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Serpents in Eden: Countryside Crimes
Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder 'The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.... Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.' ―Sherlock Holmes Many of the greatest British crime writers have explored the possibilities of crime in the countryside in lively and ingenious short stories. Serpents in Eden celebrates the rural British mystery by bringing together an eclectic mix of crime stories written over half a century. From a tale of poison-pen letters tearing apart a village community to a macabre mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle, the stories collected here reveal the dark truths hidden in an assortment of rural paradises. Among the writers included here are such major figures as G. K. Chesterton and Margery Allingham, along with a host of lesser-known discoveries whose best stories are among the unsung riches of the golden age of British crime fiction between the two world wars.
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
About the author
Martin Edwards
365 books856 followersMartin Edwards has been described by Richard Osman as ‘a true master of British crime writing.’ He has published twenty-three novels, which include the eight Lake District Mysteries, one of which was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Prize for best crime novel of the year and four books featuring Rachel Savernake, including the Dagger-nominated Gallows Court and Blackstone Fell, while Gallows Court and Sepulchre Street were shortlisted for the eDunnit award for best crime novel of the year. He is also the author of two multi-award-winning histories of crime fiction, The Life of Crime and The Golden Age of Murder. He has received three Daggers from the Crime Writers’ Association and two Edgars from the Mystery Writers of America and has also been nominated three times for Gold Daggers. In addition to the CWA Diamond Dagger (the highest honour in UK crime writing) he has received four other lifetime achievement awards: for his fiction, short fiction, non-fiction, and scholarship. He is consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics, a former Chair of the CWA, and since 2015 has been President of the Detection Club.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
November 29, 2018
EXCERPT: Miss Frances Morton, who was a tall and handsome brunette, gave her evidence in a low but clear voice, though it was evident throughout that she was suffering from extreme emotion. She alluded to her engagement to the doctor, touched briefly upon its termination, which was due, she said, to personal matters connected to his family, and surprised the court by asserting that she had always considered her brother's resentment to be unreasonable and intemperate. In answer to a direct questionfrom her counsel, she replied that she did not feel that she had any grievance whatever against Dr Lana, and that in her opinion he had acted in a perfectly honorable manner. Her brother, on an insufficient knowledge of the facts, had taken another view, and she was compelled to acknowledge that, in spite of her entreaties, he had made threats of personal violence towards the doctor, and had, upon the evening of the tragedy, announced his intention of 'having it out' with him. She had done her best to bring him to a more reasonable frame of mind, but he was very headstrong where his emotions or prejudices were concerned.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: 'The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.... Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.' - Sherlock Holmes Many of the greatest British crime writers have explored the possibilities of crime in the countryside in lively and ingenious short stories. Serpents in Eden celebrates the rural British mystery by bringing together an eclectic mix of crime stories written over half a century. From a tale of poison-pen letters tearing apart a village community to a macabre mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle, the stories collected here reveal the dark truths hidden in an assortment of rural paradises. Among the writers included here are such major figures as G. K. Chesterton and Margery Allingham, along with a host of lesser-known discoveries whose best stories are among the unsung riches of the golden age of British crime fiction between the two world wars.
MY THOUGHTS: What a wonderful collection of mysteries! This is firmly among my favourites and marked as never to be deleted from my Kindle.
This is a wonderful collection of short stories, none of which I had ever read previously, absolute classics!
Martin Edwards has largely chosen well. The stories are atmospheric and to the point. He has written an introduction at the beginning which is interesting and relevant. Then each story is prefaced by an introduction to both the author, his/her career and notable works. I have gleaned plenty more reading material from this source.
If you are a short story fan, or Golden Age Mystery aficionado, or both, this is a must read collection.
THE AUTHOR: (Or, in this case the editor) Martin Edwards’ latest novel, Gallows Court, was published in September. He is consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics series, and has written sixteen contemporary whodunits, including The Coffin Trail, which was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Prize for best crime novel of the year. His genre study The Golden Age of Murder won the Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating and Macavity awards, while The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books has been nominated for two awards in the UK and three in the US. Editor of 38 anthologies, he has also won the CWA Short Story Dagger and the CWA Margery Allingham Prize, and been nominated for an Anthony, the CWA Dagger in the Library, the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger, and a CWA Gold Dagger. He is President of the Detection Club and Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, and Archivist of both organisations. He has received the Red Herring award for services to the CWA, and the Poirot award for his outstanding contribution to the crime genre.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for a digital ARC of Serpents in Eden for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT THIS BOOK: 'The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside.... Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.' - Sherlock Holmes Many of the greatest British crime writers have explored the possibilities of crime in the countryside in lively and ingenious short stories. Serpents in Eden celebrates the rural British mystery by bringing together an eclectic mix of crime stories written over half a century. From a tale of poison-pen letters tearing apart a village community to a macabre mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle, the stories collected here reveal the dark truths hidden in an assortment of rural paradises. Among the writers included here are such major figures as G. K. Chesterton and Margery Allingham, along with a host of lesser-known discoveries whose best stories are among the unsung riches of the golden age of British crime fiction between the two world wars.
MY THOUGHTS: What a wonderful collection of mysteries! This is firmly among my favourites and marked as never to be deleted from my Kindle.
This is a wonderful collection of short stories, none of which I had ever read previously, absolute classics!
Martin Edwards has largely chosen well. The stories are atmospheric and to the point. He has written an introduction at the beginning which is interesting and relevant. Then each story is prefaced by an introduction to both the author, his/her career and notable works. I have gleaned plenty more reading material from this source.
If you are a short story fan, or Golden Age Mystery aficionado, or both, this is a must read collection.
THE AUTHOR: (Or, in this case the editor) Martin Edwards’ latest novel, Gallows Court, was published in September. He is consultant to the British Library’s Crime Classics series, and has written sixteen contemporary whodunits, including The Coffin Trail, which was shortlisted for the Theakston’s Prize for best crime novel of the year. His genre study The Golden Age of Murder won the Edgar, Agatha, H.R.F. Keating and Macavity awards, while The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books has been nominated for two awards in the UK and three in the US. Editor of 38 anthologies, he has also won the CWA Short Story Dagger and the CWA Margery Allingham Prize, and been nominated for an Anthony, the CWA Dagger in the Library, the CWA John Creasey Memorial Dagger, and a CWA Gold Dagger. He is President of the Detection Club and Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, and Archivist of both organisations. He has received the Red Herring award for services to the CWA, and the Poirot award for his outstanding contribution to the crime genre.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for a digital ARC of Serpents in Eden for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
May 13, 2026
Countryside Crimes
A review of the Poisoned Pen Press eBook (March 1, 2016) released simultaneously with the British Library Crime Classics UK paperback/eBook/audiobook, collecting stories previously published in magazines from the 1890s through to the 1950s.
[43/65 = 3.46 Average for the 13 stories, rounded down to 3 for GR / up to 3.5 for Library Thing]
The rural settings for these stories makes it a contrasting companion volume to Capital Crimes: London Mysteries (2015) which is also in the British Library Crime Classics series. Many of the same authors make return appearances in these short story collections and there are always a few gems to be found.
The following synopses and publishing histories are setups only and do not disclose endings, so I have not spoiler blocked them.
1. The Black Doctor **** by Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). A dark-hued doctor is apparently murdered and the vindictive brother of his jilted bride is arrested for the crime. But at the court trial a surprise witness appears for the defense. First published in The Strand Magazine 1898.
2. Murder by Proxy **** by M. McDonnell Bodkin (1850-1933). Squire Neville is shot dead by a muzzle pistol, but no murderer is found in the room. The heir to the Manor is suspected, but at the inquest the true murderer is revealed by Beck. First publication not given, but was collected in Paul Beck: The Rule of Thumb Detective (1898).
3. The Fad of the Fisherman ** by G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). Not a Father Brown story but instead features Horne Fisher as the sleuth. A rather shady character is murdered while fishing on his estate, all the manor guests are suspects, but Fisher reveals the surprising killer. This one felt very old style overwritten and had unsatisfactory elements. First published in June 1921 and then collected in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1922).
4. The Genuine Tabard **** by E.C. Bentley (1875-1956). Amateur detective Philip Trent suspects a fraud when a rich American couple show him a supposed authentic tabard that they purchased from a country vicar. Further investigation unveils a larger con-game. First publication is not identified but was collected in Trent Intervenes (1938).
5. The Glyston Slander *** by Herbert George Jenkins (1876-1923). Investigator Malcolm Sage is called in to solve a case of poisoned pen letters in the village of Glyston. The seemingly obvious culprit is arrested until Sage reveals the true writer. First publication is not identified but was collected in Malcolm Sage, Detective (1921).
