As with any collection of stories, some stand out more than others. However, with the various collections edited by Martin Edwards for British Library Crime Classics, I can always count on one thing. Edwards’ introductions will provide the needed background for reading all of the mysteries in the book. In the case of Murder by the Book, Edwards provides a short history of bibliomysteries. This collection of book-related stories is an “Assortment of mysteries linked by a literary theme of one kind or another”. Edwards provides that history as an introduction to the book, and then, before each story in the anthology, he introduces the author. The stories range from original publication dates in the 1890s to Ngaio Marsh’s concluding story, “Chapter and Verse”, originally published in 1973.
Readers will recognize many of the authors included. There’s Philip MacDonald, A.A. Milne, Julian Symons, Gladys Mitchell, Michael Innes, John Creasey. One of the most interesting stories was by the author Edwards refers to as “the most obscure author in this book”, Marjorie Bremner. Her story features a Scotland Yard Inspector, Dacre, and deals with the death of a playwright. Christianna Brand’s mystery was clever, “Dear Mr. Editor”.
My favorite story, though, was Ngaio Marsh’s “Chapter and Verse”. It was a complicated story, and it featured Detective Inspector Roderick Alleyn’s wife Troy before he and Inspector Fox ever make an appearance. It’s also the most contemporary story with a little more character and plot development than the other stories. It makes me want to go back and read other stories by Marsh. I’ve read some, but I’m certainly not an expert. Her short story entices me.
I once had an English teacher who told me I did exactly what a teacher longs to see. Assigned one book, I went on to read everything by that author. Edwards’ books for the British Library Crime Classics always entice me to read other stories and books by the authors. I hope that’s exactly what the editor of Murder by the Book hopes for with this anthology.
Martin Edwards’ website is https://martinedwardsbooks.com/
Murder by the Book edited by Martin Edwards. Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks, 2022. ISBN 9781728261157 (paperback), 304p.
FTC Full Disclosure – I received a copy of the book from the publisher, with no promise of a review.
OK, have it on hold.
One correction, if I may. It is Marjorie BREMNER, not Bremmer. She had two mystery novels published in the early to mid-1950s. No, I haven’t read them.
Thank you, Jeff. You may correct it. That’s what happens when I read it on a Kindle, and didn’t enlarge it. Those m’s and n’s run together. Thank you. I’ll change it.
Thanks, Lesa. You are entirely right – that’s just what I intend. Like you, in a slightly different way perhaps, I’m very, very keen to spread the word about good storytellers
Martin, I can’t believe all the time and research you put into doing just that. Thank you.