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Stories of Detection and Mystery
Is Alix's new husband really going to murder her for her money? Who has killed the young Englishman on his return from America? And why have a young couple suddenly disappeared from their home? In this collection of mysteries by famous authors, the answers are never quite what you expect.
136 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 4, 2025
I should read more Agatha Christie.
Yet another anthology found in the dusty family bookcase. I’m sure I also read this in high school. Go for the Best, consider the Good, avoid the Meh.
The Best.
★★★★☆ “Philomel Cottage”, by Agatha Christie.
The Good.
★★★☆☆ “The Mezzotint”, by MR James. [3.5]
The Meh.
★★☆☆☆ “The Heel”, by Cyril Hare. [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “The Great Idea of Mr. Budd”, by Dorothy L Sayers.
★★☆☆☆ “The Unlucky Theatre”, by Elliot O’Donnell.
★★☆☆☆ “The Invisible Man”, by GK Chesterton.
★★☆☆☆ “The Case of the Thing That Whimpered”, by Dennis Wheatley.
★☆☆☆☆ “Family Affair”, by Margery Allingham. [1.5]
★☆☆☆☆ “The Blue Cross”, by GK Chesterton. [1.5]
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PERSONAL NOTE :
[1965] [128p] [Anthology] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
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Debería leer más Agatha Christie.
Y otra vieja antología más hallada en la polvorienta biblioteca familiar. Estoy seguro que también leí esto en la secundaria. Ir por lo Mejor, considerar lo Bueno, evitar lo Meh.
Lo Mejor.
★★★★☆ “La Cabaña de Philomel”, por Agatha Christie.
Lo Bueno.
★★★☆☆ “El Mezzotinto”, por MR James. [3.5]
Lo Meh.
★★☆☆☆ “El Tacón”, por Cyril Hare. [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “La Gran Idea del Sr. Budd”, por Dorothy L Sayers.
★★☆☆☆ “El Teatro sin Suerte”, por Elliot O’Donnell.
★★☆☆☆ “El Hombre Invisible”, por GK Chesterton.
★★☆☆☆ “El Caso de la Cosa que Gemía”, por Dennis Wheatley.
★☆☆☆☆ “Asunto Familiar”, por Margery Allingham. [1.5]
★☆☆☆☆ “La Cruz Azul”, por GK Chesterton. [1.5]
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NOTA PERSONAL :
[1965] [128p] [Antología] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Yet another anthology found in the dusty family bookcase. I’m sure I also read this in high school. Go for the Best, consider the Good, avoid the Meh.
The Best.
★★★★☆ “Philomel Cottage”, by Agatha Christie.
The Good.
★★★☆☆ “The Mezzotint”, by MR James. [3.5]
The Meh.
★★☆☆☆ “The Heel”, by Cyril Hare. [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “The Great Idea of Mr. Budd”, by Dorothy L Sayers.
★★☆☆☆ “The Unlucky Theatre”, by Elliot O’Donnell.
★★☆☆☆ “The Invisible Man”, by GK Chesterton.
★★☆☆☆ “The Case of the Thing That Whimpered”, by Dennis Wheatley.
★☆☆☆☆ “Family Affair”, by Margery Allingham. [1.5]
★☆☆☆☆ “The Blue Cross”, by GK Chesterton. [1.5]
-----------------------------------------------
PERSONAL NOTE :
[1965] [128p] [Anthology] [2.5] [Not Recommendable]
-----------------------------------------------
Debería leer más Agatha Christie.
Y otra vieja antología más hallada en la polvorienta biblioteca familiar. Estoy seguro que también leí esto en la secundaria. Ir por lo Mejor, considerar lo Bueno, evitar lo Meh.
Lo Mejor.
★★★★☆ “La Cabaña de Philomel”, por Agatha Christie.
Lo Bueno.
★★★☆☆ “El Mezzotinto”, por MR James. [3.5]
Lo Meh.
★★☆☆☆ “El Tacón”, por Cyril Hare. [2.5]
★★☆☆☆ “La Gran Idea del Sr. Budd”, por Dorothy L Sayers.
★★☆☆☆ “El Teatro sin Suerte”, por Elliot O’Donnell.
★★☆☆☆ “El Hombre Invisible”, por GK Chesterton.
★★☆☆☆ “El Caso de la Cosa que Gemía”, por Dennis Wheatley.
★☆☆☆☆ “Asunto Familiar”, por Margery Allingham. [1.5]
★☆☆☆☆ “La Cruz Azul”, por GK Chesterton. [1.5]
-----------------------------------------------
NOTA PERSONAL :
[1965] [128p] [Antología] [2.5] [No Recomendable]
-----------------------------------------------
August 31, 2019
I'm not sure where I picked up this book a few years ago, but as I was reading each story, I realized I've read this book before. I'm not sure when, but as I was reading it, it all seemed familiar.
I think this is a book for 5th graders, which doesn't mean it isn't a great book! When my oldest was in elementary school, I read whatever book he was reading because I found chapter books geared for boys, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Holes..... the most fun, entertaining and certainly more adventurous, well, because many times books written for women are....light reads, love stories or just plain ridiculous and silly.
It was interesting to see at the back of the book "Activities" for each story, which of course 5th grade teachers would have their students be doing.
There are seven stories in this short book of only 116 ("Activities" included). I liked most of the stories.
The Blue Cross by G. K. Chesterton
Unfortunately the first story ended up being an okay from me. This was about two Priest, one real, the other fake. The real one was leaving clues behind for the police to find, so they could save the real Priest and arrest the fake one. They were in Hampstead, London, so that was the thing I liked about the story because my grandparents lived there. I went there a lot to visit them when I was growing up.
