';Why should anyone want to pinch the daggerexcept to do somebody in?'No one answered this question.Item: one anonymous phone call reporting a murder at a historic country house but no body is to be found. Item: one ornate antique knife, discovered in a village call-box, blood-stains on the blade.Rather than identifying a corpse, Bobby Owen of the Yard has to find out who, if anyone, has actually been killed. Two persons, one a best-selling author, the other no-one's cup of tea, are missing but a particular kind of hat keep turning up in the case which also involves a haunted wood, a hatchet-wielding secretary, and a curious abundance of writers.The Golden Dagger is the twenty-ninth novel in the Bobby Owen Mystery series, originally published in 1951. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans, and a selection of E.R. Punshon's prolific Guardian reviews of other golden age mystery fiction.';What is distinction? in the works of Mr. E.R. Punshon we salute it every time.'--Dorothy L. Sayers
';It's murder all right; no one could bash his own head in the way this chap's was.'The stranger's body was discovered by businesswoman Mrs Holcombe, the unofficial queen of Pending Dale. As if there wasn't enough gossip rife in the village, now the Queen may be under suspicion of murder.Talk is cheap, but reputations are valuable but were they worth buying silence at the cost of a man's life? When Bobby Owen of the Yard arrives in Pending Dale to investigate, amid a panoply of local characters and red herrings he discovers a compelling and unpredictable motive. A reason why the unassuming and anonymous commercial traveller had to die The Attending Truth is the thirtieth novel in the Bobby Owen Mystery series, originally published in 1952. This new edition features a bonus Bobby Owen short story, and an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.';What is distinction? in the works of Mr. E.R. Punshon we salute it every time.'--Dorothy L. Sayers
';The poor devil's mouth was filled with feathers. An unconscious man with his mouth full of feathers wouldn't have had much chance of surviving, and this one didn't.'The press gleefully dubbed it the ';Banquet Murder'. The murdered man, Hugh Newton, had apparently been making a sumptuous feast for two in his flat, before his own goose was cooked.Bobby Owen of the Yard is drawn to the cold case. Starting with the curious fact that the apartment building has experienced two break-ins since the murder, Bobby starts investigating the colourful, or faintly macabre, inhabitants. Elsewhere in London, Doreen Caine, cookery instructor, is excited that the case has been reopened. And further afield, a travel agency specializing in gastronomic tours comes under suspicion. It's a bouillabaise of a mystery, one of Punshon's finest, in which Bobby will discover whether retribution if not revenge is a dish best served cold.Strange Ending is the thirty-first novel in the Bobby Owen Mystery series, originally published in 1953. This new edition features a bonus Bobby Owen short story, and an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.';What is distinction? in the works of Mr. E.R. Punshon we salute it every time.'--Dorothy L. Sayers
Down below, like some gigantic monster from Earth's dark past, a moving van waited in the mist. Judging the distance as best he could, Joe leaped into space . . .Get Joe Hawkins! Vicious former skinhead Joe Hawkins has done a runner from prison. On the lam, he cuts a swathe through England's heartland, sex and violence very much on his mind. Newly equipped with a shooter, Joe pals up with armed robbers, evading the coppers by a whisker. But Joe's now a marked man a powerful criminal is gunning for him, with no plans to quit until he's found his target. Even Joe's never been in this tight a spot before . . .Skinhead Escapes (1972) was the third book in Richard Allen's bestselling Skinhead series, one of the most potent artefacts of British popular culture ever committed to print.';I did happen to read Skinhead when it came out and I was quite interested in the whole Richard Allen cult . . . suedeheads and skinheads and smoothies were very much part of daily life. There was a tremendous air of intensity . . . something interesting grabbed me about the whole thing.' Morrissey';(Richard Allen's) work shouldnt require a theoretical summing up, once enough of those to whom it appeals understand its attraction we will have superceded this society.' Stewart Home
';Take my advice; from to-day keep your own counsel. Listen to everything, disclose nothing. Avoid being alone. Come to me if you're in doubt about anything or feel you scent danger. I can assure you we both live in danger.'Geoffrey Mayne is in need of some serious r'n'r after studying intensively for his bar exams in London. A luxurious Pacific island cruise seems just the ticket, especially when one of his fellow passengers is the attractive young Freda Shannon.But after a terrible storm and shipwreck, Geoffrey and Freda find themselves in a small party of survivors, marooned on a remote South Sea island. The castaways resolve to make the best of what may be a long wait on the deserted isle. But is it really deserted? A gunshot is heard and then one of their party is found, slain. Is a shadowy denizen intent on murdering the interlopers, or is the hidden truth more diabolical still?Murder on Paradise Island was first published in 1937. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.';Mr. Forsythe belongs to the new school of detective story writers which might be called the brilliant flippant school.' J.B. Priestley
