Antony Maitland Mystery

"I will not take a case involving an insanity plea. As you very well know." When old Uncle William Cassell returned home to England for the first time in nearly twenty years, he arrived just in time for afternoon tea, followed by his own late evening murder--in his own brother Ambrose's study, no less! Police arrest William's great-nephew, Paul Herron, who was found outside the study's open French window with a dazed look on his face and a smoking gun in his hands. It is thought Paul mistook the dead man for his tyrannical grandfather Ambrose, whom he had reason to hate. In the face of the determination of most of his own family to have him declared insane and put away in an institution, Paul is defended by Antony Maitland and his celebrated Uncle Nick-though not without grumbling from the latter man about a case which is stuffed like a fatally fruity plum pudding with somnambulism, inherited insanity, two sets of twins and a trio of mysterious deaths in the past. Huffs Sir Nicholas Maitland: "In the best storybook tradition, I make no doubt!" This gripping courtroom drama from 1962 features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. "Clever plot; excellent study of needlenoses at work." - Nicholas Blake, London Sunday Telegraph

"Miss Bell found him," said Antony. "That was about fifteen minutes after I got there. She let out a yell that brought us all running. He'd been stabbed in the back" Who had the effrontery to fatally stab James Winter, a mild and highly respectable London solicitor, as he was inoffensively taking tea in his office? The possibilities are plentiful, but police suspicion lands on a temperamental Shakespearean actor, Joseph Dowling, whose estranged wife the old man had been representing in her divorce action. The larger-than-life star of London's latest hit production of Macbeth, Dowling not only had a motive for murder, he had a dagger to draw as well. These actors! Now it may well be the last act for Dowling in his newest role-criminal defendant-unless brilliant barrister-sleuth Antony Maitland and his famed courtroom performer uncle, Sir Nicholas Harding, can put the spotlight on the real killer in this, Sara Woods' highly-praised debut detective novel. This gripping courtroom drama from 1962 features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. "This is just the sort of book I enjoy - a good detective story, with human characters and told with freshness and an amusing good humor." -Francis Iles, author of Malice Aforethought

"It will be interesting to watch you dealing with an impossible situation. Interesting and-I am sure, my dear boy! -instructive." The year of the trial is 1962. The defendant claims he is Michael Godson, a blameless photographer. The prosecution insists he is really Guy Harland and has charged him with high treason. Two decades ago, it is said, Harland brutally assaulted his scientist superior and stole his top-secret notes on biological weaponry, turning them over the Nazis, who utilized them in committing a ghastly international war crime. Intrepid Antony Maitland, now a Queen's Counsel, here has taken the reigns from his famous Uncle Nick and makes the case for the defense. Antony argues it is all a matter of mistaken identity, but the evidence against his client dizzyingly mounts. Before a decision is reached Antony and his team will have to navigate their way through a deadly maze of dirty secrets, damnable lies and downright murder. This gripping courtroom drama from 1964 features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. "Brilliant showpiece of forensic duelling and a must for the court-hungry. Her best yet." Darlington Northern Echo

He did not see the blurred lights that followed him, nor the shape of the car loomed at last out of the mist. But he felt the force of the impact and an eternity of pain... Something wicked is going on at the Carcroft Works of General Aircraft Limited, located on the lonely Yorkshire moors. Foul play and deadly espionage, by the looks of it. Under what is dubbed the Full Moon Project, research is being conducted into a new anti-missile missile. One of the project researchers is killed in a hit-and-run "accident" in the factory parking lot on a foggy November night and papers related to the missile design are compromised. On account of his activities with the Secret Intelligence Service in The Third Encounter, Antony Maitland is pressed by representatives from the company to investigate on the scene, in the guise of a new employee. His wife Jenny comes along to provide cover, but the case is no honeymoon for the couple. To the contrary, it proves to be positive murder. This gripping courtroom drama from 1963 features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. "The most durable and appealing series of English courtroom mysteries" - Publishers Weekly

"I'm afraid you may have to resign yourself to the fact that your husband is getting mixed up with that gang of thugs in Whitehall again," The phone call was interrupted! Who could have wanted viciously to strangle kindly Dr. Martin to death while he was on the line with his old friend Antony Maitland? According to the police, guilt lies with Dr. Martin's impecunious scapegrace cousin Gerry, who was the good doctor's heir. Anthony Maitland and his Uncle Nick are tasked with providing hapless Gerry with some sort of credible defense. Along the way Antony to his horror begins to suspect that an implacable old enemy from his wartime past has his malign hand in the whole affair. It seems that more is involved with Dr. Martin's death than first meets the eye! Antony finds himself pressed into working surreptitiously with the U. K.'s Secret Intelligence Service, which puts him not only in into conflict with Scotland Yard but in peril of his life. This gripping courtroom drama from 1963 features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans. "Subtle and suspenseful with deft characterizations, this is superior fare, written with thought and elegance," Newsday