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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
3.0
Okay, okay, all cops are bastards, but in crime fiction they don't have to be. Of course these stories are mostly in the idealised mode where police just want to help and a lone girl can pop into the police station for protection -- the world I thought I was growing up in, in fact.
It's not a stand-out for me in terms of the stories or the quality thereof, but I was pretty entertained by Christianna Brand's story with the Great Detective, and with Inspector Cockrill butting in and dismantling the whole story.
As ever, an interesting survey of the genre on this particular topic. And it includes a short story from E.C.R. Lorac, a rarity (though that one didn't especially stand out to me).
It's not a stand-out for me in terms of the stories or the quality thereof, but I was pretty entertained by Christianna Brand's story with the Great Detective, and with Inspector Cockrill butting in and dismantling the whole story.
As ever, an interesting survey of the genre on this particular topic. And it includes a short story from E.C.R. Lorac, a rarity (though that one didn't especially stand out to me).
fictionfan's review against another edition
3.0
'Allo! 'Allo! 'Allo! Wot's going on 'ere, then?
Another of the British Library's collection of vintage detective stories, this one takes us away from the amateur detective beloved of Golden Age authors and gives the downtrodden policeman* his place in the spotlight.
(*Yup, no female police officers, of course, in these older stories, so I'm not going to attempt to be pointlessly politically correct with lots of he/she-ing, etc.)
The book is informatively introduced by Martin Edwards as usual, plus he gives a little introduction to each story telling the reader a little about the author. He points out that although policemen were somewhat overshadowed by their amateur rivals, they were still there throughout the period, and not always as the simple stooge or sidekick.
The stories in these collections always tend to be variable in quality, and that's the case in this one too, with several of the fifteen stories getting an individual rating of three stars (OK) or below from me. However, I also gave three stories four stars (liked it) while another four achieved the full five stars (loved it). Overall, that makes this one of the weaker collections for me, and I found I was having to plough through quite a lot of mediocre stuff to find the gems. Perhaps I've just read too many of these collections too close together, but my enthusiasm certainly wore a little thin halfway through this one.
There are fewer of the usual suspects among the authors, presumably because most of the well known ones who've shown up in previous collections concentrated on their gifted amateur 'tecs. But Edgar Wallace is there, along with Freeman Wills Croft, Nicholas Blake and Christianna Brand, among others. There are several I haven't come across before and one or two who I felt didn't succeed quite as well in short form as in their novels (always bearing in mind I'm no expert and am comparing tiny sample sizes – often one story versus one novel) – ECR Lorac, for example, or Gil North.
Here's a flavour of the stories I liked best:
The Man Who Married Too Often by Roy Vickers – an excellent “inverted” mystery where we know whodunit and the story revolves around how the police prove it. A fortune-hunting woman tricks a man into marriage only to discover he's a bigamist when his wife shows up. Murder ensues. It turns neatly on a fair-play clue and a quirk of the law, and it's perfectly possible for the reader to get the solution before it's revealed. But I didn't.
The Chief Witness by John Creasey – a story of secrets within families and their sometimes tragic consequences. A child lies in bed listening to his mother and father argue. Murder ensues. The motivation is a bit weak in this one, but the writing is good and it's very well told, especially the opening with the child discovering his mother's body. Plus I liked the policeman in this one – he's one of those ones who cares about the people as much as the puzzle.
Old Mr Martin by Michael Gilbert – Old Mr Martin is a sweet-shop owner, much loved by generations of children to whom he often gives free sweeties. (No, no, it's not what you're thinking, I promise!) But even so, murder ensues. When he dies and his premises are sold, a body is found buried in the cellar. The police assume it must have been a previous tenant, because it couldn't have been nice old Mr Martin. Could it? Again I liked the writing, and this one had an intriguing plot point based on how people sometimes disappeared without trace in the chaos of the wartime bombing of London.
After the Event by Christianna Brand – easily the highlight of the collection for me, starring Inspector Cockrill whom I'd met before in Green for Danger. In this story, an old detective is recounting one of his past cases to a group of admiring listeners, but Inspector Cockrill keeps chipping in and stealing his thunder. During rehearsals for a stage production of Othello, murder ensues. Othello's wife is strangled – that is to say, the wife of the actor playing Othello. The old detective charged someone for the crime but the accused got off. Cockrill then takes over to show where the old detective went wrong and to reveal who actually dunit. Lots of humour in this one, a nice plot with some good clues, and very well told.
So plenty here to interest vintage crime enthusiasts even if it wouldn't be the first of these collections I would recommend to newcomers. (Capital Crimes, since you ask, or Miraculous Mysteries.)
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.
Another of the British Library's collection of vintage detective stories, this one takes us away from the amateur detective beloved of Golden Age authors and gives the downtrodden policeman* his place in the spotlight.
(*Yup, no female police officers, of course, in these older stories, so I'm not going to attempt to be pointlessly politically correct with lots of he/she-ing, etc.)
The book is informatively introduced by Martin Edwards as usual, plus he gives a little introduction to each story telling the reader a little about the author. He points out that although policemen were somewhat overshadowed by their amateur rivals, they were still there throughout the period, and not always as the simple stooge or sidekick.
The stories in these collections always tend to be variable in quality, and that's the case in this one too, with several of the fifteen stories getting an individual rating of three stars (OK) or below from me. However, I also gave three stories four stars (liked it) while another four achieved the full five stars (loved it). Overall, that makes this one of the weaker collections for me, and I found I was having to plough through quite a lot of mediocre stuff to find the gems. Perhaps I've just read too many of these collections too close together, but my enthusiasm certainly wore a little thin halfway through this one.
