😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
From Sherlock Holmes to Lacey Flint, many of the detectives I have loved over the years have been based in London. And why not? One of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world with a history stretching back for over a millennium, it has always been a contrast of bright lights and dark alleyways, extreme wealth and desperate poverty, and every one of its ancient streets is drenched in the blood of the victims of its horrid past. Visitors love nothing more than to shiver in the London Dungeon, to thrill to the stories of ancient beheadings in the Tower, to make a pilgrimage to those famous rooms in Baker Street. What river has been the escape route for more criminals and the final resting place for more victims than the Thames? Who can think of Whitechapel without their thoughts turning to the eviscerated victims of Jack the Ripper?
So what better venue for a collection of classic crime stories? In this book, Martin Edwards has selected 17 stories from the Golden Age of crime writing, some from names we are still familiar with – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Margery Allingham, Edgar Wallace – but many from authors who have since faded into obscurity. He has arranged them into rough chronological order, allowing us to see the gradual transition from the heyday of the amateur detective to the beginnings of the police procedural with which we’re more familiar today. The overall standard of the stories is variable, as in any collection, but I found most of them good or excellent, with only a couple that I felt really hadn’t stood the test of time. But even these added something to the collection in showing how trends were just as strong in early crime-writing as they are now. For example, I was underwhelmed by Richard Marsh’s The Finchley Puzzle, starring deaf, lip-reading amateur detective Judith Lee, but was intrigued to note that there seemed to be a fashion around that time for detectives with a physical quirk, since a couple of stories later we meet Ernest Bramah’s blind detective Max Carradine – not unlike our current obsession with autistic detectives, but happily without the angst (or drunkenness).

The influence of Holmes and Watson is clear in some of the partnerships between brilliant detectives and admiring narrators, (though I suppose I should grudgingly give the credit to Poe’s Dupin and his unnamed narrator really). R Austin Freeman’s Dr Thorndyke in particular struck me as very Sherlockian, as did the aforementioned Max Carradine.
Many of the stories rely on intricate plots – ‘locked room’ mysteries, innovative murder methods, unbreakable alibis, etc. But others veer more strongly towards the psychological, using atmosphere to great effect to build suspense, and a couple of them could easily be classed as horror as much as crime. I’ve already highlighted a couple of the stories as part of my Tuesday ‘Tec! slot – Edgar Wallace’s The Stealer of Marble and John Oxenham’s A Mystery of the Underground – but to give you a fuller flavour of the collection, here are a few more that stood out for me…
The Case of Lady Sannox by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – this revenge story is definitely more horror than detection, telling the tale of a husband avenging himself against the man who is having an affair with his wife. A truly horrifying ending! And a great way to kick off the collection.
The Tea Leaf by Robert Eustace and Edgar Jepson – two men enter a room in a Turkish Bath, argue loudly, and only one leaves alive. But no murder weapon is found on the survivor or in the room. How was the murder done, and who is the killer? A fine example of a ‘locked room’ mystery with a unique method of killing.
The Little House by HC Bailey – amateur detective Reggie Fortune is asked to look into the case of a missing kitten, but this soon becomes an extremely chilling look at a case of child cruelty. The writing style is a bit staccato but the story is powerful with a strong sense of anger and justice.

The Silver Mask by Hugh Walpole – the story of the collection for me, and I will definitely be looking for more of Walpole’s work. This tells of a middle-aged lady whose loneliness and maternal feelings are played on by an unscrupulous young man. The way Walpole describes the woman’s character is very true and touching, and I found the portrayal of the unintended carelessness of her friends and family quite moving. This is another with an atmosphere of terror which mounts all the way through to an ending that is full of dread. Brilliant stuff!
They Don’t Wear Labels by EM Delafield – an intriguing story told from the perspective of the landlady of a married couple living in her lodging house. The woman is suffering from ‘nerves’ and on one evening tells the landlady her husband is trying to murder her. But the husband is so nice to everyone, and seems so kind to his impossible wife – he couldn’t possibly be a murderer…could he? Another psychological study this, of how one can never tell by appearances.