6. The Long Barrow **** by H.C. Bailey (1878-1961). Police consultant Dr. Reggie Fortune is called in when an archeologist and his secretary are being pestered by locals who resent the excavation of an ancient burial mound. Fortune suspects there is something more sinister going on. First publication in London Magazine January 1925 and later collected in Mr Fortune's Trials (1925).
7. The Naturalist at Law *** by R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943). Dr. John Thorndyke is called in on a case to prove that an apparent accidental drowning was not a suicide. Thorndyke suspects that it was actually a murder. First published in Flynn’s Weekly December 11, 1926 and later collected in The Famous Cases of Dr. Thorndyke (1929).
8. A Proper Mystery ** by Margery Allingham (1904-1966). A herd of cows get loose and trample the exhibits for a country fair. There is suspicion as to how the cows got loose. More of a farmers’ squabble than a crime story. This previously uncollected story was first published in The Lights of Essex magazine in May 1942.
9. Direct Evidence **** by Anthony Berkeley (1893–1971). Roger Sheringham is asked to prove the innocence of a man who was seen shooting his lover by several witnesses. A posthumous story collected only in the limited edition The Roger Sheringham Stories (95 copies - 1994). This is an early version of the story Double Bluff, collected in The Avenging Chance and Other Mysteries from Roger Sheringham's Casebook (2004), but it has a different ending.
10. Inquest *** by Leonora Wodehouse (1904-1944) (the step-daughter of P.G. Wodehouse). A doctor is on a train journey and recognizes his compartment companion as a lawyer who had also testified at an inquest about a death that they both attended years before. The truth behind the case is finally revealed. First published in the Strand Magazine in 1932 under the penname Loel Yeo. No information on any previous collection.
11. The Scarecrow *** by Ethel Lina White (1876-1944). A woman had escaped being murdered by a crazed former boyfriend and now lives at her mother’s farm where the sight of a scarecrow in a field disturbs her. Meanwhile, the former boyfriend has escaped from prison. First published in Pearson’s in November 1928. No information on any previous collection. This one requires a Write Your Own Ending Alert™.
12. Clue in the Mustard **** by Leo Bruce (1903-1979). Sergeant Beef deduces that a murder has been committed due to the sprouting of mustard seeds in a greenhouse. Original publication probably London Evening Standard 1950-56, collected in Murder in Miniature: The Short Stories of Leo Bruce (1992).
13. Our Pageant *** by Gladys Mitchell (1901-1983). A murder occurs within a group of Morris dancers at a village fair. Originally published in the Evening Standard in the 1950s, collected in Sleuth’s Academy: Cases of Mrs. Bradley and Others (2005).
Trivia and Links
The British Library Crime Classics series are reprints of forgotten titles from the 1860's through to the 1950's. You can see the most up-to-date list at the British Library Crime Classics Shop (for North America they are often reprinted by the publisher Poisoned Pen Press). There is also a Goodreads Listopia for the series which you can see here.
Over half of the stories here have their own individual listings on Goodreads as you can see in the links below:
1. The Black Doctor by Arthur Conan Doyle.
3. The Fad of the Fisherman by G.K. Chesterton.
5. The Glyston Slander by Herbert George Jenkins.
6. The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman.
10. Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse.
11. The Scarecrow by Ethel Lina White.
12. Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce.
A review of the Poisoned Pen Press eBook (March 1, 2016) released simultaneously with the British Library Crime Classics UK paperback/eBook/audiobook, collecting stories previously published in magazines from the 1890s through to the 1950s.
Roger stepped forward. “Good afternoon. Did you have a good run up from Dorset?”
The girl stared at him. “How did you know I had come up from Dorset?”
“I was doing the Sherlock Holmes stuff,” Roger explained, not without pride. “I’ll do some more of it if you like. You run a Morris Oxford saloon; your hobby is tennis; and you live within easy reach of the sea. How’s that?”
The girl’s astonishment was all that Roger could have desired, and even Alec look surprised.
[43/65 = 3.46 Average for the 13 stories, rounded down to 3 for GR / up to 3.5 for Library Thing]
The rural settings for these stories makes it a contrasting companion volume to Capital Crimes: London Mysteries (2015) which is also in the British Library Crime Classics series. Many of the same authors make return appearances in these short story collections and there are always a few gems to be found.
The following synopses and publishing histories are setups only and do not disclose endings, so I have not spoiler blocked them.
1. The Black Doctor **** by Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930). A dark-hued doctor is apparently murdered and the vindictive brother of his jilted bride is arrested for the crime. But at the court trial a surprise witness appears for the defense. First published in The Strand Magazine 1898.
2. Murder by Proxy **** by M. McDonnell Bodkin (1850-1933). Squire Neville is shot dead by a muzzle pistol, but no murderer is found in the room. The heir to the Manor is suspected, but at the inquest the true murderer is revealed by Beck. First publication not given, but was collected in Paul Beck: The Rule of Thumb Detective (1898).
3. The Fad of the Fisherman ** by G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936). Not a Father Brown story but instead features Horne Fisher as the sleuth. A rather shady character is murdered while fishing on his estate, all the manor guests are suspects, but Fisher reveals the surprising killer. This one felt very old style overwritten and had unsatisfactory elements. First published in June 1921 and then collected in The Man Who Knew Too Much (1922).
4. The Genuine Tabard **** by E.C. Bentley (1875-1956). Amateur detective Philip Trent suspects a fraud when a rich American couple show him a supposed authentic tabard that they purchased from a country vicar. Further investigation unveils a larger con-game. First publication is not identified but was collected in Trent Intervenes (1938).
5. The Glyston Slander *** by Herbert George Jenkins (1876-1923). Investigator Malcolm Sage is called in to solve a case of poisoned pen letters in the village of Glyston. The seemingly obvious culprit is arrested until Sage reveals the true writer. First publication is not identified but was collected in Malcolm Sage, Detective (1921).
6. The Long Barrow **** by H.C. Bailey (1878-1961). Police consultant Dr. Reggie Fortune is called in when an archeologist and his secretary are being pestered by locals who resent the excavation of an ancient burial mound. Fortune suspects there is something more sinister going on. First publication in London Magazine January 1925 and later collected in Mr Fortune's Trials (1925).
7. The Naturalist at Law *** by R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943). Dr. John Thorndyke is called in on a case to prove that an apparent accidental drowning was not a suicide. Thorndyke suspects that it was actually a murder. First published in Flynn’s Weekly December 11, 1926 and later collected in The Famous Cases of Dr. Thorndyke (1929).
8. A Proper Mystery ** by Margery Allingham (1904-1966). A herd of cows get loose and trample the exhibits for a country fair. There is suspicion as to how the cows got loose. More of a farmers’ squabble than a crime story. This previously uncollected story was first published in The Lights of Essex magazine in May 1942.
9. Direct Evidence **** by Anthony Berkeley (1893–1971). Roger Sheringham is asked to prove the innocence of a man who was seen shooting his lover by several witnesses. A posthumous story collected only in the limited edition The Roger Sheringham Stories (95 copies - 1994). This is an early version of the story Double Bluff, collected in The Avenging Chance and Other Mysteries from Roger Sheringham's Casebook (2004), but it has a different ending.
10. Inquest *** by Leonora Wodehouse (1904-1944) (the step-daughter of P.G. Wodehouse). A doctor is on a train journey and recognizes his compartment companion as a lawyer who had also testified at an inquest about a death that they both attended years before. The truth behind the case is finally revealed. First published in the Strand Magazine in 1932 under the penname Loel Yeo. No information on any previous collection.
11. The Scarecrow *** by Ethel Lina White (1876-1944). A woman had escaped being murdered by a crazed former boyfriend and now lives at her mother’s farm where the sight of a scarecrow in a field disturbs her. Meanwhile, the former boyfriend has escaped from prison. First published in Pearson’s in November 1928. No information on any previous collection. This one requires a Write Your Own Ending Alert™.
12. Clue in the Mustard **** by Leo Bruce (1903-1979). Sergeant Beef deduces that a murder has been committed due to the sprouting of mustard seeds in a greenhouse. Original publication probably London Evening Standard 1950-56, collected in Murder in Miniature: The Short Stories of Leo Bruce (1992).
13. Our Pageant *** by Gladys Mitchell (1901-1983). A murder occurs within a group of Morris dancers at a village fair. Originally published in the Evening Standard in the 1950s, collected in Sleuth’s Academy: Cases of Mrs. Bradley and Others (2005).
Trivia and Links
The British Library Crime Classics series are reprints of forgotten titles from the 1860's through to the 1950's. You can see the most up-to-date list at the British Library Crime Classics Shop (for North America they are often reprinted by the publisher Poisoned Pen Press). There is also a Goodreads Listopia for the series which you can see here.
Over half of the stories here have their own individual listings on Goodreads as you can see in the links below:
1. The Black Doctor by Arthur Conan Doyle.
3. The Fad of the Fisherman by G.K. Chesterton.
5. The Glyston Slander by Herbert George Jenkins.
6. The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman.
10. Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse.
11. The Scarecrow by Ethel Lina White.
12. Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce.
September 24, 2021
No surprise, I enjoyed some more than others. I've skipped comments on the Chesterton and Conan Doyle. They're okay stories but I just don't enjoy reading either author much (admittedly insane, because I adore tv adaptations of their works). The rest are:
Murder by Proxy by M. McDonnell Bodkin- In which the murder is set in a clever way, perhaps too clever considering the angle of the sun. I still enjoyed this one a lot.
The Genuine Tabard by E.C. Bentley- In which a cloying, boastful and social-climbing couple from America are swindled. Good humour is here and it's an enjoyable story with the solution but there is no capture or recompense and that was a bit of a letdown.
The Gylston Slander by Herbert Jenkins- In which poison pen letters cause angst and drama in a village and the solution of the author is right in the letters. A clever tale though I didn't very much enjoy the final characterization of the author (but it was of its time).
The Long Barrow by H.C. Bailey- In which a professor is on the cusp of what he hopes is his biggest archeological find may be buried under treachery. A gripping story about a long con by criminals who've crimed on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman- In which the murder of a man drowned is not only down to the forensics (which was awesomely done) and the dogged determination of an insurance investigator (I loved that too!). one of my favourites and I had fallen for the misdirection and chose the wrong person as the murderer.
A Proper Mystery by Margery Allingham- In which the strength of the story is in the humour of the story, not the crime or solution. it wins for me solely on the line: "Mr. Light acting against all advice, as was his nature (but also his undeniable right in a free England), had put his young beasts into the Narrow Meadow on Midsummer Eve." A cute tale.
Direct Evidence by Anthony Berkeley- In which the circumstantial evidence and eyewitness accounts of a gruesome murder in broad daylight on the street aren't quite what they seem and Roger Sheringham solves it by g=digging deeper. A memorable tale for me because the accused's sister is a top tennis player. Best line: "Quite unthinkable that the brother of a girl who could play tennis like that should have committed a murder!" Ha!
Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse- In which a murder by morphia and the inheritance provides motive for a relative but the true murderer had opportunity and an interesting and unknown motive. I liked the twist and revelation here most.
The Scarecrow by Ethel Lina White- A pretty atmospheric tale with an escaped stalker lunatic out to harm the woman he's obsessed with. This one wins for the tension built and also taking it right to the last word.
Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce- this is my second time reading about Sergent Beef (see Resorting to Murder: Holiday Mysteries in the British Library Classic Crime series) and I love him even more. This time he relates a tale from his early days as a constable and a case involving a murdered elderly lady who was quite wealthy and a keen gardener. The solution hinged on Beef's knowledge of gardening and that Miss Crackliss (victim) also employed him part-time as gardening help. A very enjoyable story and I hope I run across Beef again.
Our Pageant by Gladys Mitchell - a cute story that well captures the travails of organizing a pageant in a village with the added burden of murder. The murderer wasn't the biggest surprise but the way it was carried out was clever.
I'd recommend this one but I've read several of the anthologies and the stories in this one overall won't stay with me as long as other anthologies have. YMMV. I will of course continue with the British Library Crime Classics. After writing this review, I upped my star rating from three to four. Sometimes you have to write things out to realize just how much you did or didn't enjoy something. I came up with more positives than I realized. Nice.
Recommend.
Murder by Proxy by M. McDonnell Bodkin- In which the murder is set in a clever way, perhaps too clever considering the angle of the sun. I still enjoyed this one a lot.
The Genuine Tabard by E.C. Bentley- In which a cloying, boastful and social-climbing couple from America are swindled. Good humour is here and it's an enjoyable story with the solution but there is no capture or recompense and that was a bit of a letdown.
The Gylston Slander by Herbert Jenkins- In which poison pen letters cause angst and drama in a village and the solution of the author is right in the letters. A clever tale though I didn't very much enjoy the final characterization of the author (but it was of its time).
The Long Barrow by H.C. Bailey- In which a professor is on the cusp of what he hopes is his biggest archeological find may be buried under treachery. A gripping story about a long con by criminals who've crimed on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman- In which the murder of a man drowned is not only down to the forensics (which was awesomely done) and the dogged determination of an insurance investigator (I loved that too!). one of my favourites and I had fallen for the misdirection and chose the wrong person as the murderer.
A Proper Mystery by Margery Allingham- In which the strength of the story is in the humour of the story, not the crime or solution. it wins for me solely on the line: "Mr. Light acting against all advice, as was his nature (but also his undeniable right in a free England), had put his young beasts into the Narrow Meadow on Midsummer Eve." A cute tale.
Direct Evidence by Anthony Berkeley- In which the circumstantial evidence and eyewitness accounts of a gruesome murder in broad daylight on the street aren't quite what they seem and Roger Sheringham solves it by g=digging deeper. A memorable tale for me because the accused's sister is a top tennis player. Best line: "Quite unthinkable that the brother of a girl who could play tennis like that should have committed a murder!" Ha!
Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse- In which a murder by morphia and the inheritance provides motive for a relative but the true murderer had opportunity and an interesting and unknown motive. I liked the twist and revelation here most.
The Scarecrow by Ethel Lina White- A pretty atmospheric tale with an escaped stalker lunatic out to harm the woman he's obsessed with. This one wins for the tension built and also taking it right to the last word.
Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce- this is my second time reading about Sergent Beef (see Resorting to Murder: Holiday Mysteries in the British Library Classic Crime series) and I love him even more. This time he relates a tale from his early days as a constable and a case involving a murdered elderly lady who was quite wealthy and a keen gardener. The solution hinged on Beef's knowledge of gardening and that Miss Crackliss (victim) also employed him part-time as gardening help. A very enjoyable story and I hope I run across Beef again.
Our Pageant by Gladys Mitchell - a cute story that well captures the travails of organizing a pageant in a village with the added burden of murder. The murderer wasn't the biggest surprise but the way it was carried out was clever.
I'd recommend this one but I've read several of the anthologies and the stories in this one overall won't stay with me as long as other anthologies have. YMMV. I will of course continue with the British Library Crime Classics. After writing this review, I upped my star rating from three to four. Sometimes you have to write things out to realize just how much you did or didn't enjoy something. I came up with more positives than I realized. Nice.
Recommend.
April 13, 2017
Charming mixed bag of countryside crime stories from the golden age. Some were fantastic, others were mediocre. Still a pleasant read.
February 28, 2017
My second volume of mystery short stories edited by Martin Edwards. Unlike Murder at the Manor: Country House Mysteries, the table of contents has page numbers, which makes it so much easier to find individual stories. This is a good mix of stories, although I felt a couple weren't all that good, despite the authors:
"The Black Doctor" by Arthur Conan Doyle - a rather melodramatic mystery with a cliche solution. I don't know why we didn't get another Sherlock Holmes story instead.
"Murder by Proxy" by M. McDonnell Bodkin - a good mystery story featuring Paul Beck, a detective and an author I have never heard of before this. The characterization is a little weak, but the story is well written.
"The Fad of the Fisherman" by G.K. Chesterton - another GKC detective I have never heard of, Horne Fisher. Very well written puzzle that I actually had to read twice to figure out who did it. If you read the story, you'll understand why. One of my favorites in this volume.
"The Genuine Tabard" by E.C. Bentley - This features his famous sleuth, Philip Trent (of Trent's Last Case). A humorous mystery that pokes gentle fun at rich American tourists out souvenir-shopping.
"The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins - Malcolm Sage is a forgotten detective nowadays, possibly due to the fact that he is rather colorless. These are good stories, though, and are well worth reading. This one concerns the apparent harassment of a vicar's daughter by a mysterious enemy. It's much more interesting than it sounds. On a side note, Jenkins had his own publishing house and among his authors were P.G. Wodehouse and J.S. Fletcher. Jenkins also wrote humorous fiction, including Mrs Bindle Some Incidents From The Domestic Life Of The Bindles, Bindle: Some Chapters in the Life of Joseph Bindle, and Patricia Brent, Spinster.
"The Long Barrow" by H.C. Bailey - an interesting, but rather far-fetched mystery featuring Reggie Fortune. It just seemed like an awful lot of trouble to go to.
"The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman - typical RAF - meticulous, detailed, and fascinating. A man is found drowned, but is it suicide or murder? Really, CSI has nothing on Freeman.