"Death from manual strangulation after a blow that slightly fractured the skull."Ludovic Travers, private investigator, is approached by a slight acquaintance from his past, one Isabel Herne. She has seemingly fallen into the hands of a charming con-man, who has promised her the earth, including a very expensive racehorse. When the race-horse fails to materialize, and the man vanishes, she tasks Ludovic with finding the latter and, if possible, recovering her money. But what appears to be one kind of case soon plunges headlong into another - one of blackmail, black magic, a black sheep, and murder. Ludo will have to pit his wits against a desperate killer-and his wife Bernice will play an unexpectedly active part.The Case of the Jumbo Sandwich was originally published in 1965. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"e;Murder and Mardi Gras together! Ain't we got fun?"e;For years New Orleans has been enthralled by the secret society dedicated to Dis, Greek god of Inferno, whose membership of fifty is closely guarded from the press, and whose rites burlesque the proud tradition of the city's Mardi Gras festival. Lovely Cynthia Fontenay gives Dis a ball each year, and no member of the order has ever been seen without satanic mask and sinister robes of black and scarlet-this is well known, but despite many efforts, the secret of its roster has never been penetrated.When murder strikes with vicious efficiency in this charmed circle, its visit casts a shadow over the city. Captain Murphy, of the Homicide Squad, and Wade, New Orleans journalist, confront a case of fifty suspects, smouldering motives which overnight become front page news, and incredible circumstances which make for the most famous of many unusual crimes on the Police Calendar.The Mardi Gras Murders was first published in 1932. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"e;A woman in a red raincoat killed Linton Barclay."e;Paradise Island, the brightest spot of all playgrounds edging the Gulf of Mexico, caters gladly to those who can afford to pay well for their entertainment. Twelve miles from the mainland, it has, under the suave management of Brett Allison, come to be known for sports, gaming tables, and the Peacock Club.For some time Federal authorities have suspected a connection between the Island and the increased activities in the drug traffic along the coast, but when Major Jack Raymond, stocky as the cigars he smokes, and Andrew Dillingham, scion of one of the south's oldest families, are sent to investigate, they encounter in the person of lovely Eva Shale, whose wealth comes from an unknown source, an enigma of the first order.A tropical storm, so common to the locale, which sweeps the island, brings with it a murder which fastens its suspicious fingers upon every resident of the Peacock Club-save Daisy Dillingham who does as she pleases, says what she pleases, and for years has been dreaded, adored and obeyed.Two and Two Make Twenty-Two was originally published in 1932. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
"e;Thou Shalt Not Kill."e;All New Orleans is disturbed at the rumour that one of its civic treasures, a fragment of the Gutenberg Bible, has been stolen. But when the rumour becomes a fact and is followed by a series of murders so hideous that every paper's headlines screamed each new phase of the case, the concern changes to panic. Each new crime centres on the same group of people: wealthy, respected and influential. Yet the police and District Attorney struggle to find a definite clue on which to base an arrest.Each of the suspects could benefit from the death of the murder victims, and each new clue further embroils the seemingly most innocent. In the deft weaving of the plot, and in the vivid delineation of District Attorney Dan Farrell-honest, capable and trustworthy-the journalist Wade-shrewd and persistent-Terry Sheldon-rich, impulsive and hot-headed-and Winifred Gonzales, with a charm too rich for youth and face too young for age, the authors have provided a set of characters the reader will remember long after the book is finished.The Gutenberg Murders was originally published in 1931. This new edition includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
Yes, her job was the loneliest in the world. No king, no dictator set high upon a pinnacle, was as friendless as the headmistress of a girls' school.Charlotte Fairlie loves her position at the illustrious St. Elizabeth's, but it's not without its challenges-first among them her trouble-making maths mistress Miss Pinkerton, who yearns for Charlotte's job and spares no effort to complicate her life. Then there's the charming Lawrence Swayne, headmaster of a nearby boys' school, who has plans of his own for Charlotte's future. But it's the arrival of Tessa MacRynne, desperately homesick for the Scottish isle of Targ and distraught about her parents' impending divorce, who really stirs things up-giving Miss Pinkerton fresh ammunition, helping the unfortunate Eastwoods, who cower beneath their father's snide, critical personality, and inspiring Charlotte to spend an unforgettable holiday on Targ. Adventures, pleasures, misunderstandings, and tragedies follow, told with D.E. Stevenson's inimitable sensitivity and humour, and Charlotte's loneliness is soon forgotten . . .First published in 1954 and long out of print, Charlotte Fairlie is the irresistible, sometimes poignant tale of a talented professional woman gaining a new lease on life. This new edition includes an autobiographical sketch by the author."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
Sometimes she wished she could stick up a large notice saying: "e;FOUR CHILDREN ARE NOT TOO MANY"e; . . .Raising four young children on her own in the years of postwar rationing, widowed Dinah tends to be the subject of sympathetic murmurs. But though she has little money, is perpetually tired, and remains haunted by unresolved issues from her troubled marriage, Dinah rejects all offers of pity. When her twin brother Dan returns from the military, he sends her and the children on holiday among the scenes of their childhood, staying with their unflappable Nannie at Craigie Lodge, their old family home, in a beautiful coastal town in Scotland. There, amidst happy memories, old friends, and new acquaintances, Dinah and her brood weather delightful adventures, awkward misunderstandings, and, perhaps, the tentative beginnings of new romance.First published in 1949, Young Mrs. Savage is a charming holiday story, a perceptive tale of overcoming past unhappiness to make a fresh start, and one of D.E. Stevenson's most irresistible novels. This new edition includes an autobiographical sketch by the author."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