There are fewer of the usual suspects among the authors, presumably because most of the well known ones who've shown up in previous collections concentrated on their gifted amateur 'tecs. But Edgar Wallace is there, along with Freeman Wills Croft, Nicholas Blake and Christianna Brand, among others. There are several I haven't come across before and one or two who I felt didn't succeed quite as well in short form as in their novels (always bearing in mind I'm no expert and am comparing tiny sample sizes – often one story versus one novel) – ECR Lorac, for example, or Gil North.
Here's a flavour of the stories I liked best:
The Man Who Married Too Often by Roy Vickers – an excellent “inverted” mystery where we know whodunit and the story revolves around how the police prove it. A fortune-hunting woman tricks a man into marriage only to discover he's a bigamist when his wife shows up. Murder ensues. It turns neatly on a fair-play clue and a quirk of the law, and it's perfectly possible for the reader to get the solution before it's revealed. But I didn't.
The Chief Witness by John Creasey – a story of secrets within families and their sometimes tragic consequences. A child lies in bed listening to his mother and father argue. Murder ensues. The motivation is a bit weak in this one, but the writing is good and it's very well told, especially the opening with the child discovering his mother's body. Plus I liked the policeman in this one – he's one of those ones who cares about the people as much as the puzzle.
Old Mr Martin by Michael Gilbert – Old Mr Martin is a sweet-shop owner, much loved by generations of children to whom he often gives free sweeties. (No, no, it's not what you're thinking, I promise!) But even so, murder ensues. When he dies and his premises are sold, a body is found buried in the cellar. The police assume it must have been a previous tenant, because it couldn't have been nice old Mr Martin. Could it? Again I liked the writing, and this one had an intriguing plot point based on how people sometimes disappeared without trace in the chaos of the wartime bombing of London.
After the Event by Christianna Brand – easily the highlight of the collection for me, starring Inspector Cockrill whom I'd met before in Green for Danger. In this story, an old detective is recounting one of his past cases to a group of admiring listeners, but Inspector Cockrill keeps chipping in and stealing his thunder. During rehearsals for a stage production of Othello, murder ensues. Othello's wife is strangled – that is to say, the wife of the actor playing Othello. The old detective charged someone for the crime but the accused got off. Cockrill then takes over to show where the old detective went wrong and to reveal who actually dunit. Lots of humour in this one, a nice plot with some good clues, and very well told.
So plenty here to interest vintage crime enthusiasts even if it wouldn't be the first of these collections I would recommend to newcomers. (Capital Crimes, since you ask, or Miraculous Mysteries.)
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press.
vsbedford's review against another edition
3.0
A solid "B" collection of short mysteries focusing on the police rather than the amateur detective - perhaps one or two more misses than hits here, especially "After the Event" by Christianna Brand (always irritating to me, even though I want to enjoy her work) and, surprisingly, "Sometimes the Blind..." by Nicholas Blake. This is a worthy series, for sure, so perhaps my nitpicking is based on the high standard previous collections have set. Recommended but with a sort of half-shrug.
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.
annarella's review
4.0
An interesting collection of short stories but mystery writers of the Golden Age. The stories are good, easy to read and entertaining. Surely we are not on the level of a Christie or a Sayers but each of them has a well devised plot. A good and entertaining book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press.
tgv's review against another edition
3.0
A few decent stories, a few duds, but no newly unearthed treasures: this book is enjoyable, but forgettable as well. Many of the stories are too short, some completely fail to bring the characters and plot to life. You might read it out of curiosity.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
An interesting collection of short stories but mystery writers of the Golden Age. The stories are good, easy to read and entertaining. Surely we are not on the level of a Christie or a Sayers but each of them has a well devised plot. A good and entertaining book.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Poison Pen Press.
gautamsing's review against another edition
4.0
Short stories about police detectives. The man who married too much was superb, specially the legal catch that gave the game away. Another was about the blind man and who his dog allowed to be fed by. This series by the British Library is excellent.
tonstantweader's review against another edition
4.0
The Long Arm of the Law is an well-chosen collection of short story mysteries collected and introduced by Martin Edwards who has a way of writing a short story introduction that makes me want to read more by the authors. I like short stories, I like mysteries, and so I love mystery anthologies like this.
The focus of The Long Arm of the Law is on police investigations. These are short stories from the archives of the golden era of detection when the forms of the genre were being defined. From these early writers come the traditions and tropes of the police procedural that continue to entertain in books and in TV series.
This is an excellent anthology with a variety of stories even when constrained by the police procedural theme. These are mostly genteel mysteries, solved by sound observation and flashes of intuition. These are not the noir mysteries with corrupt cops, police brutality, and flouting legalities in the pursuit of justice. These detectives think their way to success. Instead of bullying and brutalizing the answers from suspects, they lay verbal traps and do the hard work of investigating. This is policing the way we want it to be.
The Long Arm of the Law will be released January 2nd. I received an e-galley for review from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Long Arm of the Law at Poisoned Pen Press
Martin Edwards author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2017/12/17/9781464209062/
The focus of The Long Arm of the Law is on police investigations. These are short stories from the archives of the golden era of detection when the forms of the genre were being defined. From these early writers come the traditions and tropes of the police procedural that continue to entertain in books and in TV series.
This is an excellent anthology with a variety of stories even when constrained by the police procedural theme. These are mostly genteel mysteries, solved by sound observation and flashes of intuition. These are not the noir mysteries with corrupt cops, police brutality, and flouting legalities in the pursuit of justice. These detectives think their way to success. Instead of bullying and brutalizing the answers from suspects, they lay verbal traps and do the hard work of investigating. This is policing the way we want it to be.
The Long Arm of the Law will be released January 2nd. I received an e-galley for review from the publisher through NetGalley.
The Long Arm of the Law at Poisoned Pen Press
Martin Edwards author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2017/12/17/9781464209062/
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