"A Proper Mystery" by Margery Allingham - This one fell rather flat for me and I got bored. Normally, Allingham is interesting, but not this time around. The story is about the destruction of carefully maintained garden plots that were to be judged in the yearly flower show. I'm a gardener myself, but I just could not get interested in what was going on.
"Direct Evidence" by Anthony Berkeley - a very rare Roger Sheringham story that proves just how risky eyewitness identification can be. Very good puzzle.
"Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse - a short story by P.G. Wodehouse's stepdaughter. Not a bad mystery story, though I don't think it's quite as good as her stepfather did. An unpleasant old man dies under mysterious circumstances - accident, suicide or murder?
"The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White - a creepy thriller by the author of the books on which "The Lady Vanishes" and "The Spiral Staircase" were based. In fact, there is a bit of the latter in this story about a young woman who survives a murderous attack by an obsessed admirer. Just when she thinks her life is back to normal, the monster escapes confinement. Chilling. In a way, I was reminded also of The Snowman by Jo Nesbø.
"Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce - I've read one of Bruce's Carolus Deene books and liked it. However, this is the first story I've read about Sergeant Beef, a sensible, down to earth, and very shrewd detective, a sort of anti-Hercule Poirot, if you will. He's a little like Columbo. There's no big surprise regarding the killer, but the method of killing and the clue that caught the murder are both surprises.
"Our Pageant" by Gladys Mitchell - a very short story about Morris dancing and murder. While a group of Morris dancers perform, one of them is mysteriously murdered. My problem with this story is that I don't know the first thing about Morris dancing, so I didn't understand 90% of what was going on.
Overall, this is a good collection of stories. I'm also glad about the inclusion of some detectives and authors who are really neglected nowadays, especially Herbert Jenkins. While I prefer his humorous stories to his mysteries, both are quite good.
"The Black Doctor" by Arthur Conan Doyle - a rather melodramatic mystery with a cliche solution. I don't know why we didn't get another Sherlock Holmes story instead.
"Murder by Proxy" by M. McDonnell Bodkin - a good mystery story featuring Paul Beck, a detective and an author I have never heard of before this. The characterization is a little weak, but the story is well written.
"The Fad of the Fisherman" by G.K. Chesterton - another GKC detective I have never heard of, Horne Fisher. Very well written puzzle that I actually had to read twice to figure out who did it. If you read the story, you'll understand why. One of my favorites in this volume.
"The Genuine Tabard" by E.C. Bentley - This features his famous sleuth, Philip Trent (of Trent's Last Case). A humorous mystery that pokes gentle fun at rich American tourists out souvenir-shopping.
"The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins - Malcolm Sage is a forgotten detective nowadays, possibly due to the fact that he is rather colorless. These are good stories, though, and are well worth reading. This one concerns the apparent harassment of a vicar's daughter by a mysterious enemy. It's much more interesting than it sounds. On a side note, Jenkins had his own publishing house and among his authors were P.G. Wodehouse and J.S. Fletcher. Jenkins also wrote humorous fiction, including Mrs Bindle Some Incidents From The Domestic Life Of The Bindles, Bindle: Some Chapters in the Life of Joseph Bindle, and Patricia Brent, Spinster.
"The Long Barrow" by H.C. Bailey - an interesting, but rather far-fetched mystery featuring Reggie Fortune. It just seemed like an awful lot of trouble to go to.
"The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman - typical RAF - meticulous, detailed, and fascinating. A man is found drowned, but is it suicide or murder? Really, CSI has nothing on Freeman.
"A Proper Mystery" by Margery Allingham - This one fell rather flat for me and I got bored. Normally, Allingham is interesting, but not this time around. The story is about the destruction of carefully maintained garden plots that were to be judged in the yearly flower show. I'm a gardener myself, but I just could not get interested in what was going on.
"Direct Evidence" by Anthony Berkeley - a very rare Roger Sheringham story that proves just how risky eyewitness identification can be. Very good puzzle.
"Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse - a short story by P.G. Wodehouse's stepdaughter. Not a bad mystery story, though I don't think it's quite as good as her stepfather did. An unpleasant old man dies under mysterious circumstances - accident, suicide or murder?
"The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White - a creepy thriller by the author of the books on which "The Lady Vanishes" and "The Spiral Staircase" were based. In fact, there is a bit of the latter in this story about a young woman who survives a murderous attack by an obsessed admirer. Just when she thinks her life is back to normal, the monster escapes confinement. Chilling. In a way, I was reminded also of The Snowman by Jo Nesbø.
"Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce - I've read one of Bruce's Carolus Deene books and liked it. However, this is the first story I've read about Sergeant Beef, a sensible, down to earth, and very shrewd detective, a sort of anti-Hercule Poirot, if you will. He's a little like Columbo. There's no big surprise regarding the killer, but the method of killing and the clue that caught the murder are both surprises.
"Our Pageant" by Gladys Mitchell - a very short story about Morris dancing and murder. While a group of Morris dancers perform, one of them is mysteriously murdered. My problem with this story is that I don't know the first thing about Morris dancing, so I didn't understand 90% of what was going on.
Overall, this is a good collection of stories. I'm also glad about the inclusion of some detectives and authors who are really neglected nowadays, especially Herbert Jenkins. While I prefer his humorous stories to his mysteries, both are quite good.
November 17, 2021
This collection surprised me. It wasn’t just the previously unpublished story or the new to me authors that surprised me. It was the fun variation in each mystery. There might be a murder or there might not. There might be a fabulous con or a rather minor fraud. The culprit might or might not get caught. After that first story through me for a loop, I didn’t know what to expect from each story. Then they varied, pleasantly, in length as well. All they have in common is their rural or, at least, village setting, and, obviously a detective. But beware, he just might be wrong.
I would definitely recommend this collection. I think that you will enjoy it.
There were a few curse words. Everything else was described neither too gruesomely or lewdly.
I would definitely recommend this collection. I think that you will enjoy it.
There were a few curse words. Everything else was described neither too gruesomely or lewdly.
October 12, 2021
The British Library Crime Classics series and Martin Edwards brings us a short story collection all about trouble in the paradise of the British countryside. We have murderers, swindlers, and mischief-makers galore--all proving Holmes's observation in "The Copper Beeches":
The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside....Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.
Holmes knew what he was talking about. The pleasant gardens of the manor house, the fertile fields, the quiet wooded valleys...all prove to be a dangerous place for the poor victims found in the stories within. I'm always amazed at the little-known stories that find their way into these collections. I'm also pleased when I realize that some of these lost gems have already been found by me in random vintage collections that I've picked up in my book-hunting journeys. An interesting mix of stories. ★★★★
"The Black Doctor" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A surprise witness saves a hotheaded young man from a verdict of guilty in a murder case.
"Murder by Proxy: A rather ingenious "locked room" story. Elegantly told with very interesting characters.
"The Fad of the Fisherman" by G. K. Chesterton: Sir Isaac Hook has a fad for getting up earlier than anybody else ever did to go fishing. He also has a thing for a spot of blackmail. Somebody puts an end to his two little hobbies...permanently.
"The Genuine Tabard" by E. C. Bentley: Mrs. Langley tells Philip Trent about her husband's prized tabard. When Trent hears about how it was obtained, he's sure there's something fishy about the set-up.
"The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins: It's a case of poison pen notes in the village of Glyston. Sage must find out who hates the vicar's daughter and/or the curate enough to write such vicious notes about them and spread lies throughout the community.
"The Long Barrow" by H. C. Bailey: A woman says that she's being followed everywhere and that someone is leaving dead animals around. Reggie Fortune agrees that something isn't right. Could it have anything to do with the excavations at an ancient archeology site?
"The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman: Dr. Thorndyke investigates a drowning in a ditch (which, here is like 4 - 4 1/2 feet deep) . It seems a simple, straightforward suicide, Thorndyke immediately spots something that makes him wonder.
"A Proper Mystery" by Margery Allingham: The local constable is sure he knows who let Mr. Light's cows out of the field to trample the Garden Field's entries in the annual garden show. But is he missing something?
"Direct Evidence" by Anthony Berkeley: All the evidence points to James Meadows as the killer of Mrs. Greyling. After all half the village witnessed him pull up in his car, argue with her (quite loudly), and then pull out a gun and shoot her. His sister swears he didn't do it...and after a while Roger Sherringham believes her. But can he get around the direct evidence of so many eyes?
"Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse: Another murder in the country house. Or is it suicide? But wait...maybe it was murder after all? The nasty John Hentish is dead from an overdose of morphia. Did he take too much? Did his nephew do him in thinking he was the heir?
"The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White: White doing what White does--an isolated house and an escaped psychopath and the girl he attacked three years earlier.
"Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce: Sergeant Beef investigates the murder of an elderly spinster. Mrs. Craig's death might have passed off as a natural one if it hadn't been for a helping of Beef and mustard.
"Our Pageant" by Gladys Mitchell: Who killed the lead Morris Dancer in the middle of the village pageant?
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
The lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside....Think of the deeds of hellish cruelty, the hidden wickedness which may go on, year in, year out, in such places, and none the wiser.
Holmes knew what he was talking about. The pleasant gardens of the manor house, the fertile fields, the quiet wooded valleys...all prove to be a dangerous place for the poor victims found in the stories within. I'm always amazed at the little-known stories that find their way into these collections. I'm also pleased when I realize that some of these lost gems have already been found by me in random vintage collections that I've picked up in my book-hunting journeys. An interesting mix of stories. ★★★★
"The Black Doctor" by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: A surprise witness saves a hotheaded young man from a verdict of guilty in a murder case.
"Murder by Proxy: A rather ingenious "locked room" story. Elegantly told with very interesting characters.
"The Fad of the Fisherman" by G. K. Chesterton: Sir Isaac Hook has a fad for getting up earlier than anybody else ever did to go fishing. He also has a thing for a spot of blackmail. Somebody puts an end to his two little hobbies...permanently.
"The Genuine Tabard" by E. C. Bentley: Mrs. Langley tells Philip Trent about her husband's prized tabard. When Trent hears about how it was obtained, he's sure there's something fishy about the set-up.
"The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins: It's a case of poison pen notes in the village of Glyston. Sage must find out who hates the vicar's daughter and/or the curate enough to write such vicious notes about them and spread lies throughout the community.
"The Long Barrow" by H. C. Bailey: A woman says that she's being followed everywhere and that someone is leaving dead animals around. Reggie Fortune agrees that something isn't right. Could it have anything to do with the excavations at an ancient archeology site?
"The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman: Dr. Thorndyke investigates a drowning in a ditch (which, here is like 4 - 4 1/2 feet deep) . It seems a simple, straightforward suicide, Thorndyke immediately spots something that makes him wonder.
"A Proper Mystery" by Margery Allingham: The local constable is sure he knows who let Mr. Light's cows out of the field to trample the Garden Field's entries in the annual garden show. But is he missing something?
"Direct Evidence" by Anthony Berkeley: All the evidence points to James Meadows as the killer of Mrs. Greyling. After all half the village witnessed him pull up in his car, argue with her (quite loudly), and then pull out a gun and shoot her. His sister swears he didn't do it...and after a while Roger Sherringham believes her. But can he get around the direct evidence of so many eyes?
"Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse: Another murder in the country house. Or is it suicide? But wait...maybe it was murder after all? The nasty John Hentish is dead from an overdose of morphia. Did he take too much? Did his nephew do him in thinking he was the heir?
"The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White: White doing what White does--an isolated house and an escaped psychopath and the girl he attacked three years earlier.
"Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce: Sergeant Beef investigates the murder of an elderly spinster. Mrs. Craig's death might have passed off as a natural one if it hadn't been for a helping of Beef and mustard.
"Our Pageant" by Gladys Mitchell: Who killed the lead Morris Dancer in the middle of the village pageant?
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
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August 29, 2017A nice collection of vintage murder mysteries set in the countryside. The standout is definitely the Leonora Wodehouse story, which is beautifully written with Wodehousian touches of word-mastery by also a rather dark edge.
August 21, 2024
While I always enjoy these anthologies, this was a particularly strong one - lots of variation on the theme of countryside crimes and mostly made up of stories I'd never read before. (I'm always up to re-read an Ethel Lina White or Detective Beef story, though. This volume has one of each.) A tale by P G Wodehouse's stepdaughter was a particularly good entry, although all three of the final stories are very strong. Definitely a good one for fans of Golden Age mystery.
November 27, 2015
This is a marvellous collection of short stories from the Golden Age of British crime fiction. This selection of stories contains work by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gladys Mitchell, G K Chesterton, Anthony Berkeley and H C Bailey among others.
The theme of this collection is murder in a rural setting. My particular favourite in this collection are E C Bentley's 'The Genuine Tabard' - which doesn't include a murder but is definitely worth reading for the sheer delight of the story. I also enjoyed 'The Gylston Slander' by Herbert Jenkins - poison pen letters; and 'The Naturalist at Law' by R Austin Freeman.
All the stories in this collection are well worth reading and some will remain with you long after you have finished reading the book. In my opinion this is on of the best short story collections in this excellent series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
The theme of this collection is murder in a rural setting. My particular favourite in this collection are E C Bentley's 'The Genuine Tabard' - which doesn't include a murder but is definitely worth reading for the sheer delight of the story. I also enjoyed 'The Gylston Slander' by Herbert Jenkins - poison pen letters; and 'The Naturalist at Law' by R Austin Freeman.
All the stories in this collection are well worth reading and some will remain with you long after you have finished reading the book. In my opinion this is on of the best short story collections in this excellent series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for review.
May 21, 2023
There are probably more English mysteries set in the countryside than anywhere else, so I suspect it was a challenge to whittle down choices rather than struggle to fill the volume. That being said, all of these were new stories to me, and I've read a lot of Golden Age mysteries. I think my favorite was Inquest by Leonora Wodehouse, step-daughter of P.G. Sadly, she passed away before her literary career really developed, because she clearly had a gift. A worthwhile addition to the BLCC canon.
February 17, 2026
The Black Doctor starts as a derogatory name, from the doctor being a swarthy immigrant in an otherwise flaxen community, but time wears away it's distasteful associations and the phrase becomes a matter of pride. The doctor has moved to a small English community and fallen in love with a young lady, only to turn up dead and badly beaten in his study. All eyes fall on the girl's brother, who'd been known to threaten the man and was seen lying in wait at his practice. The plot is understandable if not a little fantastical, but that can be a mystery writer's stock in trade. Another Arthur Conan Doyle story and another from the No Man's land between Reichenbach and Baskerville.
A crotchety man is found shot with his own gun, and his heir must clear his name when all evidence points to him. M. McDonnell Bodkin's Murder by Proxy was excellent and a fine display of writing, though the few problems it has are rather glaring. First, the murder itself is all based on insane luck - there is simply no way for it to have been committed with so much left to chance. For it to work, three things must be in exact places in the room, and unless the murderer was in the room at an impossible time it meant that one thing had been placed on the assumption that the other two things would unwittingly line themselves up later. It just doesn't work. Also, the detective was allowed to grill the witnesses during the inquest. Since when do police interview their suspects on the witness stand? The attorneys even made a stink about it and were overruled. And don't get me started on the ridiculous witness stand confession. But both the detective that breaks the case and the local first-on-the-scene officer are delightfully casual. You get the impression that - if the family hadn't sent for a higher authority to do the work - the officer probably would have cracked the case himself. I wouldn't mind reading more of Bodkin's work just for the investigators.
A political figure is found strangled with his own fishing line and his house guests scramble to clear themselves. I wish I could give a better summary of The Fad of the Fisherman, but I don't really understand it. It took several rereads before I understood who the murderer was in this G.K. Chesterson story.
Here we reach a stretch of genuinely enjoyable stories, starting with, what E.C. Bentley's characters are hoping, is The Genuine Tabard of the Garter King of Arms of 1783. A pair of collectors happen upon it at the home of a vicar and buy it out from under him for a tidy sum. Unfortunately, this marvelous, clever, fun story isn't exactly a mystery, but it's definitely a crime.
A young curate is in the hot seat when poison pen letters are found all over town, casting him in heated situations with the vicar's daughter. Not one to believe local gossip but aware of the spectacle the press is making of their town, the vicar sends for a detective to put an end to the letter writer's malicious work. Herbert Jenkins's story of The Gylston Slander put me in mind of a Murder, She Wrote episode I can't recall the name of (and aren’t invested in the show enough to look up). I liked the episode, and I liked this story. The idea of poison pen letters should be used in books more often; it's a clever plot device and gets all sorts of reactions from the characters.
The Long Barrow by H.C. Bailey started as a little dull, but once I realized the mystery was only getting started it peaked my interest considerably (the pages don't have the story titles in the headings so there's really no immediate way to see how long the story is without resorting to the chapter page). An archeologist and his demure secretary are harassed by pranks at their latest dig, and they separately seek help to solve the problem.
Police are given a demonstration of The Naturalist at Law (by R. Austin Freeman) when a man is drowned in a ditch. The story was very enjoyable and has one of those clues that you pick up on and spend the story second-guessing. It was well-played.
The men at the pub are still chewing over the events of the Midsummer Flower Show even weeks later. A year's work gone overnight thanks to loose cattle, all because one neighbor didn’t see the danger of penning his herd for the night in the adjacent field. It’s a proper shame, they agree. A Proper Mystery. But there may be something to it that also makes it a proper crime. I loved the accents in this Margery Allingham story, though I've never heard them in person before and had a bit of trouble wrapping my brain around them at some parts. The mystery and conclusion were solid, and it almost but not entirely makes use of my favorite POV: a friendly bit of third-person gossip between friends, as demonstrated later in Our Pageant.
It is Roger Sheringham's theory that circumstantial evidence will always trump Direct Evidence, and in a case of a young man arrested for murdering his married lover in full view of a dozen witnesses this theory is put to the test. Loved, loved, loved this character and this story. I'll be adding Anthony Berkeley to my list of mystery authors to look up later. The young man's fate was so hopeless, the detective so unsure of his innocence, that the conclusion had me breathing a sigh of relief.
At the Inquest, a young heir is regarded with suspicion when his uncle's death begins to raise questions. According to the blurb, Leonora Wodehouse, step-daughter of P.G. Wodehouse and usually appearing under the pen name Loel Yeo, died fairly young and didn't get much of a chance to develop her skills as an author. It’s a shame because this story was wonderful, and the imagery she created kept me engrossed.
A young woman's worst nightmare has just come true; her assaulter has broken out of his mental health facility. Her fiancé is frantic, but the woman herself is experiencing a rush of delirious calm. She was in no danger, she had protection in The Scarecrow. Ethel Lina White's story was too good for this series. The lead character's bubbly, mad reaction to her abuser being on the run and coming after her was unsettling, and the constant references to that scarecrow- that Christie damned scarecrow! It fed into a rising sense of dread as the escapee made his way closer and closer. The whole thing was extremely creepy. I can't wait to look up more of White's stories, and I'd recommend this book just for this horror story.
I’m used to seeing stories (by Agatha Christie, though there’ve been others) that can only be solved through an understanding of the rules of Bridge. This was the first time I’ve seen one that needs an understanding of gardening, though the clue that cracks the case isn’t even disclosed until after the guilty party has been put away. Sergeant Beef tells the story of his first important case: a murder that happened right under his own nose. An elderly local woman dies of a heart attack while Beef does a bit of off-duty gardening, but thanks to his gardening prowess Beef sees a Clue in the Mustard (by Leo Bruce).
Our Pageant by Gladys Mitchell is short - only 5 pages long - and a refreshingly lighthearted change to end on. An anonymous narrator is telling a friend about a murder that happened at the town pageant. It’s a gossipy bit of second-hand story-telling as though told over tea or in a letter, and it’s a dear one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and thought a fine way to end the book.
EDITING:
I may often find the selections questionable, but the British Library Crime Classics series has never let me down in this category at least.
ENJOYABILITY:
Far better than the last couple of BLCC compilations I’ve read, and I’d say it’s almost as good as Resorting to Murder . A few of the stories relied on absurd luck or very specific knowledge, and I’m still only half sure I’ve understood the solution to The Fad of the Fisherman since it’s so fantastic, but it remains the only book of the series outside Resorting to Murder so far that's managed to avoid the recycling bin.
THEME:
An easy one to cover, all the stories were solid country-home cozies.
OTHER ASPECTS:
Often I'll see short story collections with the title of the story in the header of one page, and the title of the book in the other, but this collection has the book title in both. It makes it damned frustrating when trying to find a specific story.
THE VERDICT?
I enjoyed Serpents in Eden enough that I’ll be putting off my library books for a few days more and picking up another countryside BLCC book. I’m crossing my fingers for a two book winning streak.
A crotchety man is found shot with his own gun, and his heir must clear his name when all evidence points to him. M. McDonnell Bodkin's Murder by Proxy was excellent and a fine display of writing, though the few problems it has are rather glaring. First, the murder itself is all based on insane luck - there is simply no way for it to have been committed with so much left to chance. For it to work, three things must be in exact places in the room, and unless the murderer was in the room at an impossible time it meant that one thing had been placed on the assumption that the other two things would unwittingly line themselves up later. It just doesn't work. Also, the detective was allowed to grill the witnesses during the inquest. Since when do police interview their suspects on the witness stand? The attorneys even made a stink about it and were overruled. And don't get me started on the ridiculous witness stand confession. But both the detective that breaks the case and the local first-on-the-scene officer are delightfully casual. You get the impression that - if the family hadn't sent for a higher authority to do the work - the officer probably would have cracked the case himself. I wouldn't mind reading more of Bodkin's work just for the investigators.
A political figure is found strangled with his own fishing line and his house guests scramble to clear themselves. I wish I could give a better summary of The Fad of the Fisherman, but I don't really understand it. It took several rereads before I understood who the murderer was in this G.K. Chesterson story.
Here we reach a stretch of genuinely enjoyable stories, starting with, what E.C. Bentley's characters are hoping, is The Genuine Tabard of the Garter King of Arms of 1783. A pair of collectors happen upon it at the home of a vicar and buy it out from under him for a tidy sum. Unfortunately, this marvelous, clever, fun story isn't exactly a mystery, but it's definitely a crime.
A young curate is in the hot seat when poison pen letters are found all over town, casting him in heated situations with the vicar's daughter. Not one to believe local gossip but aware of the spectacle the press is making of their town, the vicar sends for a detective to put an end to the letter writer's malicious work. Herbert Jenkins's story of The Gylston Slander put me in mind of a Murder, She Wrote episode I can't recall the name of (and aren’t invested in the show enough to look up). I liked the episode, and I liked this story. The idea of poison pen letters should be used in books more often; it's a clever plot device and gets all sorts of reactions from the characters.
The Long Barrow by H.C. Bailey started as a little dull, but once I realized the mystery was only getting started it peaked my interest considerably (the pages don't have the story titles in the headings so there's really no immediate way to see how long the story is without resorting to the chapter page). An archeologist and his demure secretary are harassed by pranks at their latest dig, and they separately seek help to solve the problem.
Police are given a demonstration of The Naturalist at Law (by R. Austin Freeman) when a man is drowned in a ditch. The story was very enjoyable and has one of those clues that you pick up on and spend the story second-guessing. It was well-played.
The men at the pub are still chewing over the events of the Midsummer Flower Show even weeks later. A year's work gone overnight thanks to loose cattle, all because one neighbor didn’t see the danger of penning his herd for the night in the adjacent field. It’s a proper shame, they agree. A Proper Mystery. But there may be something to it that also makes it a proper crime. I loved the accents in this Margery Allingham story, though I've never heard them in person before and had a bit of trouble wrapping my brain around them at some parts. The mystery and conclusion were solid, and it almost but not entirely makes use of my favorite POV: a friendly bit of third-person gossip between friends, as demonstrated later in Our Pageant.
It is Roger Sheringham's theory that circumstantial evidence will always trump Direct Evidence, and in a case of a young man arrested for murdering his married lover in full view of a dozen witnesses this theory is put to the test. Loved, loved, loved this character and this story. I'll be adding Anthony Berkeley to my list of mystery authors to look up later. The young man's fate was so hopeless, the detective so unsure of his innocence, that the conclusion had me breathing a sigh of relief.
At the Inquest, a young heir is regarded with suspicion when his uncle's death begins to raise questions. According to the blurb, Leonora Wodehouse, step-daughter of P.G. Wodehouse and usually appearing under the pen name Loel Yeo, died fairly young and didn't get much of a chance to develop her skills as an author. It’s a shame because this story was wonderful, and the imagery she created kept me engrossed.
A young woman's worst nightmare has just come true; her assaulter has broken out of his mental health facility. Her fiancé is frantic, but the woman herself is experiencing a rush of delirious calm. She was in no danger, she had protection in The Scarecrow. Ethel Lina White's story was too good for this series. The lead character's bubbly, mad reaction to her abuser being on the run and coming after her was unsettling, and the constant references to that scarecrow- that Christie damned scarecrow! It fed into a rising sense of dread as the escapee made his way closer and closer. The whole thing was extremely creepy. I can't wait to look up more of White's stories, and I'd recommend this book just for this horror story.
I’m used to seeing stories (by Agatha Christie, though there’ve been others) that can only be solved through an understanding of the rules of Bridge. This was the first time I’ve seen one that needs an understanding of gardening, though the clue that cracks the case isn’t even disclosed until after the guilty party has been put away. Sergeant Beef tells the story of his first important case: a murder that happened right under his own nose. An elderly local woman dies of a heart attack while Beef does a bit of off-duty gardening, but thanks to his gardening prowess Beef sees a Clue in the Mustard (by Leo Bruce).
