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tombomp's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this, good selection of stories with very short but useful introductions to each about the author that contextualises things. I liked all the stories - although obviously some are worse than others, I found even the worse ones enjoyable enough and interesting often from a stylistic/period writing perspective. Like a few of them were very pulpy but I still found them a lot of fun and it was cool seeing a different style of writing to that I'm used to. The content varies too: some are straight up mysteries, others are more suspense/psychological based stuff. A few stand-outs: The Avenging Chance, The Silver Mask, They Don't Wear Labels (which isn't a mystery story at all but is REALLY chilling, about . I'll also note The Tea Leaf, whose main plot point has unfortunately been used all over the place so you can probably guess it as soon as the murder is described BUT it's cool anyway. Anyway yeah if you have any interest in golden age mystery/crime type stuff I think you'll really enjoy this.
Also just for reference one of the stories "A Mystery of the Underground" is abridged but it just cuts out a lot of the "chase" stuff which isn't as interesting and I didn't really miss it at all
Spoiler
a sophisticated long term gaslighting - the story of abuse is well done and it's just wowAlso just for reference one of the stories "A Mystery of the Underground" is abridged but it just cuts out a lot of the "chase" stuff which isn't as interesting and I didn't really miss it at all
shanaqui's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This is an interesting bunch of stories, loosely connected by location, but somehow mostly hitting the same notes -- I guess people felt a certain kind of way about London, and that comes through in this collection with a serious sense of unease about the way you can meet just about anyone in London.
The inclusion of Berkeley's original short story on which he based The Poisoned Chocolates Case was an interesting one; the details seemed very much the same, and I can't really remember how the novel turns out differently and which characters exactly get suspected there. It makes me a little tempted to reread it!
The truncation of the story set on the Underground feels a little odd -- I guess it was long/rambling, but still, it feels like a key bit gets missed out here, the whole solution of the thing.
Overall, an interesting collection as usual.
The inclusion of Berkeley's original short story on which he based The Poisoned Chocolates Case was an interesting one; the details seemed very much the same, and I can't really remember how the novel turns out differently and which characters exactly get suspected there. It makes me a little tempted to reread it!
The truncation of the story set on the Underground feels a little odd -- I guess it was long/rambling, but still, it feels like a key bit gets missed out here, the whole solution of the thing.
Overall, an interesting collection as usual.
softrosemint's review against another edition
3.5
The British Library's crime series feature stories set in London very consistently - as expected. However, this makes the selection of the ones included within this volume all the more commendable. The selected short stories truly manage to capture the spirit and atmosphere of London.
Favourite entries: "The Case of Lady Sannox" by Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Mystery on the Underground" by John Oxenham, "The Finchley Puzzle" by Richard Marsh, "The Holloway Flat Tragedy" by Ernest Bramah, "The Hands of Mr Ottermole" by Thomas Burke, "The Little House" by H.C. Bailey, "The Silver Mask" by Hugh Warpole and "They Don't Wear Labels" by E.M. Delafield.
Favourite entries: "The Case of Lady Sannox" by Arthur Conan Doyle, "A Mystery on the Underground" by John Oxenham, "The Finchley Puzzle" by Richard Marsh, "The Holloway Flat Tragedy" by Ernest Bramah, "The Hands of Mr Ottermole" by Thomas Burke, "The Little House" by H.C. Bailey, "The Silver Mask" by Hugh Warpole and "They Don't Wear Labels" by E.M. Delafield.
fictionfan's review against another edition
5.0
The streets of London...
From Sherlock Holmes to Lacey Flint, many of the detectives I have loved over the years have been based in London. And why not? One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with a history stretching back for over a millennium, it has always been a contrast of bright lights and dark alleyways, extreme wealth and desperate poverty, and every one of its ancient streets is drenched in the blood of the victims of its horrid past. Visitors love nothing more than to shiver in the London Dungeon, to thrill to the stories of ancient beheadings in the Tower, to make a pilgrimage to those famous rooms in Baker Street. What river has been the escape route for more criminals and the final resting place for more victims than the Thames? Who can think of Whitechapel without their thoughts turning to the eviscerated victims of Jack the Ripper?
So what better venue for a collection of classic crime stories? In this book, Martin Edwards has selected 17 stories from the Golden Age of crime writing, some from names we are still familiar with – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Margery Allingham, Edgar Wallace – but many from authors who have since faded into obscurity. He has arranged them into rough chronological order, allowing us to see the gradual transition from the heyday of the amateur detective to the beginnings of the police procedural with which we're more familiar today. The overall standard of the stories is variable, as in any collection, but I found most of them good or excellent, with only a couple that I felt really hadn't stood the test of time. But even these added something to the collection in showing how trends were just as strong in early crime-writing as they are now. For example, I was underwhelmed by Richard Marsh's The Finchley Puzzle, starring deaf, lip-reading amateur detective Judith Lee, but was intrigued to note that there seemed to be a fashion around that time for detectives with a physical quirk, since a couple of stories later we meet Ernest Bramah's blind detective Max Carradine – not unlike our current obsession with autistic detectives, but happily without the angst (or drunkenness).
The influence of Holmes and Watson is clear in some of the partnerships between brilliant detectives and admiring narrators, (though I suppose I should grudgingly give the credit to Poe's Dupin and his unnamed narrator really). R Austin Freeman's Dr Thorndyke in particular struck me as very Sherlockian, as did the aforementioned Max Carradine.
Many of the stories rely on intricate plots – 'locked room' mysteries, innovative murder methods, unbreakable alibis, etc. But others veer more strongly towards the psychological, using atmosphere to great effect to build suspense, and a couple of them could easily be classed as horror as much as crime. I've already highlighted a couple of the stories as part of my Tuesday 'Tec! slot (on my blog - https://fictionfanblog.wordpress.com/tag/tuesday-tec-2/ ) – Edgar Wallace's The Stealer of Marble and John Oxenham's A Mystery of the Underground – but to give you a brief flavour of the collection, here are a few more that stood out for me...
The Case of Lady Sannox by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – this revenge story is definitely more horror than detection, telling the tale of a husband avenging himself against the man who is having an affair with his wife. A truly horrifying ending! And a great way to kick off the collection.
The Tea Leaf by Robert Eustace and Edgar Jepson – two men enter a room in a Turkish Bath, argue loudly, and only one leaves alive. But no murder weapon is found on the survivor or in the room. How was the murder done, and who is the killer? A fine example of a 'locked room' mystery with a unique method of killing.
The Little House by HC Bailey – amateur detective Reggie Fortune is asked to look into the case of a missing kitten, but this soon becomes an extremely chilling look at a case of child cruelty. The writing style is a bit staccato but the story is powerful with a strong sense of anger and justice.
The Silver Mask by Hugh Walpole – the story of the collection for me, and I will definitely be looking for more of Walpole's work. This tells of a middle-aged lady whose loneliness and maternal feelings are played on by an unscrupulous young man. The way Walpole describes the woman's character is very true and touching, and I found the portrayal of the unintended carelessness of her friends and family quite moving. This is another with an atmosphere of terror which mounts all the way through to an ending that is full of dread. Brilliant stuff!
They Don't Wear Labels by EM Delafield – an intriguing story told from the perspective of the landlady of a married couple living in her lodging house. The woman is suffering from 'nerves' and on one evening tells the landlady her husband is trying to murder her. But the husband is so nice to everyone, and seems so kind to his impossible wife – he couldn't possibly be a murderer...could he? Another psychological study this, of how one can never tell by appearances.
All round, an excellent collection that I highly recommend to all crime aficionados, and I'm looking forward to reading Edward's selection in the companion volume, [b:Resorting to Murder: |25034041|Resorting to Murder Holiday Mysteries A British Library Crime Classic (British Library Crime Classics)|Martin Edwards|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425060086s/25034041.jpg|44709664].
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, who publish the Kindle version. The paper version is part of the British Library's Crime Classics series.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
From Sherlock Holmes to Lacey Flint, many of the detectives I have loved over the years have been based in London. And why not? One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with a history stretching back for over a millennium, it has always been a contrast of bright lights and dark alleyways, extreme wealth and desperate poverty, and every one of its ancient streets is drenched in the blood of the victims of its horrid past. Visitors love nothing more than to shiver in the London Dungeon, to thrill to the stories of ancient beheadings in the Tower, to make a pilgrimage to those famous rooms in Baker Street. What river has been the escape route for more criminals and the final resting place for more victims than the Thames? Who can think of Whitechapel without their thoughts turning to the eviscerated victims of Jack the Ripper?
So what better venue for a collection of classic crime stories? In this book, Martin Edwards has selected 17 stories from the Golden Age of crime writing, some from names we are still familiar with – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Margery Allingham, Edgar Wallace – but many from authors who have since faded into obscurity. He has arranged them into rough chronological order, allowing us to see the gradual transition from the heyday of the amateur detective to the beginnings of the police procedural with which we're more familiar today. The overall standard of the stories is variable, as in any collection, but I found most of them good or excellent, with only a couple that I felt really hadn't stood the test of time. But even these added something to the collection in showing how trends were just as strong in early crime-writing as they are now. For example, I was underwhelmed by Richard Marsh's The Finchley Puzzle, starring deaf, lip-reading amateur detective Judith Lee, but was intrigued to note that there seemed to be a fashion around that time for detectives with a physical quirk, since a couple of stories later we meet Ernest Bramah's blind detective Max Carradine – not unlike our current obsession with autistic detectives, but happily without the angst (or drunkenness).
The influence of Holmes and Watson is clear in some of the partnerships between brilliant detectives and admiring narrators, (though I suppose I should grudgingly give the credit to Poe's Dupin and his unnamed narrator really). R Austin Freeman's Dr Thorndyke in particular struck me as very Sherlockian, as did the aforementioned Max Carradine.
Many of the stories rely on intricate plots – 'locked room' mysteries, innovative murder methods, unbreakable alibis, etc. But others veer more strongly towards the psychological, using atmosphere to great effect to build suspense, and a couple of them could easily be classed as horror as much as crime. I've already highlighted a couple of the stories as part of my Tuesday 'Tec! slot (on my blog - https://fictionfanblog.wordpress.com/tag/tuesday-tec-2/ ) – Edgar Wallace's The Stealer of Marble and John Oxenham's A Mystery of the Underground – but to give you a brief flavour of the collection, here are a few more that stood out for me...
The Case of Lady Sannox by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – this revenge story is definitely more horror than detection, telling the tale of a husband avenging himself against the man who is having an affair with his wife. A truly horrifying ending! And a great way to kick off the collection.
The Tea Leaf by Robert Eustace and Edgar Jepson – two men enter a room in a Turkish Bath, argue loudly, and only one leaves alive. But no murder weapon is found on the survivor or in the room. How was the murder done, and who is the killer? A fine example of a 'locked room' mystery with a unique method of killing.
The Little House by HC Bailey – amateur detective Reggie Fortune is asked to look into the case of a missing kitten, but this soon becomes an extremely chilling look at a case of child cruelty. The writing style is a bit staccato but the story is powerful with a strong sense of anger and justice.
The Silver Mask by Hugh Walpole – the story of the collection for me, and I will definitely be looking for more of Walpole's work. This tells of a middle-aged lady whose loneliness and maternal feelings are played on by an unscrupulous young man. The way Walpole describes the woman's character is very true and touching, and I found the portrayal of the unintended carelessness of her friends and family quite moving. This is another with an atmosphere of terror which mounts all the way through to an ending that is full of dread. Brilliant stuff!
They Don't Wear Labels by EM Delafield – an intriguing story told from the perspective of the landlady of a married couple living in her lodging house. The woman is suffering from 'nerves' and on one evening tells the landlady her husband is trying to murder her. But the husband is so nice to everyone, and seems so kind to his impossible wife – he couldn't possibly be a murderer...could he? Another psychological study this, of how one can never tell by appearances.
All round, an excellent collection that I highly recommend to all crime aficionados, and I'm looking forward to reading Edward's selection in the companion volume, [b:Resorting to Murder: |25034041|Resorting to Murder Holiday Mysteries A British Library Crime Classic (British Library Crime Classics)|Martin Edwards|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1425060086s/25034041.jpg|44709664].
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, who publish the Kindle version. The paper version is part of the British Library's Crime Classics series.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
bookclubdropout's review against another edition
4.0
As you might imagine the British Library gift shop has an excellent selection of books, including this fab collection of classic crime stories set in London.
vsbedford's review against another edition
4.0
A thoroughly enjoyable survey of British crime set in its capital city. A wide range of styles are included in this anthology - a fan of crime fiction is sure to find a small treasure and a new author to track down. I especially enjoyed "A Mystery of the Underground,""The Hands of Mr. Ottermole," and "The Unseen Door"; each a very good example of their day. A great choice for folding into bed with.
I received an EARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an EARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
susanj13's review against another edition
3.0
My first of the British Library Crime Classics, this one is a collection of tales based in London City from a wide range of British crime writers in the former half of the 20th century. If you have enjoyed your dose of Conan Doyle and Christie, then this one is for you. The stories were good, some predictable, some keeping you guessing till the very end. Loved the touch of London and its personality in each tale, and also learned of the many more Sherlock & Poirot like characters that have existed in British literature.
verityw's review
3.0
This is a collection of London-set stories and actually features some creepier ones as well as a Margery Allingham Campion short and an Anthony Berkeley too. There’s also a story about a serial killer on the Underground, which was so realistic when it was first serialised, that passenger numbers dropped! Here the ending is a little truncated from that original serialisation, but you can still see why it would have freaked people out
captaincymru's review
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
maccymacd's review against another edition
5.0
If anyone wants a lesson in how to write a next to perfect crime story, you must read this collection, it's absolutely divine!! The wide range of authors all add their individual magic to their wonderful stories, and Martin Edwards's synopsis about the author and their work at the beginning of each story is such a treat. I would love to dip into this over and over again.