The George A. Birmingham Collection: Two Golden Age Detective Novels

by George A. Birmingham

George A. Birmingham was the pseudonym of Canon James Owen Hannay, (1865-1950), an Irish clergyman and writer best known for his humorous fiction. He also wrote two clever and witty Golden Age WILD JUSTICE and THE HYMN TUNE MYSTERY. This collection comprises both of these entertaining books.'Very well-written' DAILY MIRROR'Entertaining' THE BOOKMAN'Witty and entertaining' THE PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY'Mischievous and amusing' PUNCHBeautiful Carminster Cathedral lies in the shadow of two great scandals. Some years before the cathedral verger stole Lady Carminster’s emerald’s and was jailed, but the jewels were never recovered. Now the drunken cathedral organist is found dead in the organ loft–murdered in fact. Both scandals are injurious to the reputation of the cathedral. Can it survive this fresh new scandal?

Why are so many people interested searching for certain sheet music the organist had when he died?
The curious Precenter Rev. Dennis determines to get to the truth, while others would rather the affair is hushed up to avoid another public scandal.

Originally published in 1930, THE HYMN TUNE MYSTERY is a classic Golden Age Murder Mystery.'Sensational' DAILY MIRROR'[Birmingham], better than most, knows how to write a shocker, and WILD JUSTICE has all the ingredients' THE GRAPHIC'A book of singular flavour' THE PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY'Intensely dramatic' THE BOOKMAN'One of the cleverest detective stories' THE WORLD'S NEWSLife in the quiet little Somerset village of Mellanby is sharply interrupted by the unexpected murder of an Irishman with a questionable past. Luckily, Colonel Devenish, the Chief Constable of the county is staying as a guest of Lord Benton, on whose estate the crime occurred. He quickly takes charge of the murder scene and drives forward the investigation.

At first glance the crime seems easily solved, but is the alleged murderer innocent?

This is a mystery story with a difference. Although set in England it might be described as an Irish crime mystery.

Originally published in 1930, WILD JUSTICE is a classic Golden Age Murder Mystery.

457 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 26, 2023

About the author

Reverend James Owen Hannay (1865-1950) was born in Belfast and educated at Haileybury and Trinity College, Dublin. He wrote some of his books under the pseudonym George A. Birmingham. His most famous works include: The Spirit and Origin of Christian Monasticism (1903), The Seething Plot (1905), Hyacinth (1906), Benedict Cavanagh (1907), The Northern Iron (1907), The Bad Times (1908), Spanish Gold (1908), The Search Party (1909), Lalage's Lovers (1911), The Major's Niece (1911), The Red Hand of Ulster (1912), The Simpkins Plot (1912), The Adventures of Dr. Whitty (1913), General John Regan (1913), Gossamer (1915), Inisheeny (1920), Send for Dr O'Grady (1923), Found Money (1923), The Great Grandmother (1923), King Tommy (1924), Goodly Pearls (1926), Fidgets (1927), The Hymn Tune Mystery (1930), Wild Justice (1930), and Elizabeth and the Archdeacon (1932).