Our Pageant by Gladys Mitchell is short - only 5 pages long - and a refreshingly lighthearted change to end on. An anonymous narrator is telling a friend about a murder that happened at the town pageant. It’s a gossipy bit of second-hand story-telling as though told over tea or in a letter, and it’s a dear one that I’ve thoroughly enjoyed and thought a fine way to end the book.
EDITING:
I may often find the selections questionable, but the British Library Crime Classics series has never let me down in this category at least.
ENJOYABILITY:
Far better than the last couple of BLCC compilations I’ve read, and I’d say it’s almost as good as Resorting to Murder . A few of the stories relied on absurd luck or very specific knowledge, and I’m still only half sure I’ve understood the solution to The Fad of the Fisherman since it’s so fantastic, but it remains the only book of the series outside Resorting to Murder so far that's managed to avoid the recycling bin.
THEME:
An easy one to cover, all the stories were solid country-home cozies.
OTHER ASPECTS:
Often I'll see short story collections with the title of the story in the header of one page, and the title of the book in the other, but this collection has the book title in both. It makes it damned frustrating when trying to find a specific story.
THE VERDICT?
I enjoyed Serpents in Eden enough that I’ll be putting off my library books for a few days more and picking up another countryside BLCC book. I’m crossing my fingers for a two book winning streak.
October 30, 2025
1. The Black Doctor - 1898 - A.C. Doyle - Who killed Dr Lana.
2. Murder by Proxy - 1890s - M.M. Bodkin - Can detective Paul Beck discover who and why, and how Squire Neville was murdered.
3. The Fad of the Fisherman - G.K. Chesterton - While boating to visit the P.M. Harold March sees two incidents but barely acknowledges them. Meanwhile a murder occurs at his destination.
4. The Genuine Tabard -Americans, the Langleys buy a tabard, but is it genuine.
5. The Gylston Slander - H. Jenkins - p.i. Malcolm Sage investigates a series of anonymous letters received by the inhabitants of Gylston village
6. The Long Barrow - H.C. Bailey - Reggie Fortune is suspicious when both archaeologists Jospeh Larkin and his secretary are concerned for their safety.
7. The Naturalist at Law - 1929 - by R. A. Freeman - The body of Mr Pedley is discovered in a ditch. His brother, Wilfred, is convinced that it is not suicide and seeks the help of Dr. Thorndyke
8. A Proper Mystery - 1942 - M. Allingham - who deliberately ruined the garden plots
9. Direct Evidence - A. Berkeley - As Sheringham believes circumstantial evidence is more important that direct, will this help him in his latest case.
10. Inquest - 1932 - L. Woodhouse - Dr. Mellan reflects on an inquest of two years ago.
11. The Scarecrow - E.L. White- Can Kay survive a second attack by Waring.
12. Clue in the Mustard - L. Bruce - Sergeant Beef tells of his first case from over 20 years ago.
13. Our pageant - G. Mitchell - A death at the pageant.
Entertaining short stories.
2. Murder by Proxy - 1890s - M.M. Bodkin - Can detective Paul Beck discover who and why, and how Squire Neville was murdered.
3. The Fad of the Fisherman - G.K. Chesterton - While boating to visit the P.M. Harold March sees two incidents but barely acknowledges them. Meanwhile a murder occurs at his destination.
4. The Genuine Tabard -Americans, the Langleys buy a tabard, but is it genuine.
5. The Gylston Slander - H. Jenkins - p.i. Malcolm Sage investigates a series of anonymous letters received by the inhabitants of Gylston village
6. The Long Barrow - H.C. Bailey - Reggie Fortune is suspicious when both archaeologists Jospeh Larkin and his secretary are concerned for their safety.
7. The Naturalist at Law - 1929 - by R. A. Freeman - The body of Mr Pedley is discovered in a ditch. His brother, Wilfred, is convinced that it is not suicide and seeks the help of Dr. Thorndyke
8. A Proper Mystery - 1942 - M. Allingham - who deliberately ruined the garden plots
9. Direct Evidence - A. Berkeley - As Sheringham believes circumstantial evidence is more important that direct, will this help him in his latest case.
10. Inquest - 1932 - L. Woodhouse - Dr. Mellan reflects on an inquest of two years ago.
11. The Scarecrow - E.L. White- Can Kay survive a second attack by Waring.
12. Clue in the Mustard - L. Bruce - Sergeant Beef tells of his first case from over 20 years ago.
13. Our pageant - G. Mitchell - A death at the pageant.
Entertaining short stories.
August 23, 2024
I've become a bit of an Anglophile in my reading habits as of late. "Serpents in Eden: Countryside Crimes" is a wonderful collection of British mysteries set in (you guessed it) the countryside. I was able to guess the mystery for a good chunk of them but that doesn't diminish the pleasure of the journey. I love a good, proper buttoned up whodunit and this one was delightful to read. There was only one stinker of a story I had to give up on but for the most part it was extremely high quality.
May 29, 2017
An interesting selection of short stories, some slight, some with a bit more about them. Amongst the pick 'n' mix are an unpublished Anthony Berkeley, a whimsical Margery Allingham and a downright creepy piece by Ethel Lina White. A good, solid collection with the only real clunker from, as too often, Arthur Conan Doyle; the last-minute revelation of coincidence is sort-of allowed in the presence of the omniscient Holmes but wears thin elsewhere.
June 24, 2018
Countryside crimes for mystery aficionados. The selection is quite rarified--I've never seen any of these in an anthology before, and many have never been collected. This doesn't mean they're all good, though: I find the first few stories heavy going. But there are three in a row--by Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley, and Leonora Wodehouse--that are terrific, better than a lot of famous mysteries. Worth it for those alone.
March 4, 2017
An interesting selection of golden age stories from some of my favourite authors. I thought the ones by Margery Allingham and Gladys Mitchell were the weakest of the bunch. Maybe they are better at full-length mysteries than short stories? As always Martin Edwards does a nice line in succinct biographical detail in his introduction to each of his choices.
August 8, 2017
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June 24, 2020
A mixed bunch as usual, with the quality improving in the later stories. A collection of mystery short stories set in the countryside.I will remark on the ones I found to be, uhh, remarkable in some way.
The Black Doctor by Arthur Conan Doyle
How does one laugh about a story without spoiling it? Suffice to say the plot probably has been used to make at least three separate Bollywood movies in the 1960s and 1970s. The "black" doctor is Argentinian, but it was still a rather progressive story from that era.
The Gylston Slander by Herbert Jenkins
Always enjoy poison pen mysteries, but this had a hint of misogyny I found to be unpleasant.
The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman
I usually never like Thorndyke mysteries, but this one completely hinges on the police not doing even the most basic of evidence finding, and very quickly become ridiculous.
A Proper Mystery by Margery Allingham
A funny (and not a murder!) mystery. Charming and delightful.
Inquest by Lenora Wodehouse
This was written by Wodehouse's step-daughter, and shows a unique grasp of her step-father's humour and a good sense of writing mysteries. Her early death ended what could possibly have been a very interesting career.
The Scarecrow by Ethel Lina White
I am getting used to White's rhythms, and this one is rightly not as famous as The Unlocked Window (nor does it have a similar wonderful a twist), but overall very readable.
Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce
I am more intrigued by the writer than the story (he wrote 27 autobiographies! What in the world was he upto?). But it has one of those straightforward solutions which are delightful in their simplicity.
Our Pageant by Gladys Mitchell
It is weird that a mystery set in rural England would remind me of Kolkata, but the travails of preparing for a Morris dance is very, very similar to preparing for Durga Puja functions. Except we have fewer murders. Probably. The story is short, and is solved by the long belittled Scotland Yard, but it is sharp, funny, and direct. Possibly my favourite read in the book.
Overall a 3.5. I liked the variety in the collection and to no surprise, was easily more fond of the stories by female writers.
The Black Doctor by Arthur Conan Doyle
How does one laugh about a story without spoiling it? Suffice to say the plot probably has been used to make at least three separate Bollywood movies in the 1960s and 1970s. The "black" doctor is Argentinian, but it was still a rather progressive story from that era.
The Gylston Slander by Herbert Jenkins
Always enjoy poison pen mysteries, but this had a hint of misogyny I found to be unpleasant.
The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman
I usually never like Thorndyke mysteries, but this one completely hinges on the police not doing even the most basic of evidence finding, and very quickly become ridiculous.
A Proper Mystery by Margery Allingham
A funny (and not a murder!) mystery. Charming and delightful.
Inquest by Lenora Wodehouse
This was written by Wodehouse's step-daughter, and shows a unique grasp of her step-father's humour and a good sense of writing mysteries. Her early death ended what could possibly have been a very interesting career.
