HERE BE MONSTERS - Anthony Price

 

A spy story entirely comprised of conversations. Didn't enjoy this as much as previous Price stories as it just fizzled out at the end.

THE ETRUSCAN NET -Michael Gilbert

 

Gilbert is always solid. This isn't a ground breaking mystery but a good read with some interesting history.  Set in Florence.

Gilbert is an interesting character in his own right, he wrote dozens on books but only wrote on his daily train commute to and from his day job as a solicitor.

MURDER GONE MAD - Philip MacDonald

 

Published in 1931, a serial killer is rampant in a small English village.  Very entertaining, reads like a screen play.

A bonus its a lovely wee 1955 edition.

DEATH AND THE DANCING FOOTMAN - Ngaio Marsh

 

Not her best effort, some staggering holes in the story, which is a shame as its starts out really well.  The book then loses its way totally as a murder mystery .The killer is glaringly obvious with a third of the book to go.

THE MAN WHO KILLED HIMSELF - Julian Symons

 

Once you get over the absurd setup of this story you get a very clever tale of murder.  It's a typical Symons book i.e an ordinary wee man whose life gets out of control.

Again,don't get put off by the silly covers with many of these editions.

THE CORNISH COAST MURDER - John Bude

Published in the mid 1930's this was Bude's first book .The best thing I can say about it is the Bude ranks in the 3rd division of crime writers , positioned mid table.

Very ordinary, somehow he had another 29 books published.

I've noticed with this British Library Crime Classic's line that the quality of the stories is poor, whether this is as they are out of copywrite I don't know but they continue to disappoint.  Even in the Introduction its noted that Bude wasn't flash on plotting or character's and that this books main claim to fame is that its initial print run was very small and its a rarity for hardcore collectors

WRITING WITH INTENT -Margaret Atwood

 

I love everything she writes.  The stand out in this collection s her essay on Orwell.  

Atwood for a "Nobel" is all I can say.

THE TEN TEACUPS - Carter Dickson

 

Not up to his usual standard for a locked room murder mystery

SION CROSSING -Anthony Price

 

THE MAN ON THE BALCONY - Sjowall & Wahloo

 

GHOSTS- Ed McBain

 

A solid procedural.

DEATH IS NOW MY NEIGHBOUR - Colin Dexter

 

Morse , always enjoyable.

THE EYE OF OSIRIS - R. Austin Freeman

 

Published in 1911 this features , Doctor Thorndyke, the first forensic detective.

This is not a bad mystery, guessable if you pay attention but worthwhile reading, an easy read considering the time period it was published.  Recommended.