"e;Do you know anything about her, Richard?"e;"e;Nothing except that she lives in London, is obviously well off and very impulsive. . . . She bought the house as if it were-a bun. She bought it straight off without seeing it."e;"e;She must be mad!"e;The arrival of novelist Kate Hardy at the lovely Dower House in Old Quinings, with her staunch ally and housekeeper Martha, has the whole village talking. But Kate is not in fact mad, merely in need of escape from her selfish sister Milly and spoiled niece Minty. Though welcomed warmly by Richard Morven at the Manor House and the charming, widowed Mrs. Stark, Kate likewise finds herself taken for a witch and is then one of the targets of a poison pen campaign-not to mention the rumours that her new home is haunted by its past inhabitant. With the arrival of Mrs. Stark's son Walter, back from his wartime triumphs and finding readjustment to village life difficult, Kate may find that the country allows her as little time for writing as London!First published in 1947 and providing a fascinating glimpse of English life in the immediate postwar years, Kate Hardy is an irresistible tale of village life, challenging family relations, romance, and D.E. Stevenson's incomparable storytelling. Also included in this edition is an autobiographical sketch by the author."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
"e;Now, listen to me,"e; said Mr. Green earnestly. "e;I've brought up my little girl as a girl should be brought up. I've sheltered her from the world. She's uncontaminated by the modern ideas-uncontaminated. What d'you think of that?"e;Young George Ferrier's frivolous jaunt in London ends with an unexpected encounter with wealthy Mr. Green, old friend of his father, who spontaneously drafts George to be a trustee for his daughter Elma. George accepts (primarily due to the payment involved) and puts it out of his mind, returning home to his high-spirited Irish mother, distracted astronomer father, and friends Peter Seeley and his sister Cathy. But Mr. Green's sudden death-and the discovery that his fellow trustees are distinctly on the shady side-launches George into a series of rollicking adventures as he attempts to secure the overly-sheltered Elma's wealth, protect her from fortune-hunters, and shield her from her own naive instincts.First published in 1939 and out of print for many years, Green Money is a delightful tale of fortune and fraud, innocence and experience-and of course romance. This new edition includes an autobiographical sketch by D.E. Stevenson."e;Miss Stevenson has her own individual and charming way of seeing things."e; Western Mail
Callaghan awoke and looked at the ceiling. His lips were dry and his tongue felt like a yellow plush sofa. Outside he could hear the rain pattering on the windows. He looked at his wrist-watch. It was eight o'clock.Vivacious Mrs. Riverton has hired Slim to find her missing stepson, whom she admits she hates.A dame has to have more than beauty and breeding to stop Slim Callaghan doing things his way. Mrs. Riverton has plenty of both, but when she begins to interfere in Slim's search, things start to hot up.Slim's motto is: 'We get there somehow and who the hell cares'. The problem is that someone does . . .'Dangerous Curves was originally published in 1939.'Peter Cheyney is the Damon Runyon of crime' The Times'Slim Callaghan's quick wit and knowledge of rough and tumble place him in the top ranks of private eyes. What a man!' New York Times
At what age does a lady become a legend?Lana Turner asked herself this question after decades of success, scandal, romance, marriage and motherhood, and not a little heartbreak. Long after the span of her extraordinary career, an adoring public remains fascinated by a woman who was arguably the epitome of a Hollywood movie star. Immensely talented and equally beautiful, Lana lived the glamorous life to the hilt, rising to the heights of fame and experiencing everything that came with it, both good and bad.Lana's early story is virtually that of Cinderella's: a girl discovered at a soda shop aged fifteen and then made a star overnight. From blonde bombshell to box-office queen of the '40s, Lana led a whirlwind life ultimately marked by eight marriages and a murder trial that made her and her daughter infamous.The death of Johnny Stompato in 1958 was one of the most notorious scandals in Hollywood history, and the true facts of the case are still hotly disputed.Lana's remarkable memoir was originally published in 1982. This new edition features an introduction by Turner Classic Movies host and author Alicia Malone.
"e;She came to me for help, Andrew, and I failed her. I failed her living, but I promise to God I won't fail her dead!"e;Richard Arbuthnot is convinced that a crime will be committed. The odd behaviour of a man who shares his train to work in Kingsley raises suspicions-suspicions which soon drive Artbuthnot to contact detective Anthony Bathurst.The next day, Bathurst is approached by Kathleen Regan to investigate the disappearance of her artist brother. When Bathurst discovers that Regan also lives in Kingsley, it seems that trouble is afoot in that parish.The Grim Maiden was first published in 1944. This new edition features an introduction by Steve Barge.
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