Indeed, he read very little except detective stories, which he devoured at a rate of one a day. Ronald Knox, The Motive
This is the third of five anthologies featuring Sexton Blake, the ace detective who appeared in more than 4,000 stories written by more than 200 authors over a span of more than 80 years. Three tales, each edited by Mark Hodder, in which Blake works alongside one of several associated; individuals who have come to …
Continue reading Sexton Blake – Allies edited by Mark Hodder (2020)
The ghost known to inhabit the Heldar’s antiquarian bookshop hasn’t been seen for many years. But oddly, it’s recently been sighted by several of the staff. One of the clerks, Sally Merton isn’t so bothered by these supposed manifestations as she is by the unwelcome advances of her unpleasant colleague, Victor Butcher. But Sally isn’t …
Continue reading The Two Hundred Ghost by Henrietta Hamilton (1956)
Reading is usually what I do when I need a diversion. But, whether due to lack of concentration, angst, or downright panic, reading has been impossible these days. The up side is that it gives me the chance to go back and try to catch up on book reviews that I haven’t written. So, for …
A collection of eight short stories in which medico-legal expert Dr. John Thorndyke analyzes the dust embedded in an old hat, sand found on a pillow, and the horn of a steer—amongst other things. And we are treated to an education on tides, ballistics, the characteristics of inks, ancient languages, and hair follicles. While the stories are …
Continue reading John Thorndyke’s Cases by R. Austin Freeman (1909)
When Sir James Molloy, editor-in-chief of the Record learns that American financier Sigsbee Manderson has been found shot dead in the grounds of his English country house, he immediately asks Philip Trent to investigate. Artist, freelance newspaperman, and amateur sleuth Trent feels that there are enough interesting aspects to the case and decides to go “have a …
Miss Penelope Blow efforts to see Inspector Littlejohn at Scotland Yard are thwarted when her nephew Harold arrives and forces her to Nesbury. When Littlejohn learns that her visit came at the recommendation of Littlejohn’s old friend, the Vicar Claplady, he it must have been important. But before he can seek her out Miss Blow falls …
Continue reading Dead March for Penelope Blow by George Bellairs (1951)