Reviews

Capital Crimes: London Mysteries by Martin Edwards

wormz's review against another edition

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4.0

Anthologies are usually pretty hit-or-miss, but this one was pretty strong! Sure, a couple duds, but also some really good stuff. Initially got this because I was interested in Ernest Bramah's Kai Lung but all I could find was this book, which has one of his stories in it.

"The Little House" by H.C. Bailey, "They Don't Wear Labels" by E.M. Delafield, and "The Silver Mask" by Hugh Walpole were all standouts, and I'll be sure to look into those authors!

beckmank's review against another edition

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5.0

I’ve been reading this book for quite a while, but don’t let that length of time fool you. This is a collection of short story classic crime mysteries, all set in London. Every story found in this collection is different. Instead of sitting down and reading this book in it’s entirety, I’ve been enjoying it over the course of two months, picking it up and reading a short mystery here and there.

I liked how editor Mr. Edwards provides not only an introduction to the overall theme of the book, but also an introduction to each story. He gives information about the author, and their writing style or the story, adding incite to each adventure. This was particularly useful information for me, as I was unfamiliar with the majority of the writers in this collection.

The stories vary – some are suspenseful, others an armchair detective whodunit. There are amateur sleuths and Scotland Yard detectives. The publication years range from the late-19th to mid-20th centuries. Each story is unique. The piece that binds them all together is the city of London.

For my full review, please visit Hidden Staircase.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

peanotsilent's review against another edition

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3.0

As always, a mixed bunch with a significantly stronger second half. The Hands of Mr Ottermole by Thomas Burke and The Silver Mask by Hugh Walpole are especially recommended. While both are not traditional mysteries, they benefit from an effective use of atmosphere, which builds a creeping sense of dread.
I am excited to try the rest of the series, this being my second pick after Manor Mysteries. I would rank the latter higher based on the quality of mysteries chosen for each book.
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