* * * * *
All round, an excellent collection that I highly recommend to all crime aficionados, and I’m looking forward to reading Edward’s selection in the companion volume, Resorting to Murder.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Poisoned Pen Press, who publish the Kindle version. The paper version is part of the British Library’s Crime Classics series.
Ah, you can’t go wrong with Martin Edwards at the helm, FictionFan. At least not in my opinion. And you’re absolutely right about London as a setting. Nothing quite like it anywhere else. Incidentally, have you read Edward Rutherfurd’s London? In my opinion, it’s a fantastic historical novel. Admittedly it’s long. But if you do enjoy those sweeping novels, I recommend it. I think he does a fantastic job of portraying the city.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ooh Margot, I have to rudely jump in there, and wave MY high five too, for the Rutherford! I gather he repeated his formula with other cities, so reading additional Rutherford’s can get a bit ‘here we go again’, but, as someone who lives in London, I found it a superb educational read about my city and its history – all sweetly wrapped up in great, entertaining and absorbing narration. With you strong arming Fiction Fan on one side, and me on the other, she won’t stand a chance, unless she has already read it and can PROVE IT. Otherwise, it’s off to the Tower with her, unless it lands on the top of her TBR VERY SOON!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good to know you’re with me on this, Lady Fancifull! I agree that Rutherfurd’s work is similarly structured across novels. But London is terrific! More than worth a read.
Did you hear that, FictionFan? You might as well cede now and demonstrate that you have added this fine novel to your TBR, or that you have read it. We know where you blog! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now, look here, you two! I go out for an innocent walk round the shops and come back to find you’ve been conspiring behind my back!! I’ve suspected for a long time that the horrendous state of my TBR is largely down to the two of you, but if you’re going to start working together…!! *stomps off to add it to her TBR*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! Success! Bwahahahaha!!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
*sobs brokenly*
LikeLike
Now, look, I’ve ticked Margot off already and now I shall tell you the same – no ganging up on me!!! It’s not fair!!! Have you seen how long my TBR is? I just added all those Scottish books last week remember!! *sobs brokenly and adds the Rutherford*
LikeLike
Well it’s the only way to avoid being incarcerated in the Tower – mind you, THAT would get your TBR down, a nice stretch in solitary, no internet access and all that (though, as kindly warders we would allow you to write reviews and post them to your blog)
LikeLike
That sounds quite appealing – can I have Mary Stuart’s old room? But no reviews! This one only appeared today because I abandoned today’s planned Tuesday Tec post at 2 a.m. last night – 1600 words for a short story review seemed excessive even to me… and I still hadn’t finished.
LikeLike
No, I’m afraid your jailers sentence you to community blog posting service, 1000 hours
LikeLiked by 1 person
That should be about enough for two reviews then…
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like such a great collection! I’ll have to grab a copy for my summer vacation.
LikeLike
There’s a companion one called Resorting to Murder, which is all about crimes committed in vacation spots… review soon!
LikeLike
Who doesn’t love a locked room mystery, FF?? This sounds like a superb collection, and I’ll have to check it out further — thanks for the excellent review!
LikeLike
Yep, I love the more traditional style mysteries, and this was a good one – great murder method! The British Library are bringing out lots of great classic crimes stuff at the moment – hard to resist…
LikeLike
I really enjoyed this collection too! Especially the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle story – not at all what I was expecting. 🙂
LikeLike
I love Conan Doyle – such a brilliant writer. He can do so many different styles equally well. This one was horrifying! I really enjoyed most of the stories, even the ‘less good’ ones. Have you got the companion collection – Resorting to Murder? Looks like it’ll be just as good…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I read Resorting to Murder. It was good, but I liked Capitol Crimes better, I think because of the London setting. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes, I do think there’s something about London that makes it ideal for crime stories. Not sure that’s a compliment, now I think about it… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, okay I surrender. Two for the TBR or the TBRR in two days. Sold to the weak willed woman who likes chocolate (could be all, or any of us, I suppose) A themed collection of very different stories like this sounds remarkably like one of the better class of chocolate selection boxes anyway. Several sound quite dark chocolate, and moreover with nutty kernels too!
LikeLike
Hurrah! Serves you right! Yes, that’s why I enjoy anthologies – even if one of them turns out be the marzipan, there’s almost certain to be a coffee cream in there somewhere. I shall try to persuade you to go for the companion piece too later…
LikeLike
Intrigued, I am Intrigued. What can this be? Ghostly London?
LikeLike
No, holiday resorts! Seaside rock with Murder running all the way through! Evil under the sun! (Haven’t read it yet, but I’m assuming it’ll be as good as this one – same editor.)
LikeLike
Burglary on the Beach! Krab Killer! The Missing (sea) Urchin! The tale of the Beastly Barnacle and the Strangling by Seaweed
(Okay, I better go before you kick sand in my face)
LikeLike
😆 You’re on a roll(ercoaster) today, milady!
LikeLike
(the excitement of being told my poorly cat will be coming home tomorrow)
LikeLike
Hurrah!! Great news! I shall be thinking about the happy reunion! Maybe you should go out and catch a mouse to give to him this time…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nothing like a smorgasbord of fine reading. Unless it is the aforementioned with chocolate.
LikeLike
Indeed – a woman after my own heart! But keep your hands off the coffee creams…
LikeLike
Never fear. I’m currently binging on iced lemonade.
LikeLike
Mmmm… yummy!
LikeLike
You want a cup of it? You’ll have to put your own “extras” to pour in to suit your taste. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds like one for me, although I have read quite a lot of them already. I’ve always been a big fan of Victorian/Edwardian crime, so I’m always glad to see these stories coming into print for a new generation.
LikeLike
There’s probably a couple you haven’t read – I’m sure he said in the intro that one or two of them had never been published before – not the best ones admittedly. The other book looks like fun too – murders in holiday resorts. (Probably all committed by Butlins chalet-maids… 😉 )
LikeLike
🙂
LikeLike
Excellent review! The summer must be weakening my resolve. Love psychological and locked room mysteries…I can already feel my summer luggage getting heavier. Once of these days, I’ll have to buy a Kindle.
LikeLike
Thanks! 😀 If you got a Kindle, you could take the companion collection too – all about murders that happen in vacation spots…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the sound of this collection, and those British Library Crime Classics editions are proving very hard to resist. Great review.
LikeLike
Thank you! The whole series is so tempting – I keep having to remind myself that there’s no point acquiring them unless I have time to read them… but I’m not sure I’ve convinced myself!
LikeLike
I’m sure you’ve heard my wail of despair – I was doing so well, I’d even resisted this when you featured the odd story in the Tuesday ‘Tec but no more – I simply have to have a copy to put on my bookshelf – cue more anxious shuffling of books about! A fantastic round-up and I’m trying to forget that there is a companion copy.
LikeLike
Hurrah! I only have the Kindle version but this whole BL Crime series looks so nice I’d love to have a shelf full of them. Need a bigger house first though! I shall do my very best to ensure you end up with a matching set though… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Now this sounds like a winner! I love the Golden Age of crime aspect. I will have to look for this!
LikeLike
I love these older fashioned stories and the editor has picked some really good ones – none that I’d read before either. This whole Classic Crime series is looking great…
LikeLike
This sounds like a wonderful collection especially if you want to see how things have moved and changed. Thanks for sharing it with us.
LikeLike
I love these anthologies for that reason – they give a real taster for how styles have changed. Looking forward to reading the companion piece about murders in holiday resorts too…
LikeLike
[…] I also have added a few books to my own physical bookshelf starting with Capital Crimes: London Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards following this enticing review from Fiction Fan […]
LikeLike
[…] editions of magazines, and perhaps that inspired the authors to show off their best. Next to the London-themed one, this is probably my favourite of the collections so far. I do hope there will be […]
LikeLike
[…] particular sub-genres with chapter titles that often mirror the themed short story collections – Capital Crimes (London based), Continental Crimes, Miraculous Mysteries (locked room mysteries), etc. And, […]
LikeLike