A ninth batch of murder, mystery and mayhem…
This is a challenge to read all 102 (102? Yes, 102) books listed in Martin Edwards’ guide to vintage crime, The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books. (100? Yes, 100.) Because of all the other great vintage crime being republished at the moment, I’m going very slowly with this challenge, and they’ve proved to be a bit of a mixed bag so far. Here’s the second batch for 2020 and the ninth overall – some well known names in this batch!
The Killer and the Slain by Hugh Walpole
This will be my introduction to Hugh Walpole. It sounds dark and pretty terrifying – I may need to wake the porpy up for company…
The Blurb says: As boys, Jimmie Tunstall was John Talbot’s implacable foe, never ceasing to taunt, torment, and bully him. Years later, John is married and living in a small coastal town when he learns, much to his chagrin, that his old adversary has just moved to the same town. Before long the harassment begins anew until finally, driven to desperation, John murders his tormentor. Soon he starts to suffer from frightening hallucinations and his personality and physical appearance begin to alter, causing him increasingly to resemble the man he killed. Is it merely the psychological effect of his guilt, or is it the manifestation of something supernatural—and evil? The tension builds until the chilling final scene, when the horrifying truth will be revealed about the killer—and the slain.
Challenge details
Book No: 101
Subject Heading: The Way Ahead
Publication Year: 1942
Martin Edwards says: “The Killer and the Slain is a compelling novel, very distantly reminiscent of James Hogg’s The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner (1824), yet distinctive in its treatment of cruelty and murderous obsession…“
* * * * *
The Sussex Downs Murder by John Bude
The British Library has re-issued several books by Bude now. It took me a bit of time to warm up to him but I loved the last couple I’ve read, so am looking forward to this one with great anticipation…
The Blurb says: Two brothers, John and William Rother, live together at Chalklands Farm in the beautiful Sussex Downs. Their peaceful rural life is shattered when John Rother disappears and his abandoned car is found. Has he been kidnapped? Or is his disappearance more sinister – connected, perhaps, to his growing rather too friendly with his brother’s wife?
Superintendent Meredith is called to investigate – and begins to suspect the worst when human bones are discovered on Chalklands farmland. His patient, careful detective method begins slowly to untangle the clues as suspicion shifts from one character to the next.
Challenge details
Book No: 35
Subject Heading: Serpents in Eden
Publication Year: 1936
Edwards says: “The Rother family farmhouse, Chalklands, and the surrounding area are convincingly realised, and in keeping with Golden Age tradition, a map is supplied to help readers to follow the events of the story after John Rother goes missing, in circumstances which at first (but deceptively) seem reminiscent of the disappearance of Agatha Christie…“
* * * * *
Six Problems for Don Isidro Parodi by H Bustos Domecq
I’m not sure about this one at all – it sounds like a bit of a mish-mash from the blurb, and perhaps trying to be too clever. But low expectations mean that if it surprises me, it can only be in a good way!
The Blurb says: The first fruit of the collaboration of Borges and his long-time friend Bioy-Casares, Six Problems for Don Isidro Parodi appeared originally under the pseudonym of H. Bustos Domecq. “Bugsy’s” prose style is not quite the style of either of the collaborators, but in this volume, at least, “he never got out of hand,” as Borges complained he did later.
In the first story, Parodi, who is himself in jail for homicide, is visited by a young man who seeks his help in solving a particularly baffling murder. In the second story, a killing takes place aboard an express train. One of the characters is a writer named Gervasio Montenegro, whom the discerning reader will identify as author of the book’s expressive foreword. In “Tadeo Limardo’s Victim,” a murdered man prepares for his own death. “Tai An’s Long Search” is a variation on Poe’s “The Purloined Letter.” In “Free Will and the Commendatore,” a cuckold takes elaborate and invisible revenge.
