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jaynecm's review
mysterious
tense
4.0
This is my first read from the British Library Crime Classics series and as there are a huge number of them, both story collections and novels, on Kindle Unlimited, it will not be my last.
Thoroughly enjoyed all the stories, but two favourites stood out.
The Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse was sharp and witty and so tongue in cheek. Wonderful dry humour.
The Scarecrow was written by Ethel Lina White, who also wrote the books that the movies The Lady Vanishes and The Spiral Staircase were based on. You can definitely see in this story why her writing translates so well to the screen and this story would be no exception. Scarecrows are always creepy!
Thoroughly enjoyed all the stories, but two favourites stood out.
The Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse was sharp and witty and so tongue in cheek. Wonderful dry humour.
The Scarecrow was written by Ethel Lina White, who also wrote the books that the movies The Lady Vanishes and The Spiral Staircase were based on. You can definitely see in this story why her writing translates so well to the screen and this story would be no exception. Scarecrows are always creepy!
vsbedford's review
5.0
An extraordinarily enjoyable collection of crimes in the countryside; perfect Golden Age crimes for a rainy day. The final quarter of the collection is particularly well chosen, and a short story from Leonora Wodehouse entitled "Inquest" is a complete standout. Parcel this out for yourself to prolong the enjoyment!
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.
bev_reads_mysteries's review
4.0
The British Library Crime Classics series and Martin Edwards brings us a short story collection all about trouble in the paradise of the British countryside. We have murderers, swindlers, and mischief-makers galore--all proving Holmes's observation in "The Copper Beeches":
The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside....Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.
Holmes knew what he was talking about. The pleasant gardens of the manor house, the fertile fields, the quiet wooded valleys...all prove to be a dangerous place for the poor victims found in the stories within. I'm always amazed at the little-known stories that find their way into these collections. I'm also pleased when I realize that some of these lost gems have already been found by me in random vintage collections that I've picked up in my book-hunting journeys. An interesting mix of stories. ★★★★
"The Black Doctor" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A surprise witness saves a hotheaded young man from a verdict of guilty in a murder case.
"Murder by Proxy: A rather ingenious "locked room" story. Elegantly told with very interesting characters.
"The Fad of the Fisherman" by G. K. Chesterton: Sir Isaac Hook has a fad for getting up earlier than anybody else ever did to go fishing. He also has a thing for a spot of blackmail. Somebody puts an end to his two little hobbies...permanently.
"The Genuine Tabard" by E. C. Bentley: Mrs. Langley tells Philip Trent about her husband's prized tabard. When Trent hears about how it was obtained, he's sure there's something fishy about the set-up.
"The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins: It's a case of poison pen notes in the village of Glyston. Sage must find out who hates the vicar's daughter and/or the curate enough to write such vicious notes about them and spread lies throughout the community.
"The Long Barrow" by H. C. Bailey: A woman says that she's being followed everywhere and that someone is leaving dead animals around. Reggie Fortune agrees that something isn't right. Could it have anything to do with the excavations at an ancient archeology site?
"The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman: Dr. Thorndyke investigates a drowning in a ditch (which, here is like 4 - 4 1/2 feet deep) . It seems a simple, straightforward suicide, Thorndyke immediately spots something that makes him wonder.
"A Proper Mystery" by Margery Allingham: The local constable is sure he knows who let Mr. Light's cows out of the field to trample the Garden Field's entries in the annual garden show. But is he missing something?
"Direct Evidence" by Anthony Berkeley: All the evidence points to James Meadows as the killer of Mrs. Greyling. After all half the village witnessed him pull up in his car, argue with her (quite loudly), and then pull out a gun and shoot her. His sister swears he didn't do it...and after a while Roger Sherringham believes her. But can he get around the direct evidence of so many eyes?
"Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse: Another murder in the country house. Or is it suicide? But wait...maybe it was murder after all? The nasty John Hentish is dead from an overdose of morphia. Did he take too much? Did his nephew do him in thinking he was the heir?
"The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White: White doing what White does--an isolated house and an escaped psychopath and the girl he attacked three years earlier.
"Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce: Sergeant Beef investigates the murder of an elderly spinster. Mrs. Craig's death might have passed off as a natural one if it hadn't been for a helping of Beef and mustard.
"Our Pageant" by Gladys Mitchell: Who killed the lead Morris Dancer in the middle of the village pageant?
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside....Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.
Holmes knew what he was talking about. The pleasant gardens of the manor house, the fertile fields, the quiet wooded valleys...all prove to be a dangerous place for the poor victims found in the stories within. I'm always amazed at the little-known stories that find their way into these collections. I'm also pleased when I realize that some of these lost gems have already been found by me in random vintage collections that I've picked up in my book-hunting journeys. An interesting mix of stories. ★★★★
"The Black Doctor" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A surprise witness saves a hotheaded young man from a verdict of guilty in a murder case.
"Murder by Proxy: A rather ingenious "locked room" story. Elegantly told with very interesting characters.
"The Fad of the Fisherman" by G. K. Chesterton: Sir Isaac Hook has a fad for getting up earlier than anybody else ever did to go fishing. He also has a thing for a spot of blackmail. Somebody puts an end to his two little hobbies...permanently.
"The Genuine Tabard" by E. C. Bentley: Mrs. Langley tells Philip Trent about her husband's prized tabard. When Trent hears about how it was obtained, he's sure there's something fishy about the set-up.
"The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins: It's a case of poison pen notes in the village of Glyston. Sage must find out who hates the vicar's daughter and/or the curate enough to write such vicious notes about them and spread lies throughout the community.
"The Long Barrow" by H. C. Bailey: A woman says that she's being followed everywhere and that someone is leaving dead animals around. Reggie Fortune agrees that something isn't right. Could it have anything to do with the excavations at an ancient archeology site?
"The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman: Dr. Thorndyke investigates a drowning in a ditch (which, here is like 4 - 4 1/2 feet deep) . It seems a simple, straightforward suicide, Thorndyke immediately spots something that makes him wonder.
"A Proper Mystery" by Margery Allingham: The local constable is sure he knows who let Mr. Light's cows out of the field to trample the Garden Field's entries in the annual garden show. But is he missing something?
"Direct Evidence" by Anthony Berkeley: All the evidence points to James Meadows as the killer of Mrs. Greyling. After all half the village witnessed him pull up in his car, argue with her (quite loudly), and then pull out a gun and shoot her. His sister swears he didn't do it...and after a while Roger Sherringham believes her. But can he get around the direct evidence of so many eyes?
"Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse: Another murder in the country house. Or is it suicide? But wait...maybe it was murder after all? The nasty John Hentish is dead from an overdose of morphia. Did he take too much? Did his nephew do him in thinking he was the heir?
"The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White: White doing what White does--an isolated house and an escaped psychopath and the girl he attacked three years earlier.
"Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce: Sergeant Beef investigates the murder of an elderly spinster. Mrs. Craig's death might have passed off as a natural one if it hadn't been for a helping of Beef and mustard.
"Our Pageant" by Gladys Mitchell: Who killed the lead Morris Dancer in the middle of the village pageant?
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
amalia1985's review
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
‘’It was a day of cloud, and the very air over the moors was grey, and the long waves of heather were dark as the black earth, the distant woodland had no colour, the form of the chalk hills to northward was vague and dim. Mr. Fortune stopped the car and looked about him. Some grey smoke hung in a hollow from unseen houses. As far as he could see there was no man nor any of the works of man. The moor carried no cattle, There was no sign of life but the hum of bees and the chirp of grasshoppers and the flies and butterflies in the heavy air. ‘’
The countryside can hide a multitude of secrets in its serenity and isolation. How easy it is to sweep a little adultery, a little fraud, a little extortion, a little murder under the expensive carpet of a country manor…And yet, how freely gossip circulates within a teeny-tiny rural community where everyone knows everyone, where proximity brings about all kinds of problems, feuds and passions…Thirteen stories of crimes committed within the heart of the British countryside in a delightful instalment of the amazing British Library Crime Classics series.
The Black Doctor (Arthur Conan Doyle): A rather haunting mystery and a spectacular depiction of a murder trial by one of the greats of Literature.
Murder by Proxy (M. McDonnell Bodkin): A powerful member of the community is murdered. Caught in the web of a feud or victim of the poachers’ vengeance? The suspect seems to be ready for immediate arrest but the wonderful Paul Beck has other ideas…
The Fad of the Fisherman (G.K. Chesterton): A politician obsessed with fishing is found dead and war is looming…This is quite an unusual, albeit delightful, mystery.
The Genuine Tabard (E.C.Bentley): A mystery of forgery and burglaries with a quality sprinkle of History, set in a serene village.
The Gylston Slander (Herbert Jenkins): Set in a vicarage in Hampshire, this story makes excellent use of the poison pen letters and the result is perfection.
The Long Barrow (H.C.Bailey): A town’s superstitions threaten the archaeological research near Stoke Abbas. However, Reggie Fortune will do some digging of his own to unearth dark secrets and evil ambitions.
The Naturalist at Law (R.Austin Freeman): What initially seems a suicide and a rather ‘’open-and-shut’’ case become a mystery to which Nature holds the key.
A Proper Mystery (Margery Allingham): A little Essex countryside mystery set on Midsummer’s Eve.
Direct Evidence (Anthony Berkeley): Roger Sheringham demonstrates in the clearest way possible that direct evidence can be monstrously deceiving…
Inquest (Leonora Woodhouse): An inquest exposes the sneaky machinations in a sleepy town. And where there’s a will, there’s a way…
The Scarecrow (Ethel Lina White): A young woman sees a past nightmare return when her attacker escapes from prison. Living in an isolated farmhouse, she has to find a way to defend herself in a story that is atmospheric, tense and eerie.
Clue in the Mustard (Leo Bruce): When good old mustard triggers an epiphany…
Our Pageant (Gladys Mitchell): Morris dancers and danger…
As always, marvellous Introduction and Notes on each story by Martin Edwards.
‘’You look at these scattered houses, and you are impressed by their beauty…I look at them, and the only thought that comes to me is a feeling of their isolation and of the impunity with which crime may be committed there…’’
Sherlock Holmes
My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/
maccymacd's review
3.0
Charming mixed bag of countryside crime stories from the golden age. Some were fantastic, others were mediocre. Still a pleasant read.
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