The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books

Description

This book tells the story of crime fiction published during the first half of the twentieth century. The diversity of this much-loved genre is breathtaking, and so much greater than many critics have suggested. To illustrate this, the leading expert on classic crime discusses one hundred books ranging from The Hound of the Baskervilles to Strangers on a Train which highlight the entertaining plots, the literary achievements, and the social significance of vintage crime fiction. This book serves as a companion to the acclaimed British Library Crime Classics series but it tells a very diverse story. It presents the development of crime fiction - from Sherlock Holmes to the end of the golden age - in an accessible, informative and engaging style.

Martin Edwards is an award-winning crime writer best known for two series of novels set in Liverpool and the Lake District. He is series consultant for British Library Crime Classics, Chair of the Crime Writers' Association, and President of the Detection Club. The Golden Age of Murder, his study of the Detection Club, was published in 2015 to international acclaim, and won the Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating and Macavity awards for the year's best book about the genre.

A fascinating guide to this era of bodies in libraries, poisoned chocolates and inspectors with pipes and moustaches. Sunday Times; No one could doubt the extent of Edwards's knowledge. Mail on Sunday; Irresistible for aficionados and a reliable reading list for newcomers. Publishers Weekly