Challenge details
Book No: 98
Subject Heading: Cosmopolitan Crimes
Publication Year: 1942
Edwards says: “In-jokes abound; some are lost on a modern British reader, while Montenegro’s anti-Semitism represents the authors’ scorn for racism; Nazi-supporting extremists had previously suggested that Borges was secretly Jewish, and not a ‘true’ Argentinian…“
* * * * *
The Case of the Late Pig by Margery Allingham
I’ve never learned to love Margery Allingham though I don’t hate her stuff either. Maybe this will be the one that turns me into a wholehearted fan. Certainly the title is a major attraction!
The Blurb says: Private detective Albert Campion is summoned to the village of Kepesake to investigate a particularly distasteful death. The body turns out to be that of Pig Peters, freshly killed five months after his own funeral. Soon other corpses start to turn up, just as Peter’s body goes missing. It takes all Campion’s coolly incisive powers of detection to unravel the crime.
The Case of the Late Pig is, uniquely, narrated by Campion himself. In Allingham’s inimitable style, high drama sits neatly beside pitch perfect black comedy. A heady mix of murder, romance, and the urbane detective’s own unglamorous past make this an unmissable Allingham mystery.
Challenge details
Book No: 25
Subject Heading: The Great Detectives
Publication Year: 1937
Edwards says: “…the story is an example of Margery Allingham at her best. Its high spirits are not a means of disguising a thin plot, but complementary to an intriguing mystery. She was an unorthodox novelist, whose work was correspondingly uneven, but her admirers remain legion…”
All blurbs and covers taken from Goodreads or Amazon UK.
The quotes from Martin Edwards are from his book,
The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books.
* * * * *
I’ve heard of the Bude and wanted to read it, FictionFan, so I’ll be quite interested in your view on that one. I’ve read a little of his work, but not that one. The Allingham looks good, too. Sometimes, those GA stories are exactly what the proverbial doctor ordered, and I hope you’ll enjoy them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve enjoyed some of the Budes far more than others, so I’m hoping this will be one of the good ones. I would like to like Allingham more than I do and I haven’t read an awful lot of her, so maybe The Case of the Late Pig will win me over!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Sussex Downs Murder is on my bookshelves, needless to say I haven’t got round to it yet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, I’ve had it waiting for a long time too, but hopefully it’ll be worth the wait! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hope so!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Killer and the Slain sounds intriguing, especially if the Porpy gets involved! I’ve never read any of Walpole’s stuff before, so I can’t give you a thumbs-up or down on it. I’ll be waiting for your review to see if it’s as good as it sounds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never read anything by Warpole either and only really became aware of him through this challenge, so I’ll be interested myself to see what he’s like! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, as far as titles go, you can’t beat “The Case of the Late Pig”!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great, isn’t it? 😂 I wonder if the story will live up to it… 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Case of the Late Pig – I mean that title alone is genius!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, yes, best title of the year so far! 😀
LikeLike
The Case of the Late Pig is one of the Allingham’s that I have read and I’m looking forward to reaching it in my current survey of her work as I have fond memories of it. I can’t say any of the others tempt me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m really hoping I like The Case of the Late Pig since I always wish I enjoyed Allingham more than I have done up to now. Maybe this will be the one! 😀
LikeLike
There are some great titles and covers here, The Case of the Late Pig and Sussex Downs and Six Problems . . . I really want them to be good reads!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha! I do think titles were much more imaginative in the Golden Age, and they really do make me want to read the books! Unlike the contemporary world of The Husband’s Secrets, The Wife’s Lies, The Girlfriend’s Drink Problem, etc, etc… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve enjoyed Allingham’s short stories in the various BL collections, but I’ve never read one of her novels – will be interested to hear what you think!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Funnily enough I’ve usually enjoyed her short stories in the anthologies too, but for some reason the novels don’t work so well for me. Maybe this will be the one to change my mind!
LikeLike
I can’t say any of them are especially jumping out for me at the moment, though the Case of the Late Pig is certainly an intriguing title. Hopefully some of these will help ease you out of your reading slump.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must admit I’m finding this challenge rather mixed – I can’t quite see why a lot of the books should have been singled out for mention, since they’re often not as good as the ones the BL is routinely republishing. But I start each one with hope in my heart! 😉
LikeLike
Nope, not tempted. I’ve already added the Graham Greene to my list, so that’s all for this week, ah, month….I just read a review of The Rise and Fall of Charles Lindbergh by Candace Fleming. It’s considered a YA. It sounds fascinating. Not the man as he’s been portrayed…..tempted by that one
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, that Charles Lindbergh book sounds interesting – I’ve always wanted to know more about him, especially since apparently the kidnapping of his child was the inspiration behind The Murder on the Orient Express. But Brighton Rock will be better… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed the Allingham and Bude but I quite fancy the Walpole.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never read anything by Walpole and in fact only really heard him about him through doing this challenge. I’ve loved some Budes and not others, so I have my fingers crossed for this one, and I’m hoping Allingham can finally win me over – I’d like to like her more than I do… 😀
LikeLike
It sounds like a fun challenge!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s certainly introduced me to loads of new-to-me writers, which has been fatal for my TBR… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oohhh the Killer and the Slain looks like a good one. I also associate Walpole with gothic literature, but i think that’s a different Walpole I’m thinking of LOL
Also, why does Martin’s 100 books list include 102 books? What’s up with that?
LikeLiked by 1 person
No, I’m sure you’re right – it’s that Walpole! Intriguingly Wikipedia lists this novel as gothic horror rather than crime, and I must say that’s what the blurb made me think too. I’m intrigued to know why Martin Edwards has picked it as a crime classic!
Haha – that is the greatest mystery of all…!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh wow i’ve surprised myself haha
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, it’s nice when that happens… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
None of these really call out to me. My TBR pile is relieved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s no good at all! I shall have to find a way to get you hooked on all this vintage crime – it’s fatal for TBRs! 😉
LikeLike
The Killer and the Slain sounds good but I’m going to wait for your review before committing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It does, doesn’t it? But it sounds much more like horror than crime – the porpy is twitching in his sleep… 🦔
LikeLiked by 1 person
I left a comment but it seems to have disappeared so will try again. The Walpole one seems the most interesting. He has long been on my Authors-to-be-Read list and I will wait eagerly for your views and also search for the book. I tried Bude once, couldn’t finish the book. However, this one sound good. Never have been fond of Allingham’s Campion. Happy Reading to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bah! WordPress! I’ve never read anything by Walpole so it intrigues me too, even though it sounds more like horror than crime – not that that’s a bad thing! I’ve had a mixed experience with Bude – a couple I really thought were pretty poor and a couple that I thought were brilliant. I’m hoping this one falls into the brilliant category! And Allingham will have to work hard to win me over, but maybe this will be the one…
LikeLike
The Sussex Downs Murder and Six Problems for Don Isidro Parodi are tempting!
I feel the same about Margery Allingham’s Campion series. Never warmed up to it though I have tried.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’d like to like Allingham more than I do, but I don’t like Campion or his sidekick – maybe this one will change my mind. I have high hopes for Sussex Downs and hmm, we’ll see how Don Isidro works for me… 😉
LikeLike
Hmm, none of these are grabbing me, which is just as well. I’ve got my hands full with 20 Books of Summer and a TBR around 350!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I kinda cheated since three of these are already on my 20 Books list! Haha – my TBR isn’t growing too badly but my wishlist seems to be out of control at the moment – time for some brutal culling! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Sussex Downs Murder is the only that interests me, although I found The Lake District Murder was a bit difficult to follow, with all the calculations of the times and distribution of petrol deliveries. The Cheltenham Square Murder was better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve had really mixed success with the Budes I’ve read so far – some of them have been quite disappointing, But I’ve also read a couple that I thought were great – Death in White Pyjamas and Death Knows No Calendar, so I’m hoping this one might fall into that category… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I’m tempted by them all, FF, but I can’t keep buying books!!! I’ve noted them all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, I know the feeling! And getting into vintage crime ahs just added to the problem… 😉
LikeLike