Philomel Cottage by Agatha Christie
The only mystery author I know of in this collection of stories. I've read many of her books. I'm a huge fan, and this story didn't disappoint me. Alix marries this man who she only recently met. She ends up finding out that he only married her for her money. She also finds out he has been married a few times before and has killed every wife. She very cleverly outsmarts him in the end.
An Unpleasant Man by Cyril Hare
I didn't care for this story. It's about a man who dislikes Americans and kills his servant to make himself look dead, but gives himself away by the way he answers the questions when he was questioned by the police.
An Unlucky Theatre by Elliot O'Donnell
I liked this one until the very end and then it disappointed me. The theatre is supposedly haunted. Since one incident, no play has done well. One person decides to stay overnight to see what happens.
Family Affair by Margery Allingham
The police are called in as it seems the husband and wife have gone missing. Laundry is hanging from the washing line, the breakfast is still on the table....where did they go?
The Invisible Man by C. K. Chesterton
I didn't care for this short story. It seems a man walked away with a dead body in plain sight when all windows and doors were locked. There was no conclusion at the end of the story of how the person was able to do it, and that is why I gave it a thumbs down.
The Case of the Thing that Whimpered by Dennis Wheatley
Something strange is going on at the storefront. Why is there a mourning sound before the security guard either falls to his death or is badly hurt? In come two friends, Bruce Hemmingway, an American who is visiting England and Neils Orsen, who is a a ghost and spirits believer professional. They spend the night to find out what is going on. I should had seen it when there was mentioned of a kidnapping of a little girl, but I didn't put two and two together.
Overall, I was very pleased with the stories. I've come to appreciate short stories with a number of books I've read the last few years.
I think this is a book for 5th graders, which doesn't mean it isn't a great book! When my oldest was in elementary school, I read whatever book he was reading because I found chapter books geared for boys, Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Holes..... the most fun, entertaining and certainly more adventurous, well, because many times books written for women are....light reads, love stories or just plain ridiculous and silly.
It was interesting to see at the back of the book "Activities" for each story, which of course 5th grade teachers would have their students be doing.
There are seven stories in this short book of only 116 ("Activities" included). I liked most of the stories.
The Blue Cross by G. K. Chesterton
Unfortunately the first story ended up being an okay from me. This was about two Priest, one real, the other fake. The real one was leaving clues behind for the police to find, so they could save the real Priest and arrest the fake one. They were in Hampstead, London, so that was the thing I liked about the story because my grandparents lived there. I went there a lot to visit them when I was growing up.
Philomel Cottage by Agatha Christie
The only mystery author I know of in this collection of stories. I've read many of her books. I'm a huge fan, and this story didn't disappoint me. Alix marries this man who she only recently met. She ends up finding out that he only married her for her money. She also finds out he has been married a few times before and has killed every wife. She very cleverly outsmarts him in the end.
An Unpleasant Man by Cyril Hare
I didn't care for this story. It's about a man who dislikes Americans and kills his servant to make himself look dead, but gives himself away by the way he answers the questions when he was questioned by the police.
An Unlucky Theatre by Elliot O'Donnell
I liked this one until the very end and then it disappointed me. The theatre is supposedly haunted. Since one incident, no play has done well. One person decides to stay overnight to see what happens.
Family Affair by Margery Allingham
The police are called in as it seems the husband and wife have gone missing. Laundry is hanging from the washing line, the breakfast is still on the table....where did they go?
The Invisible Man by C. K. Chesterton
I didn't care for this short story. It seems a man walked away with a dead body in plain sight when all windows and doors were locked. There was no conclusion at the end of the story of how the person was able to do it, and that is why I gave it a thumbs down.
The Case of the Thing that Whimpered by Dennis Wheatley
Something strange is going on at the storefront. Why is there a mourning sound before the security guard either falls to his death or is badly hurt? In come two friends, Bruce Hemmingway, an American who is visiting England and Neils Orsen, who is a a ghost and spirits believer professional. They spend the night to find out what is going on. I should had seen it when there was mentioned of a kidnapping of a little girl, but I didn't put two and two together.
Overall, I was very pleased with the stories. I've come to appreciate short stories with a number of books I've read the last few years.
February 15, 2019
I just adored the short stories! It has been some time since I last read mystery tales, with murder plots, detectives and so on. What most impressed me was the tale "The Mezzotint", written by M. R. James.
Great for the ones starting their literary journey :)
Great for the ones starting their literary journey :)
June 7, 2021
Philomel Cottage was the best. The rest were also good but i wasn't as invested in them. The characters in Philomel Cottage were definitely the reason I was invested. The ending was absolutely amazing and it had an amazing plot too.
September 11, 2016
The blue cross 2.5
Philomel Cottage 4.5
An Unpleasant man 3
The unlucky theatre 2
The mezzontint 4
Familly affair 4
The invisible man 3.5
The case of the thing that whimpered 3.5
Philomel Cottage 4.5
An Unpleasant man 3
The unlucky theatre 2
The mezzontint 4
Familly affair 4
The invisible man 3.5
The case of the thing that whimpered 3.5
October 15, 2023
Did the job.
June 11, 2014
I did enjoy some of the stories, while others weren't as great. Still an okay book in total.
July 20, 2022
Certaines nouvelles sont bien écrites et intéressantes, d’autres sans intérêt… Un bon ouvrage pour découvrir de nouvelles autrices et nouveaux auteurs dans le domaine du policier anglais !
October 29, 2025
I read this book with my sixth grade class. (I was a student, not the teacher.) I still come back to it sometimes. Still mind-blowing and awesome. "Philomel Cottage" was my personal favorite.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews