime Classics label. This one concentrates on “impossible” crimes - “locked room” mysteries and others of the kind where the emphasis is more on how it was done than on whodunit. As always, the stories have been selected by Martin Edwards who gives a brief introduction to each one telling a little about the author. They're printed in rough chronological order, covering the period from the beginning of the 20th century (or just before) through to 1960.
There are lots of well-known names here – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy L Sayers, Margery Allingham, etc – as well as some more obscure authors, some of whom have appeared in the earlier anthologies and some who I think are making their first appearance. The crimes are a lot of fun, ranging from the fiendishly clever but quite possible to work out if you have that kind of mind, to ones that rely on something that couldn't have been known – trick doors or things of that nature. I did guess a few, but was baffled by plenty, and even the easier to solve ones are still entertaining.
As with all anthologies, the quality is variable but I must say I think the average standard throughout this collection is actually higher than in some of the earlier collections. Perhaps this kind of puzzle just appeals more to me, but I don't think that's it, really – I think this is just a particularly good group of stories. There are sixteen of them in total, and I ranked ten of them as either 4 or 5 stars, with only one getting a rating lower than 3 (and that was the GK Chesterton story, which can be put down to my own prejudice – I simply don't enjoy his style).
Great fun! I now feel quite qualified to bump off anyone who annoys me in ways that will baffle the greatest detective minds...
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Over the last couple of years, I have developed something of an addiction for the themed anthologies being published under the British Library Crime Classics label. This one concentrates on “impossible” crimes - “locked room” mysteries and others of the kind where the emphasis is more on how it was done than on whodunit. As always, the stories have been selected by Martin Edwards who gives a brief introduction to each one telling a little about the author. They're printed in rough chronological order, covering the period from the beginning of the 20th century (or just before) through to 1960.
There are lots of well-known names here – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dorothy L Sayers, Margery Allingham, etc – as well as some more obscure authors, some of whom have appeared in the earlier anthologies and some who I think are making their first appearance. The crimes are a lot of fun, ranging from the fiendishly clever but quite possible to work out if you have that kind of mind, to ones that rely on something that couldn't have been known – trick doors or things of that nature. I did guess a few, but was baffled by plenty, and even the easier to solve ones are still entertaining.
As with all anthologies, the quality is variable but I must say I think the average standard throughout this collection is actually higher than in some of the earlier collections. Perhaps this kind of puzzle just appeals more to me, but I don't think that's it, really – I think this is just a particularly good group of stories. There are sixteen of them in total, and I ranked ten of them as either 4 or 5 stars, with only one getting a rating lower than 3 (and that was the GK Chesterton story, which can be put down to my own prejudice – I simply don't enjoy his style).
Great fun! I now feel quite qualified to bump off anyone who annoys me in ways that will baffle the greatest detective minds...
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
vsbedford's review against another edition
4.0
Another outstanding collection of mysteries from Poisoned Pen Press, thematically linked, this time, by the "impossible crime." To my mind, the locked room mystery is well served by the short story format as the author can't spend too much time farting around with train time-tables and drawings of table settings; he or she must get in, stab someone on an empty beach, and give us a solution in 10 pages or less. Anyway, this was an especially strong set of mysteries (I only read one that I felt was unfair to the reader) that draws on old favorites and some new (to me) names. Highly 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.
ssejig's review against another edition
mysterious
slow-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
3.5
A nice collection of mystery stories; a good reason why the Poisoned Pen Press anthologies are quickly becoming a must-read. Stories of murders that couldn't have happened, mostly because of locked rooms. There were several authors with stories I already knew but enjoyed visiting (Sayers, Allingham, etc.) as well as some new-to-me authors and stories. Was every single one a winner? No, but enjoyed most of them.
Supposedly “impossible crimes” are a particular favorite subgenre of many mystery readers. In this book, Martin Edwards has gathered together some of his favorites.
The first is an Arthur Conan Doyle story (not Sherlock HOlmes) about a disappearing train.
William Hope Hodgson has his occult detective, Thomas Carnacki, relating the story of a family heirloom that is said to stab any enemy who entered the chapel after the sun went down. But it was used to murder the butler.
In the third story, a man named Searles relates the case of Sax Rohmer’s psychic detective, Moris Klaw and harp music that is absolutely killer.
R. Austin Freeman’s Doctor Thorndyke solves the crime of an aluminumknife that killed a man with a paritcular twist (quite a literal twist)
A rare setting of the United States is where G.K. Chesterton puts Father Brown to solve the murder of a man who is painting himself as a saint.
Nicholas Olde didn’t write many stories in the mystery genre but he did contribute one that resounds today wherein a path by a pond in winter leads to murder.
Lareto Santos deals with murders relating to an old diary In Marten Cumberland’s story.
A dastardly crime is committed over the airwaves in a story penned by Grenville Robbins.
Sapper’s Ronald Standish (not the more well-known Bulldog Drummond) is invited to a party in a house where murder was committed forty years ago.
A blackmailer threatening the lives of prominent men for money is the subject of Christopher Cauldwell’s book.
A writing couple makes an appearance in GDH and Margaret Cole. Dr. Benjamin Tancred tells of a time he solved a supposed suicide.
E. Charles Vivian also employs a locked room mystery when a man appears to have committed suicide after calling up his solicitor to change his will.
The night Harriet Vane gives birth, Lord Peter Wimsey is somewhat at loose ends and needs someone to talk to. A policeman walking by has a tale to tell that will keep Peter’s brain working. This one has racist language in it.
Michael Innes has Inspector Appleby finding a body in the sand with a single set of footprints leading to it. And yet, it doesn’t appear to be suicide.
Professor Gervase Fen solves an impossible crime on a train in a story by Edmund Crispin. A train pulls into a station but no conductor is there…
And Marjorie Allingham wraps up the book with Albert Campion uncovering what happened to a young man and his wife who appear to have simply vanished.
Supposedly “impossible crimes” are a particular favorite subgenre of many mystery readers. In this book, Martin Edwards has gathered together some of his favorites.
The first is an Arthur Conan Doyle story (not Sherlock HOlmes) about a disappearing train.
William Hope Hodgson has his occult detective, Thomas Carnacki, relating the story of a family heirloom that is said to stab any enemy who entered the chapel after the sun went down. But it was used to murder the butler.
In the third story, a man named Searles relates the case of Sax Rohmer’s psychic detective, Moris Klaw and harp music that is absolutely killer.
R. Austin Freeman’s Doctor Thorndyke solves the crime of an aluminumknife that killed a man with a paritcular twist (quite a literal twist)
A rare setting of the United States is where G.K. Chesterton puts Father Brown to solve the murder of a man who is painting himself as a saint.
Nicholas Olde didn’t write many stories in the mystery genre but he did contribute one that resounds today wherein a path by a pond in winter leads to murder.
Lareto Santos deals with murders relating to an old diary In Marten Cumberland’s story.
A dastardly crime is committed over the airwaves in a story penned by Grenville Robbins.
Sapper’s Ronald Standish (not the more well-known Bulldog Drummond) is invited to a party in a house where murder was committed forty years ago.
A blackmailer threatening the lives of prominent men for money is the subject of Christopher Cauldwell’s book.
A writing couple makes an appearance in GDH and Margaret Cole. Dr. Benjamin Tancred tells of a time he solved a supposed suicide.
E. Charles Vivian also employs a locked room mystery when a man appears to have committed suicide after calling up his solicitor to change his will.
The night Harriet Vane gives birth, Lord Peter Wimsey is somewhat at loose ends and needs someone to talk to. A policeman walking by has a tale to tell that will keep Peter’s brain working. This one has racist language in it.
Michael Innes has Inspector Appleby finding a body in the sand with a single set of footprints leading to it. And yet, it doesn’t appear to be suicide.
Professor Gervase Fen solves an impossible crime on a train in a story by Edmund Crispin. A train pulls into a station but no conductor is there…
And Marjorie Allingham wraps up the book with Albert Campion uncovering what happened to a young man and his wife who appear to have simply vanished.
meggreg's review against another edition
2.0
This book just wasn’t for me. It’s a fine anthology for those who like locked-room mysteries, but after 330 pages, I’ve decided I’m not that person.
Spoiler
Tbf, my favorite story was the last one; I hope I win the lottery someday and get to abscond in the middle of the night with my family and never have to worry about money (or prying family members) again.casvelyn's review
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
vesper1931's review against another edition
3.0
A selection (16) of 'locked room'mysteries, mainly published in the early 20th century. There were a couple I really enjoyed while the rest I would say were adequate, with various writing styles. Overall the collection was an interesting mix, and of the authors, I had read other stories from just over half.
If your interest lies in short stories and British classic mysteries then this book will be of interest.
A NetGalley Book
If your interest lies in short stories and British classic mysteries then this book will be of interest.
A NetGalley Book
3no7's review against another edition
4.0
“Miraculous Mysteries” is a must-have anthology for every mystery reader. It is a collection of hard to find, quick reads by top classic mystery writers, for example, Arthur Conan Doyle, Marten Cumberland, Edmund Crispin, and Dorothy Sayers. It has something for every reader. I took this collection on my recent vacation and loved every story, even the ones I had read previously.
A collection such as this allows a fan of mystery books to read and finish a compelling story all in one sitting. It is perfect for plane trips, car rides, or while waiting for appointments or when taking others (CHILDREN) to practice, or lessons, or games, or meetings, or afterschool events – the list goes on!
I was privileged to receive an advance copy of this collection to review, and it made my recent vacation trip both mysterious and enjoyable without interrupting my other plans. I could read these classic mysteries again and again and love them each time.
A collection such as this allows a fan of mystery books to read and finish a compelling story all in one sitting. It is perfect for plane trips, car rides, or while waiting for appointments or when taking others (CHILDREN) to practice, or lessons, or games, or meetings, or afterschool events – the list goes on!
I was privileged to receive an advance copy of this collection to review, and it made my recent vacation trip both mysterious and enjoyable without interrupting my other plans. I could read these classic mysteries again and again and love them each time.
robinwalter's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
An anthology of locked-room murders and other "impossible" crimes. A nice taster, and a reminder that doing such stories justice requires careful attention, not skim reading.