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A review by saareman
Capital Crimes: London Mysteries by Martin Edwards
4.0
London Crime Shorts
Review of the Poisoned Pen Press eBook edition (June 2, 2015) of the British Library Crime Classics original (February 25, 2015) collecting 17 short stories published from 1893 to 1946.
[61/17 = 3.6 average rating for the 17 stories, rounded up to 4 for GR]
I usually pick up a British Library Crime Classic (BLCC) as a cozy seasonal read over the Christmas holidays, but when Capital Crimes: London Mysteries was offered as a Kindle Deal of the Day a few weeks ago I snapped it up immediately. The [a:Martin Edwards|31252|Martin Edwards|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1535842393p2/31252.jpg] anthology selections for the BLCC have always been reliable, with excellent variety. This proved to be the case again.
I've found the best way to record information and ratings on short story anthologies is to make immediate notes via GR's status updates which you can see below or at this link if you are reading outside of GR. Highlighted passages are here.
Poster of "London Pride" (1946) by Frank Henry Mason, a portion of which was cropped for the cover of "Capital Crimes." Image sourced from Artists98.
My 4 or 5 star faves (10 stories) are listed below. The other 7 stories were 2 and 3 stars, no 1 stars. I was surprised at the number of stories which had their own separate listing on GR, several of which I link to below. I expect all of these are in the public domain so likely many of them can be found for free online for those who take the trouble to look.
3. [b:The Finchley Puzzle|35818772|The Finchley Puzzle|Richard Marsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513053432l/35818772._SX50_.jpg|57319815] **** by [a:Richard Marsh|3348|Richard Marsh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1491839332p2/3348.jpg] (1857-1915) does not have a specified publishing date. The lead investigator is a lip-reader named Judith Lee. The case involves a considerable number of chance encounters and lucky breaks but was still quite unique due to the main character.
4. [b:The Magic Casket|5453886|The Magic Casket (Dr. Thorndyke, 16)|R. Austin Freeman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420794664l/5453886._SY75_.jpg|5521472]**** by [a:R. Austin Freeman|80206|R. Austin Freeman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1248786452p2/80206.jpg] (1862-1943) was published in the same-titled collection in 1927. Various villains are attempting to steal a tiny metal box which was fashioned by a criminal when they were in prison. The box may hold a secret which only Dr. Thorndyke can uncover.
5. [b:The Holloway Flat Tragedy|34303417|The Holloway Flat Tragedy|Ernest Bramah|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487077172l/34303417._SY75_.jpg|55356649] ***** by [a:Ernest Bramah|92718|Ernest Bramah|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1339898729p2/92718.jpg] (1868-1942) was first published in 1927. A suspicious case of attempted murder is brought to the office of enquiry agent Louis Carlyle. Carlyle enlists the aid of his friend, the blind sleuth Max Carrados to solve the case when the next attempt proves successful.
7. The Stealer of Marble**** by [a:Edgar Wallace|81433|Edgar Wallace|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298812235p2/81433.jpg] (1873-1932) was from the collection [b:The Mind of Mr J G Reeder|854268|The Mind of Mr J G Reeder (Mr. J. G. Reeder #2)|Edgar Wallace|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1351664010l/854268._SY75_.jpg|980288] (1925). A woman is arrested due to her acting suspiciously with a suitcase, but the suitcase only contains broken pieces of marble. Reeder uncovers the diabolical use of the marble pieces.
8. [b:The Tea Leaf|25836643|The Tea Leaf|Robert Eustace|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435841720l/25836643._SX50_.jpg|45698874]***** by [a:Robert Eustace|540823|Robert Eustace|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (1869-1943) and [a:Edgar Jensen|24334717|Edgar Jensen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (1863-1938) first published in 1925. A classic early locked room mystery. A man is stabbed to death in a turkish bath and the last man who argued with him and left the room is the main suspect, except no weapon can be found.
9. [b:The Hands of Mr. Ottermole|12148057|The Hands of Mr. Ottermole|Thomas Burke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348177359l/12148057._SY75_.jpg|17118608]**** by [a:Thomas Burke|332340|Thomas Burke|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590595467p2/332340.jpg] (1886-1945) was first published in 1931. A mysterious strangler is randomly selecting victims around London and the police are baffled. A journalist thinks he has solved the mystery. Good twist ending.
10. [b:The Little House|52103150|The Little House|H.C. Bailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566162077l/52103150._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72965898]**** by [a:H.C. Bailey|518052|H.C. Bailey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1285199019p2/518052.jpg] (1878-1961) from the collection [b:Mr. Fortune, Please|9938957|Mr. Fortune, Please|H.C. Bailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1294047448l/9938957._SY75_.jpg|14832229] (1927). Reginald Fortune, a regular consultant of the authorities, is asked to investigate the case of a missing kitten, which turns out to be a much more diabolical situation.
13. The Avenging Chance**** by [a:Anthony Berkeley|246785|Anthony Berkeley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1408927615p2/246785.jpg] (1893-1971) first publication was not listed, but the story was later expanded into the full length novel [b:The Poisoned Chocolates Case|1946070|The Poisoned Chocolates Case|Anthony Berkeley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433746207l/1946070._SY75_.jpg|1948852] (1929) which offered six different solutions to the case.
16. [b:Cheese|17057287|Cheese|Ethel Lina White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356057509l/17057287._SY75_.jpg|23383718]**** by [a:Ethel Lina White|11217|Ethel Lina White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1449202830p2/11217.jpg] (1876-1944) original publication not identified. A plan is set in motion to capture a murderer when someone offers to be the bait (i.e. the “cheese”) in a trap. The ending is basically given away at the introduction, but there was still suspense and a small twist at the end.
17. You Can’t Hang Twice**** by [a:Anthony Gilbert|518238|Anthony Gilbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1692172135p2/518238.jpg] (1899-1973) original publication in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine November 1946. A potential witness phones lawyer Arthur Crook to say that he can attest to the innocence of Crook’s client in a murder charge. But will the witness make it to Crook’s office with the murderer on his tail?
Trivia and Links
The British Library Crime Classics series are reprints of forgotten titles from the 1860's through to the 1950's. You can see a list at the British Library Crime Classics Shop (for North America they are reprinted by the publisher Poisoned Pen Press). There is also a Goodreads Listopia for the series which you can see here.
Review of the Poisoned Pen Press eBook edition (June 2, 2015) of the British Library Crime Classics original (February 25, 2015) collecting 17 short stories published from 1893 to 1946.
[61/17 = 3.6 average rating for the 17 stories, rounded up to 4 for GR]
I usually pick up a British Library Crime Classic (BLCC) as a cozy seasonal read over the Christmas holidays, but when Capital Crimes: London Mysteries was offered as a Kindle Deal of the Day a few weeks ago I snapped it up immediately. The [a:Martin Edwards|31252|Martin Edwards|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1535842393p2/31252.jpg] anthology selections for the BLCC have always been reliable, with excellent variety. This proved to be the case again.
I've found the best way to record information and ratings on short story anthologies is to make immediate notes via GR's status updates which you can see below or at this link if you are reading outside of GR. Highlighted passages are here.
Poster of "London Pride" (1946) by Frank Henry Mason, a portion of which was cropped for the cover of "Capital Crimes." Image sourced from Artists98.
My 4 or 5 star faves (10 stories) are listed below. The other 7 stories were 2 and 3 stars, no 1 stars. I was surprised at the number of stories which had their own separate listing on GR, several of which I link to below. I expect all of these are in the public domain so likely many of them can be found for free online for those who take the trouble to look.
3. [b:The Finchley Puzzle|35818772|The Finchley Puzzle|Richard Marsh|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513053432l/35818772._SX50_.jpg|57319815] **** by [a:Richard Marsh|3348|Richard Marsh|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1491839332p2/3348.jpg] (1857-1915) does not have a specified publishing date. The lead investigator is a lip-reader named Judith Lee. The case involves a considerable number of chance encounters and lucky breaks but was still quite unique due to the main character.
4. [b:The Magic Casket|5453886|The Magic Casket (Dr. Thorndyke, 16)|R. Austin Freeman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420794664l/5453886._SY75_.jpg|5521472]**** by [a:R. Austin Freeman|80206|R. Austin Freeman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1248786452p2/80206.jpg] (1862-1943) was published in the same-titled collection in 1927. Various villains are attempting to steal a tiny metal box which was fashioned by a criminal when they were in prison. The box may hold a secret which only Dr. Thorndyke can uncover.
5. [b:The Holloway Flat Tragedy|34303417|The Holloway Flat Tragedy|Ernest Bramah|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487077172l/34303417._SY75_.jpg|55356649] ***** by [a:Ernest Bramah|92718|Ernest Bramah|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1339898729p2/92718.jpg] (1868-1942) was first published in 1927. A suspicious case of attempted murder is brought to the office of enquiry agent Louis Carlyle. Carlyle enlists the aid of his friend, the blind sleuth Max Carrados to solve the case when the next attempt proves successful.
7. The Stealer of Marble**** by [a:Edgar Wallace|81433|Edgar Wallace|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1298812235p2/81433.jpg] (1873-1932) was from the collection [b:The Mind of Mr J G Reeder|854268|The Mind of Mr J G Reeder (Mr. J. G. Reeder #2)|Edgar Wallace|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1351664010l/854268._SY75_.jpg|980288] (1925). A woman is arrested due to her acting suspiciously with a suitcase, but the suitcase only contains broken pieces of marble. Reeder uncovers the diabolical use of the marble pieces.
8. [b:The Tea Leaf|25836643|The Tea Leaf|Robert Eustace|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1435841720l/25836643._SX50_.jpg|45698874]***** by [a:Robert Eustace|540823|Robert Eustace|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (1869-1943) and [a:Edgar Jensen|24334717|Edgar Jensen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] (1863-1938) first published in 1925. A classic early locked room mystery. A man is stabbed to death in a turkish bath and the last man who argued with him and left the room is the main suspect, except no weapon can be found.
9. [b:The Hands of Mr. Ottermole|12148057|The Hands of Mr. Ottermole|Thomas Burke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348177359l/12148057._SY75_.jpg|17118608]**** by [a:Thomas Burke|332340|Thomas Burke|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1590595467p2/332340.jpg] (1886-1945) was first published in 1931. A mysterious strangler is randomly selecting victims around London and the police are baffled. A journalist thinks he has solved the mystery. Good twist ending.
10. [b:The Little House|52103150|The Little House|H.C. Bailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566162077l/52103150._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72965898]**** by [a:H.C. Bailey|518052|H.C. Bailey|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1285199019p2/518052.jpg] (1878-1961) from the collection [b:Mr. Fortune, Please|9938957|Mr. Fortune, Please|H.C. Bailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1294047448l/9938957._SY75_.jpg|14832229] (1927). Reginald Fortune, a regular consultant of the authorities, is asked to investigate the case of a missing kitten, which turns out to be a much more diabolical situation.
13. The Avenging Chance**** by [a:Anthony Berkeley|246785|Anthony Berkeley|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1408927615p2/246785.jpg] (1893-1971) first publication was not listed, but the story was later expanded into the full length novel [b:The Poisoned Chocolates Case|1946070|The Poisoned Chocolates Case|Anthony Berkeley|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1433746207l/1946070._SY75_.jpg|1948852] (1929) which offered six different solutions to the case.
16. [b:Cheese|17057287|Cheese|Ethel Lina White|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356057509l/17057287._SY75_.jpg|23383718]**** by [a:Ethel Lina White|11217|Ethel Lina White|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1449202830p2/11217.jpg] (1876-1944) original publication not identified. A plan is set in motion to capture a murderer when someone offers to be the bait (i.e. the “cheese”) in a trap. The ending is basically given away at the introduction, but there was still suspense and a small twist at the end.
17. You Can’t Hang Twice**** by [a:Anthony Gilbert|518238|Anthony Gilbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1692172135p2/518238.jpg] (1899-1973) original publication in Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine November 1946. A potential witness phones lawyer Arthur Crook to say that he can attest to the innocence of Crook’s client in a murder charge. But will the witness make it to Crook’s office with the murderer on his tail?
Trivia and Links
The British Library Crime Classics series are reprints of forgotten titles from the 1860's through to the 1950's. You can see a list at the British Library Crime Classics Shop (for North America they are reprinted by the publisher Poisoned Pen Press). There is also a Goodreads Listopia for the series which you can see here.