Murder by the Book

Mysteries for Bibliophiles

By: Martin Edwards

Narrated by: Jeff Harding, John Telfer, David Thorpe, Julia Franklin, Ben Onwukwe

A bookish puzzle threatens an eagerly awaited inheritance, a submission to a publisher recounts a murder that seems increasingly to be a work of nonfiction, an irate novelist puts a grisly end to the source of his writer’s block.

There is no better hiding place for clues - or red herrings - than inside the pages of a book. With Martin Edwards as librarian and guide, delve into an irresistible stack of tales perfect for every book lover and armchair sleuth, featuring much-loved Golden Age detectives such as Nigel Strangeways, Philip Trent and Detective Chief Inspector Roderick Alleyn. But listeners should be warned that the most riveting tales often conceal the deadliest of secrets....

©2021 Introduction Martin Edwards (P)2022 Isis Publishing Ltd

Another Treasure Trove from Mr. Edwards

As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, these collections offer work you’ve never heard from authors you know, and an introduction to the work of authors you don’t know. Either way, you win. Here’s what’s on tap, from the clever to the humorous to the downright chilling.

“A Lesson in Crime” by George Douglas Howard and Margaret Cole
“Trent and the Ministering Angel” by E. C. Bentley
“A Slice of Bad Luck” by Nicholas Blake (aka Cecil Day Lewis)
“The Strange Case of the Megatherium Thefts” by S. C. Roberts
“Malice Domestic” by Phillip McDonald
“A Savage Game” by A. A. Milne
“The Clue in the Book” by Julian Symons
“The Manuscript” by Gladys Mitchell
“A Man and His Mother-in-Law” by Roy Vickers (5 chapters)
“Grey’s Ghost” by Michael Innes
“Dear Mr. Editor” by Christiana Brand
“Murder in Advance” by Margery Bremner
“A Question of Character” by Victor Canning
“Book of Honor” by John Creasy
“We Know You’re Busy Writing…” by Edmund Crispin (3 chapters)
“Chapter and Verse” by Ngaoi Marsh

The majority of these are terrific, with but two real duds (for me): “Book of Honor” just lays there. And, cunningly conceived and well-written, Julan Symonds' “The Clue in the Book” no doubt puzzled his British audience, but any American can see the solution almost from the get-go. Throughout, the performances are superb.

Don't get too cozy

While some of these are what you might call cozy, some are gruesome and shocking.