Golden Age Mystery

"A lot of quiet people are sitting about talking, and one of them suddenly feels there will be murder done. And it was!" The narrator of This Delicate Murder is Penny Mercer, murder-mystery author. She and novelist-husband Vincent are, invited by Lionel Fonders to a shooting-party at Chustable Manor, where the other guests are mostly fellow-writers of various types. But, Penny and Vincent become embroiled in a vexing murder case when their host is fatally shot in the field. Fonders was not generally beloved, but it is Vincent himself, who becomes the chief suspect in his host's unnatural death. In his attempt to clear himself, he enlist the help of clever attorney and amateur sleuth William Power to find the fiend who put paid to Fonders. With so many jealous authors at hand, the field of suspicion is wide. Can you keep pace with Power?

'There's been a murder there.' Tubby stared at him. 'A murder! Who was it?' It was the first time in his life that Tubby had been told that he had been murdered. Carl Swanson, recognized as the best ship's captain in the fishing town of Gilsboro, is about to head out on the unluckiest trip of his career. When he decided to engage with Captain MacTaggert's ship the Ivanhoe, murder is committed, and Inspector Pollitt and his able lieutenants begin the inexorable process of investigation — and arrest. High Seas Murder was first published in 1939, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

His arms were hanging down, but his face was turned upwards. For the first time Johnny saw a dead man. Colonel Meroy is a prosperous pillar of the landed gentry. But, his neighbours would be shocked to learn he'd started out as a London pickpocket, and still earns his income from a career in smoothly organized robbery. Now he's hit a perilous snag — his latest job means going up against the rival and ruthless Luvello gang for a fortune in gold bullion, and even risking the safety of his own son. When a river policeman is killed, Inspector Thompson of Scotland Yard is drawn into the case, and he always gets his man...

The knife with the carved sheath inlaid with silver, had been driven up to its haft between the shoulders of Captain Geoffrey Hunt. Johannis Kudorfer, master mariner, is a fraudster and a rogue. But that suits Sam Hartford just fine, because he is a scoundrel himself. When Sam devises a scheme to wreck a ship for the insurance money, Kudorfer is a key collaborator, along with a small gang of other miscreants and dupes, plus Lena the languid cigarette-smoking girl. But Sam is unaware that some of his trusted cohort are playing games of their own-games so treacherous they will end in murder. Detective-Sergeant Woods, suspicious of the con game from the start, will need to call in Chief Inspector Thompson of Scotland Yard to solve this gritty and absorbing case. Murder by Chance was first published in 1936, and has remained out of print for many decades until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

'The man died from wounds on the head. There was no trace of carbon in his lungs, so he must have been dead before he was put on the dump.' The livelihood of Louie Patra depends entirely on the supply of bad men; men who climb up the face of a house; men who could pick a pocket, steal from cars, forge a signature or a five-pound note. He has a use for them all. Right now he's planning a smash and grab on a valuable collection of silver. But when the robbery goes awry, a man ends up dead – and now the police aren't just looking for a gang of thieves. Now it's murder. Sing a Song of Murder was first published in 1944, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. 'I have the highest opinion of Peter Drax's murder stories … The secret of Peter Drax's success is his ability to make the circumstances as plausible as the characters are real' Sunday Times

The real trouble was, as I see since, that people do not discriminate. They lump all cases of what they consider a like nature together, and to their ill-informed minds, I was in the same category as a mentally unsound woman who posts disgusting anonymous letters to her neighbors. Miss Edna Alice is a lady, of moral rectitude and many other outstanding virtues. At least this is her own, strongly held view-not all others agree. This novel is her personal account of how, more sinned against than sinning, she sets about improving the characters and atmosphere in a small English village, essaying many forms of artistic, political and sporting endeavor along the way. Subsequently, and unbelievably, she finds herself a convicted prisoner, accused of writing numerous poison pen letters to her neighbors. The result is one of the most unusual and funny crime novels to have emerged from the golden age. Good by Stealth was first, published in 1936. This new edition features an introduction by Curtis Evans.

Chalk Street, Camden Town, is the busy scene for all kinds of commercial activity – some legal, some a little less so. By day, local crime boss Mr. Rivers works as a market trader, but gladly turns his attention to the potentially lucrative theft of fox-skins in the countryside. However, what should have been a simple robbery leads to a string of murders, and a Scotland Yard investigation, led by Chief-Inspector Thompson. A case in which one of the clues is no fox, but a fat brown mouse … Death by Two Hands was first published in 1937, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

"Take my advice, from to-day keep your own counsel. Listen to everything, disclose nothing. Avoid being alone. Come to me if you're in doubt about anything or feel you scent danger. I can assure you we both live in danger." Geoffrey Mayne is in need of some serious r'n'r after studying intensively for his bar exams in London. A luxurious Pacific island cruise seems just the ticket, especially when one of his fellow passengers is the attractive young Freda Shannon. But, after a terrible storm and shipwreck, Geoffrey and Freda find themselves in a small party of survivors, marooned on a remote South Sea island. The castaways resolve to make the best of what may be a long wait on the deserted isle. But is it really deserted? A gunshot is heard... and then one of their party is found, slain. Is a shadowy denizen intent on murdering the interlopers, or is the hidden truth more diabolical still? Murder on Paradise Island was first published in 1937. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

He called out, 'Abie!' The word was swallowed up in the depths of the hall. It was like a morgue. Captain Eric Macrae is down on his luck, living in a cheap London boarding house and on his wits. When chance puts a string of valuable pearls his way, he can't resist stealing them. But the pursuit of easy money is derailed first by Peggy, a neighbourhood girl who begins to suspect Macrae is up to no good. And then a well-known fence winds up dead … enter Chief Inspector Thompson of Scotland Yard. Tune to a Corpse was first published in 1938, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. 'London underworld life is described with colour and realism. The steps in the weakling killer's descent to Avernus are thrillingly traced." Saturday Review of Literature 'I have the highest opinion of Peter Drax's murder stories … The secret of Peter Drax's success is his ability to make the circumstances as plausible as the characters are real' Sunday Times