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Murder Most Foul, Volume 2
This recording is the second in a new series featuring some of the greatest crime stories ever written. "The Perfect Crime" is written in the first person: "I know I committed the perfect crime." Phoebe Wallowes, a well educated American woman, really irritates him. He also has a genuine terror that she will one day marry him. Something therefore has to be done. Sapper's "Thirteen Lead Soldiers" has an ingenious plot to murder Conte de Dinard at a secret conference in an English country home. Captain 'Bulldog' Drummond and his friend Algy are called in to foil the plan. As there is such a thing as 'love at first sight' so there is such a thing as 'instinctive first hate' as John Ericsson explains in "First Hate" to his closest friends one evening when he relates the events surrounding the disappearance of Hazel, a member of their shooting club, some ten years earlier. "Markheim" visits jewelers on Christmas day in order to purchase a gift for a lady friend. Instead he murders the shop keeper. Thereafter R.L. Stevenson paints a fascinating picture of a murderer wrestling with his conscience.
Audiobook
First published August 1, 2003
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Various
455k books1,339 followersVarious is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).
If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.
Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 8, 2018
Algernon Blackwood & several others of his age each have a short story in this short anthology. I'm not sure of the particulars of publication or anything as I saw none & the cover picture is too blurry to even make out the publisher. The audio portion contained no publishing information, either. Very odd.
Anyway, it was a very good collection, especially for the Victorian sort of writing. The setup was often slower than I would have liked, but the twist at the end was particularly barbed in every case.
Anyway, it was a very good collection, especially for the Victorian sort of writing. The setup was often slower than I would have liked, but the twist at the end was particularly barbed in every case.
February 20, 2026
A brief collection of short stories concerning murder.
First Hate, by Algernon Blackwood. A night of story-telling, spirits, and smoking between gentlemen soon takes a more sinister turn when the well-regarded Mr. Ericssen puts forward his theory of “hate at first sight” and gives a story to illustrate it. An instant antipathy between two men, an ill-fated hunting trip, and a chance meeting in the wilderness. A good one. 5 stars
Markheim, by R.L. Stevenson. Skipped as I’ve recently read it.
The Perfect Crime, by P.C. Wren. A similar theme to the first story–the concept of a “hate at first sight” that culminates in murder. The Perfect Crime, tells the story of Phoebe Wallows, a woman good, respectable, and capable, and utterly detested by the narrator. His abhorrence mainly stems from the apparent inevitability of their marriage; in an effort to preclude this fate the narrator becomes fixated on carrying out the “perfect crime”...a small twist at the end makes this a notable read. 5 stars
Thirteen Lead Soldiers, by Sapper. A short story featuring Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond and his companion Algy; incidentally my first Drummond story. Drummond (and Algy, of course) are asked to attend a hush-hush meeting of several dignitaries discussing affairs of state on the cusp of WWII. An anonymous tip has warned that the French minister’s life is in danger; fortunately Drummond is there to avert a national crisis. A rather ingenious method of assassination involving . 4 stars.
Overall: a good collection. 5 stars
First Hate, by Algernon Blackwood. A night of story-telling, spirits, and smoking between gentlemen soon takes a more sinister turn when the well-regarded Mr. Ericssen puts forward his theory of “hate at first sight” and gives a story to illustrate it. An instant antipathy between two men, an ill-fated hunting trip, and a chance meeting in the wilderness. A good one. 5 stars
Markheim, by R.L. Stevenson. Skipped as I’ve recently read it.
The Perfect Crime, by P.C. Wren. A similar theme to the first story–the concept of a “hate at first sight” that culminates in murder. The Perfect Crime, tells the story of Phoebe Wallows, a woman good, respectable, and capable, and utterly detested by the narrator. His abhorrence mainly stems from the apparent inevitability of their marriage; in an effort to preclude this fate the narrator becomes fixated on carrying out the “perfect crime”...a small twist at the end makes this a notable read. 5 stars
Thirteen Lead Soldiers, by Sapper. A short story featuring Hugh “Bulldog” Drummond and his companion Algy; incidentally my first Drummond story. Drummond (and Algy, of course) are asked to attend a hush-hush meeting of several dignitaries discussing affairs of state on the cusp of WWII. An anonymous tip has warned that the French minister’s life is in danger; fortunately Drummond is there to avert a national crisis. A rather ingenious method of assassination involving . 4 stars.
Overall: a good collection. 5 stars
February 2, 2018
it's a short book. i did enjoy the first story very much but the others were just...eh.
September 27, 2018
I love the unexpected endings
February 15, 2017
well...I picked this one for a Goodreads Book Challenge due to the purple cover.
This was a poorly recorded audiobook. Someone recorded it from tape or cd and they made it into several audiobooks as they did this. This ended in the middle of the story and if I want to continue, I need to go check out the next book. what?!?!
This was short stories by some good authors. They werent bad but the quality of the recording was so bad it was hard to get through.
If you are interested in this, find the actual book.
not my thing. boo
This was a poorly recorded audiobook. Someone recorded it from tape or cd and they made it into several audiobooks as they did this. This ended in the middle of the story and if I want to continue, I need to go check out the next book. what?!?!
This was short stories by some good authors. They werent bad but the quality of the recording was so bad it was hard to get through.
If you are interested in this, find the actual book.
not my thing. boo
May 5, 2023
This is an extraordinary collection of four short stories read by professional actors. They are a tremendous listening pleasure. Each story selected has a twist at the end, which takes the account to a new level.
Derek Jacobi reads Margery Allingham's story of 'Bluebeard's Bathtub.' The second story is "Who Killed Zebedee?" which was written by Wilkie Collins and read by Patrick Malahide. Robert Barr wrote the third story, "An Alpine Divorce," and is read by Brian Cox. Finally, the Sherlock Holmes story, "The Speckled Band," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is read by Edward Hardwicke.
The whole book can be finished in about two-and-a-half hours. This is one selection that is better listened to rather than read.
Derek Jacobi reads Margery Allingham's story of 'Bluebeard's Bathtub.' The second story is "Who Killed Zebedee?" which was written by Wilkie Collins and read by Patrick Malahide. Robert Barr wrote the third story, "An Alpine Divorce," and is read by Brian Cox. Finally, the Sherlock Holmes story, "The Speckled Band," by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is read by Edward Hardwicke.
The whole book can be finished in about two-and-a-half hours. This is one selection that is better listened to rather than read.
July 5, 2022
“Markheim” may make you drop this collection of mystery short stories - it was almost unbearable; like being trapped in a pub with drunk philosophers- although the conceit of The Perfect Crime may make up for it. Think P.G. Wodehouse commits a murder. I listened to a recorded book edition. The performers are quite good although the short mystery stories are so so.
April 11, 2019
disappointing
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews