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Crime Dossier #2
Murder Off Miami
8 Mar 1936 - 10 Mar 1936
Murder off Miami is presented to the public in the form of a complete police dossier. Each copy consists of a hundred and seventy odd sheets in a cardboard folder (11½ in.x 9 in.); the first is a cable, the next a buff police memo.; there follow fourteen full-page photographs of living people and the scene of the murder, handwritten letters, police reports and the actual clues (human hair, a piece of blood-stained curtain, etc.) presented in correct sequence so that it reads like a straight thriller.
Murder off Miami is presented to the public in the form of a complete police dossier. Each copy consists of a hundred and seventy odd sheets in a cardboard folder (11½ in.x 9 in.); the first is a cable, the next a buff police memo.; there follow fourteen full-page photographs of living people and the scene of the murder, handwritten letters, police reports and the actual clues (human hair, a piece of blood-stained curtain, etc.) presented in correct sequence so that it reads like a straight thriller.
- GenresMystery
128 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 1936
5 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
About the author
Dennis Wheatley
382 books249 followersDennis Yates Wheatley (8 January 1897 – 10 November 1977) [Born: Dennis Yeats Wheatley] was an English author. His prolific output of stylish thrillers and occult novels made him one of the world's best-selling authors in the 1950s and 1960s.
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
His first book, Three Inquisitive People, was not immediately published; but his first published novel, The Forbidden Territory, was an immediate success when published in 1933, being reprinted seven times in seven weeks.
He wrote adventure stories, with many books in a series of linked works. His plots covered the French Revolution (Roger Brook Series), Satanism (Duc de Richleau), World War II (Gregory Sallust) and espionage (Julian Day).
In the thirties, he conceived a series of whodunit mysteries, presented as case files, with testimonies, letters, pieces of evidence such as hairs or pills. The reader had to go through the evidence to solve the mystery before unsealing the last pages of the file, which gave the answer. Four of these 'Crime Dossiers' were published: Murder Off Miami, Who Killed Robert Prentice, The Malinsay Massacre, and Herewith The Clues.
In the 1960s his publishers were selling a million copies of his books per year. A small number of his books were made into films by Hammer, of which the best known is The Devil Rides Out (book 1934, film 1968). His writing is very descriptive and in many works he manages to introduce his characters into real events while meeting real people. For example, in the Roger Brook series the main character involves himself with Napoleon, and Joséphine whilst being a spy for the Prime Minister William Pitt. Similarly, in the Gregory Sallust series, Sallust shares an evening meal with Hermann Göring.
He also wrote non-fiction works, including accounts of the Russian Revolution and King Charles II, and his autobiography. He was considered an authority on the supernatural, satanism, the practice of exorcism, and black magic, to all of which he was hostile. During his study of the paranormal, though, he joined the Ghost Club.
From 1974 through 1977 he edited a series of 45 paperback reprints for the British publisher Sphere under the heading "The Dennis Wheatley Library of the Occult", selecting the titles and writing short introductions for each book. This series included both occult-themed novels by the likes of Bram Stoker and Aleister Crowley and non-fiction works on magic, occultism, and divination by authors such as the Theosophist H. P. Blavatsky, the historian Maurice Magre, the magician Isaac Bonewits, and the palm-reader Cheiro.
Two weeks before his death in November 1977, Wheatley received conditional absolution from his old friend Cyril ‘Bobby’ Eastaugh, the Bishop of Peterborough.
His estate library was sold in a catalogue sale by Basil Blackwell's in the 1970s, indicating a thoroughly well-read individual with wide-ranging interests particularly in historical fiction and Europe. His influence has declined, partly due to difficulties in reprinting his works owing to copyright problems.
Fifty-two of Wheatley's novels were published posthumously in a set by Heron Books UK. More recently, in April 2008 Dennis Wheatley's literary estate was acquired by media company Chorion.
He invented a number of board games including Invasion.
-Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 20, 2010
This was a fun mystery that I found while I was weeding the fiction collection at the library. The book is a collection of news clippings, evidence envelopes, police reports, photos, and other bits - the reader is encouraged to read the all the reports and notes, look in the envelopes, and try to solve the mystery along with the detective.
September 8, 2022
Muder Off Miami is a 1936 crime novel disguised as a police dossier, complete with actual evidence such as bits of hair, a matchstick, fingerprints, postcards, and telegrams within the book. This is a clever, but unnecessary gimmick. The bulk of the book consists of a detective questioning the guests on a yacht about a possible murder. The ending has a fun, farfetched twist based on flimsy evidence until, of course, the convenient full confession. I don't see how any reader would be able to solve the crime, let alone prove guilt.
December 30, 2022
I've had this in my possession for many years and never got around to reading it. I decided that now was the time to do it. Sorry to say that it was rather disappointing. Although a 'novel' approach to a mystery, the actual execution left something to be desired.
The solution was fairly obvious for anyone who reads or watches a lot of mystery. Still, I'm glad I got around to it.
The solution was fairly obvious for anyone who reads or watches a lot of mystery. Still, I'm glad I got around to it.
January 27, 2018
The book was put together well. Was fun to see photos of the evidence & crime scene, read the police reports & detective's interviews and solve the crime. My suspicions were correct.....just didn't see the why :D
June 5, 2021
What a fun read! I didn't solve the crime but had a great time trying to do so. Love the clever format and creativity of the writer.
June 27, 2022
This was a fun few hours of sleuthing. Unfortunately due to the time it was written in there is racism against Asian people throughout the book
December 30, 2020
It gets an extra star for novelty value of the presentation style, but the murder itself was pretty easy to figure out.
December 3, 2015
Ho scoperto l'esistenza di questo libro leggendo la nota dell'editore contenuta all'interno di "Acqua in bocca", il romanzo in forma epistolare scritto a quattro mani da Andrea Camilleri e Carlo Lucarelli. Murder off Miami è stato indicato da Camilleri come l'ispirazione per la scelta della cifra stilistica del romanzo dei due autori; si tratta infatti di un giallo del 1936 steso in forma di dossier poliziesco. Io che vado pazza per queste cose e che prendo per oro colato tutto ciò che dice Camilleri mi sono attaccata ad ebay e me lo sono procurata in lingua originale. Il libro è un piccolo gioiello, è un fascicolo di cartoncino contenente la cronologia degli interrogatori, dei rapporti della polizia, delle foto e delle prove raccolte nella scena del delitto, tutti rilegati da un nastro rosso. Vista l'età di questa edizione, il fascicolo ha una bellissima aria vissuta, anche se è perfettamente conservato. La storia in sè non mi ha particolarmente entusiasmata, ma l'esperienza di lettura è davvero coinvolgente, decisamente diversa da ciò che leggo abitualmente.
August 2, 2015
Found that book in a book exchange and took it with me on a whim. Today I finally had time and freinds over to try it and that book made for a nice evening.
The evidence presentation was very atmospheric. Only the riddle was a bit to easy for me and my roleplaying steeled friends.
I am astonished that the book managed to age more than 30 years and find its way to these bookcrossing shelves without anyone before us opening the solution chapter, which we had to cut open with a pair of scissors.
The evidence presentation was very atmospheric. Only the riddle was a bit to easy for me and my roleplaying steeled friends.
I am astonished that the book managed to age more than 30 years and find its way to these bookcrossing shelves without anyone before us opening the solution chapter, which we had to cut open with a pair of scissors.
February 23, 2023
When I was little, my dad bought me a Famous Five adventure that came with acetate 'tools' and a map. I loved it. So I looked up similar books for adults and found this - originally published as a dossier in the 1930s (my version is a 1986 facsimile). I worked out the core of the mystery very early on, but spotted additional elements as I read on. It's very easy to read and lots of fun. If it was a straight novel, then I would donate it to a charity shop, but I'll keep this on my bookshelf as an intriguing curiosity.
October 10, 2009
We're not talking great literature here, but this book with its physical clues and police-file format is just a great load of fun. There were at least three of these reproduction editions available at the time and now I wish had bought all of them. But, you know, they were expensive and I didn't have the cash to throw around. . .
August 1, 2014
Neat to see how the whole 'non-traditional book'/'books with things in them' idea began.
It really is a case file with no personality or behavioral comments, so it reads very dry.
While the insight into 1930s society was interesting, the solution was clear to me very early on.
Recommended for those who will appreciate the origins of the 'book plus.'
It really is a case file with no personality or behavioral comments, so it reads very dry.
While the insight into 1930s society was interesting, the solution was clear to me very early on.
Recommended for those who will appreciate the origins of the 'book plus.'
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews