Crime Fiction 8

Well, I seem to have got back into the swing of things, so coming to you tonight is another crime fiction post,  starting with a couple of novels by famous crime writer Dorothy L Sayers these being Busman’s Holiday and Strong Poison, which appear to be the only two of her books I possess and possibly even read.

Steven Saylor has written a series of mystery novels set in ancient Rome. I acquired these as I had (and still have) a fondness for Lindsey Davis’ Falco series which are also set in ancient Rome, but under a different emperor (Vespasian). I will not be displaying Lindsey Davis’ books here as I have a complete collection and I can’t be bothered scanning them all.  Anyway, the Saylor novels are set during the time of Cicero and Julius Caesar and are an intelligent, interesting series of historical murder mysteries.

Next, a stray non Penguin Julian Symons novel, Death’s Darkest Face, and an ancient (1964) Pan paperback copy of Josephine Tey’s The Singing Sands.

And finally for this evening, Japanese suspense – The Lady Killer by Masako Togawa.

Coming next – the detective novels of Janwillem van de Wetering.

Crime Fiction 7

Moving on with crime fiction, the first book in this post is The Tanglewood Murder by Lucille Kallen, another Hamlyn Whodunnit publication. Lucille Kallen sounds like she was quite an interesting lady - the only woman in the celebrated gang of brilliant, zany comedy writers behind Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows." Check out the link above to read more about her.

H R F Keating’s Inspector Ghote novels I have mentioned previously in the Penguin Crime posts. Here are two more, published by Hamlyn in their Whodunnit series.

Ngaio Marsh is a name you don’t hear much about these days, but she was a very popular writer in the 1950s and ‘60s.  I haven’t read her books for decades, but a few of her novels are still floating around on my bookshelves.

Mystery Cats is an oddity, a collection of short stories featuring cats in crime fiction. It has a rather snazzy cover.

Back to standard crime detection, or perhaps not…

Edith Pargeter writing as Ellis Peters set a series of detective novels in 12th Century England featuring the unconventional Brother Cadfael as the medieval shamus. Pargeter was a prolific writer and wrote twenty Cadfael novels in all . I appear to only have the first of them in my library – A Morbid Taste For Bones first published in 1977.

And finally for this post, A Trail of Blood by Jeremy Potter, another historical mystery novel dealing with the fate of the princes in the tower. It’s a rather good novel - I certainly enjoyed rereading it fairly recently. Potter was a member of the Richard III Society, so certainly knew the history of the period.

More crime fiction will follow shortly.

Crime Fiction 6

To continue with crime fiction, first up tonight are two novels in the Lovejoy series, written by Jonathan Gash pseudonym of John Grant, a medical practitioner. Lovejoy is an antiques dealer, and on the side engages in a spot of detective work. The books were made into a television series in the 1980s. They make for a light-hearted, entertaining read.

Next, another Hamlyn Whodunnit, this time by old style crime novelist Michael Gilbert.

I have read only one novel by American noir detective novelist Stephen Greenleaf,  Bookcase, and I suppose you can guess why I was attracted to it. It’s quite a good novel as a matter of fact and the paperback has a great cover.

Dorothy B Hughes is another old time hard boiled detective  writer. Several of her detective novels were made into films, and starred such leading lights as Humphrey Bogart, John Garfield & Robert Montgomery. I have her three best known novels in uniform paperback editions published by Bantam in 1979.

And to finish this post, a lone non Penguin Michael Innes novel, Appleby on Ararat. This novel is one of his most eccentric stories and highly amusing. This edition was published by Perennial Library in 1983.

More crime fiction to follow

Crime Fiction 5

No,I haven’t forgotten my promise to keep ‘ em coming regularly, so here for your bibliophilic pleasure are the detective novels of singing crime novelist Kinky Friedman.

Kinky writes in his own idiosyncratic style replete with one liners and political incorrectness and a big heart. His books, starring himself as the intrepid investigator, are entertaining and funny to say the least. You can now buy them in ebook format directly from his site. I notice a few I haven’t read there, so might avail myself of the opportunity to complete my collection.

Without more ado, here is my incomplete collection. I’m missing the first Faber omnibus, which I actually managed to get signed by the Kinkster when he was touring some years ago. Who knows who I loaned it to, but I wish they’d give it back.

More crime fiction coming soon.

Crime Fiction 4

To get on with crime and mystery fiction, first up is The Chelsea Murders by Lionel Davidson. It’s not a bad read this book, set as it is in a literary part of London, and having a fiendishly clever plot. It was serialised for television in 1981.

Who now remembers the quirky detective novels of Delacorta? Delacorta was the pseudonym of French writer Paul Odier.  He wrote a series of novels featuring adolescent heroine Alba, who with her protector Gorodish, solve unusual crime cases. Diva, the first of the Alba & Gorodish novels was made into a very popular film in 1981.  I have three of the novels, two published by Ballantine and one by Penguin. Dig the blurbs!

Colin Dexter, creator of Inspector Morse, needs no introduction as his novels have all been dramatised in a popular television series. I read the novels long before they were televised, and have a small collection of them.

To wind up this post – two novels by James Ellroy – The Black Dahlia  and Blood on the Moon.  Ellroy’s neo noir style didn’t really appeal to me, but I know other people who regard his novels as really first rate. Perhaps I should give them another go.

Coming next, the crazy detective fiction of Kinky Friedman.

Crime Fiction 3

Bless me Blogosphere for I have sinned. It is six months since I last posted on Eye Candy For Bibliophiles. My first act of contrition, after a few hail Marys, will be to continue on with my crime fiction collection, in particular a set of Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur Conan Doyle.

The set was published by Ballantine Books in the mid 1970s. Cover art is not credited.

Next, an omnibus by Australian crime writer Peter Corris, starring his Aussie style hard boiled detective Cliff Hardy.  This edition was published in1986 by Picador.

A few more Edmund Crispin mysteries… these editions published by Mysterious Press in 1984.

And finally for crime writers whose names begin with “c”, A Leaven of Malice by Clare Curzon, a Hamlyn Whodunnit, probably published in the late 70s or early 80s

Having taken the plunge, I will endeavour to post more regular updates on this blog, perhaps even tomorrow.

Anyway, coming next – more crime fiction from authors whose names start with ”d”. Come to think of it, Conan Doyle could have been catalogued under this letter.