Miraculous Mysteries: Locked-Room Murders and Impossible Crimes

by Martin Edwards (Editor)

Overview

Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder

"[R]eaders who appreciate careful plot development, slightly unusual detectives, and logical denouements will relish this volume." —Library Journal

Impossible crime stories have been relished by puzzle-lovers ever since the invention of detective fiction. Fiendishly intricate cases were particularly well suited to the cerebral type of detective story that became so popular during the 'golden age of murder' between the two world wars. But the tradition goes back to the days of Edgar Allan Poe and Wilkie Collins, and impossible crime stories have been written by such luminaries as Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers and Margery Allingham.

This anthology celebrates their work, alongside long-hidden gems by less familiar writers. Together these stories demonstrate the range and high accomplishment of the classic British impossible crime story over more than half a century.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781464207457
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	04/02/2024
Series:	British Library Crime Classics
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	359
Sales rank:	171,927
File size:	541 KB

About the Author

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, the Vice 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 has been nominated for both the Edgar and Agatha awards for the year's best book about the genre. He received the CWA 2020 Diamond Dagger Award for sustained excellence in crime writing and significant contributions to the genre, joining the ranks of Sue Grafton, Ian Rankin, and Lee Child.

Editorial Reviews

"I am a avid crime fiction fan. Especially ones from the Golden Era... I absolutely loved every word, every mystery. every twist and turn."

NetGalley - Sarah Marsden

"Another great collection of short stories by British writers ranging in date from Conan Doyle to Margery Allingham. It pleased me that the stories varied in length and difficulty of solution. Very highly recommended for all fans of classic British detection."

Goodreads - Eric Bruce

"The stories are described as 'the crème de la crème' of Impossible crimes and locked room mysteries... and the introduction by Martin Edwards are really interesting and add a great deal to the book. I really recommend this to anyone who enjoys the older style of writing."

Goodreads - Leyla Johnson

"Martin Edwards, who is, among other things, the president of England's prestigious Detection Club, has been kept quite busy of late collecting short stories by classic authors and putting them together into anthologies. As I am particularly fond of stories in the "impossible crimes" sub-genre, I am most grateful for this latest anthology which focuses its attention entirely upon impossibilities. Edwards has chosen from a good mix of authors - some quite famous, some who have lapsed into obscurity. All have turned out wonderfully tricky stories about impossible crimes, and the solutions, in general, are quite novel."

Classic Mysteries - Les Blatt

04/01/2017
Series editor Edwards (The Golden Age of Murder) turns to locked-room mysteries for the latest collection of Golden Age stories. Included in this collection are pieces by recognizable names such as Arthur Conan Doyle, G.K. Chesterton, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham. The seemingly impossible locked-room murders are solved often by the authors' best-known characters, who are usually clever and explain their logical conclusions. Edwards provides a wealth of background information in brief sketches before each story. VERDICT Although a few tales show their age with their flowery style, readers who appreciate careful plot development, slightly unusual detectives, and logical denouements will relish this volume. For lovers of Agatha Christie, John Dickson Carr, and other masters of that period.—LH

Library Journal