The Scarecrow by Ethel Lina White
I am getting used to White's rhythms, and this one is rightly not as famous as The Unlocked Window (nor does it have a similar wonderful a twist), but overall very readable.
Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce
I am more intrigued by the writer than the story (he wrote 27 autobiographies! What in the world was he upto?). But it has one of those straightforward solutions which are delightful in their simplicity.
Our Pageant by Gladys Mitchell
It is weird that a mystery set in rural England would remind me of Kolkata, but the travails of preparing for a Morris dance is very, very similar to preparing for Durga Puja functions. Except we have fewer murders. Probably. The story is short, and is solved by the long belittled Scotland Yard, but it is sharp, funny, and direct. Possibly my favourite read in the book.
Overall a 3.5. I liked the variety in the collection and to no surprise, was easily more fond of the stories by female writers.
August 28, 2022
A selection of golden age short mysteries that take place in the countryside. The nice thing about this series is that you will get to read a stories that haven't been available for a while or sometimes ever. So they are well worth a read, even if you don't find every story your favorite. I found I liked some of the short stories by authors better than their longer works; and, vice versa. Also, always good to find someone I've never read before. The humor in several was refreshing and just as funny now as it was then. So while I gave the overall effect of a 3, some stories were higher and a few lower. So do take a chance.
Memorable ones for me are: Murder by Proxy, The Glyston Slander, The Long Barrow, The Naturalist At Law, Direct Evidence, Inquest.
Memorable ones for me are: Murder by Proxy, The Glyston Slander, The Long Barrow, The Naturalist At Law, Direct Evidence, Inquest.
November 27, 2021
As with all short story collections, there are some hits and misses but I think the misses are mostly due to the fact that they were written in a different era and context, which affects language style and cultural attitudes. But I love the short story format and am always impressed by authors who can create an intriguing situation (and resolve it) in a limited amount of space. These vintage stories are an equal mix by male and female mystery writers of the Golden Age of Detective fiction, in the early 20th century, taking place in the seemingly tranquil and bucolic setting of the English countryside. My favorite was the first story, "The Black Doctor," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, a non-Sherlock Holmes story.
February 7, 2024
3.5☆
Honestly, I was not too convinced at the start that this would be as interesting of an entry as I had originally envisioned (as a seasoned viewer of "Midsommer Murders" which very much got a nod within the introduction). But somewhere around half-way through the stories become more varied and with much more interesting twists, with quite a few standout entries, helping to bring the overall impression of the collection up.
Favourite entries: "The Black Doctor" by Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Genuine Tabard" by E.C. Bentley, "The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins, "The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman, "Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse, "The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White, "Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce
Honestly, I was not too convinced at the start that this would be as interesting of an entry as I had originally envisioned (as a seasoned viewer of "Midsommer Murders" which very much got a nod within the introduction). But somewhere around half-way through the stories become more varied and with much more interesting twists, with quite a few standout entries, helping to bring the overall impression of the collection up.
Favourite entries: "The Black Doctor" by Arthur Conan Doyle, "The Genuine Tabard" by E.C. Bentley, "The Gylston Slander" by Herbert Jenkins, "The Naturalist at Law" by R. Austin Freeman, "Inquest" by Leonora Wodehouse, "The Scarecrow" by Ethel Lina White, "Clue in the Mustard" by Leo Bruce
February 26, 2023
A collection of stories set in the countryside, which range from amusing ("A Proper Mystery," "Our Pageant") to gruesome ("Clue in the Mustard," "The Scarecrow"). This collection is pretty much on par with the other thematic collections from this series. Some of good, some aren't. There are quite a few series characters here, but also some gems, including a short by Arthur Conan Doyle that doesn't feature Holmes & Watson. Worth a read, but I'm not exactly running out to buy my own copy.
Favorites:
[+] The Gylston Salnder by Herbert Jenkins - a Malcolm Sage short
[+] The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman - a Dr. John Thorndyke short
[+] Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce - a Sergeant Bruce short
Favorites:
[+] The Gylston Salnder by Herbert Jenkins - a Malcolm Sage short
[+] The Naturalist at Law by R. Austin Freeman - a Dr. John Thorndyke short
[+] Clue in the Mustard by Leo Bruce - a Sergeant Bruce short
August 19, 2020
Very charming. Perfect for a little sit down or some light bedtime reading! I took this book on vacation and enjoyed it immensely. It was fun to have such a varied array of authors.
May 7, 2024
Good collection of mysteries
June 25, 2025
KU Free trial | Another good collection of short stories, not too many I'd read before, but of course there were a few (including the first in the book, which didn't bode well). Not much to say about short story collections, quality varies, but generally good.
November 7, 2018
Another excellent collection of Golden Age crime tales, set in the idyllic countryside, that's actually seething with murder.
March 13, 2016
The quaint, remote British village where crime rears its ugly head has long been a setting loved by writers of classic mystery. Somehow cities with their abundance of people promote a sense of safety. While the village, with its remote environs and its sparse population makes suspense and danger easy to create.
Serpents in Eden is an anthology that every lover of classic British mystery should possess. Several authors are well known favorites, while others are relatively unknown to modern readers. The majority of the stories included in Serpents in Eden will new to the reader, making it a delicious repast for any lover of classic mystery.
My personal favorites include The Naturalist at Law, Direct Evidence, and Inquest, the last of which involves a murder that looks like a standard murder for profit, but where there is a surprising twist. The former two both involve looking beyond the obvious to find the truth. I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil the reader's fun.
Serpents of Eden is an incredible volume containing a vast array of short fiction written by some of the finest authors in the history of British mystery. Whether you are looking for a pleasant puzzle to pass the time or are a die hard mystery fan, you won't be disappointed by Serpents in Eden.
5/5
I received a copy of Serpents in Eden from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Serpents in Eden is an anthology that every lover of classic British mystery should possess. Several authors are well known favorites, while others are relatively unknown to modern readers. The majority of the stories included in Serpents in Eden will new to the reader, making it a delicious repast for any lover of classic mystery.
My personal favorites include The Naturalist at Law, Direct Evidence, and Inquest, the last of which involves a murder that looks like a standard murder for profit, but where there is a surprising twist. The former two both involve looking beyond the obvious to find the truth. I don't want to say much because I don't want to spoil the reader's fun.
Serpents of Eden is an incredible volume containing a vast array of short fiction written by some of the finest authors in the history of British mystery. Whether you are looking for a pleasant puzzle to pass the time or are a die hard mystery fan, you won't be disappointed by Serpents in Eden.
5/5
I received a copy of Serpents in Eden from the publisher and netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
October 20, 2016
These short stories were almost all published prior to 1960, The Black Doctor by Arthur Conan Doyle as early as 1898. The authors are almost all recognised Golden Age crime fiction writers. One or two of the stories have not been easily available until their publication in this anthology. Nearly all of the writers have a connection with the Detection Club.
While some of the stories had very clever plots indeed, I found some of them rather slow and tortuous. Nearly all were "different" to what a modern short story might be like. Each story is preceded by an introduction written by Martin Edwards placing the writer in the history of British crime fiction writing.
The writers: Arthur Conan Doyle, M. McDonnell Bodkin, G.K. Chesterton, E.C. Bentley, Herbert Jenkins, H.C. Bailey, R. Austin Freeman, Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley, Leonora Wodehouse, Ethel Lena White, Leo Bruce, and Gladys Mitchell.
While some of the stories had very clever plots indeed, I found some of them rather slow and tortuous. Nearly all were "different" to what a modern short story might be like. Each story is preceded by an introduction written by Martin Edwards placing the writer in the history of British crime fiction writing.
The writers: Arthur Conan Doyle, M. McDonnell Bodkin, G.K. Chesterton, E.C. Bentley, Herbert Jenkins, H.C. Bailey, R. Austin Freeman, Margery Allingham, Anthony Berkeley, Leonora Wodehouse, Ethel Lena White, Leo Bruce, and Gladys Mitchell.
February 23, 2016
Throughout December, I enjoyed reading a book called Silent Nights. The carefully chosen collection from the Golden Age of British crime fiction was perfect for such a busy month, as the stories were short and complete with plenty of detail and nicely wrapped up endings.
This is the second book of short stories I have read from the same time period. This selection of stories have a rural murder theme and contains works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gladys Mitchell, G K Chesterton, Anthony Berkeley and H C Bailey among others.
If you like mysteries, I am sure you will find this book as enjoyable as I have.
This is the second book of short stories I have read from the same time period. This selection of stories have a rural murder theme and contains works by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Gladys Mitchell, G K Chesterton, Anthony Berkeley and H C Bailey among others.
If you like mysteries, I am sure you will find this book as enjoyable as I have.
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