The Edinburgh Mystery: And Other Tales of Scottish Crime

Francis McNab #1.5 - The White Line

by Martin Edwards (Editor)

From the Highlands to the borders, the bustling cities to the remote isles in cold seas, the unique landscapes and locales of Scotland have long inspired writers of the very best Golden Age mysteries. Beginning with the adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Edinburgh-born Arthur Conan Doyle, this new collection includes the ingenious scientific mysteries of Anthony Wynne, the dark and sardonic work of Margot Bennett and contributions from neglected yet brilliant authors such as Scobie Mackenzie and R. T. Campbell.

Genres: Mystery, Short Stories, Scotland, Fiction, Crime, Classics, Anthologies

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2022

About the author

Martin 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.

Reviews

[Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while) · Rating 4 out of 5]

EXCERPT: (Taken from The Case of the Frugal Cake by Margot Bennett)
Aunt Ellen was rich; Aunt Ellen was a miser. She kept her money in a trunk in the bedroom, and counted it by candlelight. So they said. She was too mean to buy cow's milk and kept a goat in the garden.
The goat and Cousin Hilda were Aunt Ellen's only extravagances. Cousin Hilda had lived in the cottage with Aunt Ellen for twelve years. Cousin Hilda milked the goat, fetched the water from the well, sifted the cinders, and didn't eat enough to stretch a mouse-skin. They said she'd get it all back one day. She was only forty-two. The money would come to Hilda in the end. She was the only relation, so they said in the village until Jeremy turned up.

ABOUT 'THE EDINBURGH MYSTERY & OTHER TALES OF SCOTTISH CRIME': Readers who know Scotland will glow with recognition; those who don't will want to pack their bags and maybe a gun." — Kirkus Reviews From the Highlands to the borders, the bustling cities to the remote isles in cold seas, the unique landscapes and locales of Scotland have long inspired writers of the very best Golden Age mysteries. Beginning with the adventures of Sherlock Holmes from Edinburgh-born Arthur Conan Doyle, this new collection includes the ingenious scientific mysteries of Anthony Wynne, the dark and sardonic work of Margot Bennett and contributions from neglected yet brilliant authors such as Scobie Mackenzie and R. T. Campbell.

MY THOUGHTS: 17 tales of murder and mystery are contained within this volume. It's a mixed bag and there's certain to be something for everyone.

1. Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson ⭐⭐ A man who has lost money on the stock market turns to crime to try and recoup his losses. I liked the ending but not much else.

2. The Field Bazaar by Arthur Conan Doyle ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Short and pithy. Holmes powers of deduction stun Watson.

3. The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Orczy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A tale of love and greed, the solution to which never occurred to me.

4. The Honour of Israel Gow by G.K. Chesterton ⭐⭐ Some strange clues puzzle Father Brown. Lots of prevarication annoyed me.

5. A Medical Crime by J. Storer Clouston ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A quick, clever and entertaining read.

6. Footsteps by Anthony Wynn ⭐⭐⭐ Quite clever, but I was never quite invested in it.

7. The White Line by John Ferguson ⭐⭐⭐⭐ One wealthy young lady, two suitors and a diamond necklace spell trouble.

8. The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A young, inexperienced Constable is almost taken in by the charms of a duplicitous woman.

9. Madame Ville d'Aubier by Josephine Tey ⭐⭐.5 A brief, but not particularly satisfying story about a chance encounter.

10. The Man on Ben Na Garve by H.H. Bashford ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A fisherman dies a suspicious death.

11. Before Insulin by J.J. Connington ⭐⭐⭐⭐ The title really says it all.

12. The Case of the Frugal Cake by Margot Bennett ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 This appealed to my sense of humour.

13. Thursday's Child by Cyril Hare ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Greed is the undoing of an impostor.

14. The Alibi Man by Bill Knox ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A man is held against his will.

15. The Fisherman by Michael Innes ⭐⭐⭐ Four men are invited for a fishing weekend by a fifth and a comedy of discomfiture ensues.

16. The Running of the Deer by P.M. Hubbard ⭐⭐⭐ This short story could have been much shorter with greater effect.

17. Hand in Glove by Jennie Melville ⭐.5 I failed to find anything to like.

⭐⭐⭐.5 rounded up to 4, because there was more to like about this collection than not.

I: @poisonedpenpress

T: @PPPress

#detectivefiction #historicalfiction #murdermystery #mystery #shortstories

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime collated by Martin Edwards. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

The Edinburgh Mystery: And Other Tales of Scottish Crime is a well-chosen anthology of Scottish-set short crime-mystery stories spanning the period from the 1880s to the 1970s. Martin Edwards is a prolific critic, commentator and anthologist of crime fiction, and a well-respected crime writer in his own right. As Edwards states in his introduction:

"This anthology celebrates Scotland's contribution to classic crime and offers a blend of stories written by Scottish authors together with short mysteries, like the title story, which are set north of the border."
(Loc. 53)

As is the case with all anthologies, readers will find that they enjoy some of the featured stories more than others. My personal favourites in this collection were the titular The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (of The Scarlet Pimpernel fame!), the gothic "Footsteps" by Anthony Wynne, "The Body of Sir Henry" by Augustus Muir, The Man on Ben Na Garve by Henry Howarth Bashford and "Thursday's Child" by Cyril Hare.

The stories included in the collection are:

Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson (1885)
The Field Bazaar by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1896)
The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Emmuska Orczy (1902)
The Honour of Israel Gow by G.K. Chesterton (1911)
"A Medical Crime" by J Storer Clouston (1920)
"Footsteps" by Anthony Wynne (1926)
The White Line: A Francis McNab Mystery by John Ferguson (1929)
"The Body of Sir Henry" by Augustus Muir (1929)
"Madame Ville d'Aubier" by Josephine Tey (1930)
The Man on Ben Na Garve by Henry Howarth Bashford (1933)
Before Insulin: A Sir Clinton Driffield Short Story by J.J. Connington (1936)
"The Case of the Frugal Cake" by Margot Bennett (1955)
"Thursday's Child" by Cyril Hare (1959)
"The Alibi Man" by Bill Knox (1965)
"The Fishermen" by Michael Innes (1970)
"The Running of the Deer" P. M. Hubbard (1974)
"Hand in Glove" by Jennie Melville (1974)

My thanks to the editor, Martin Edwards, publisher Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this excellent title.

[Tania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another anthology from the British Library Crime Classics series, this time with the focus on Scotland, either set there or written by Scottish authors. As always, a mixed bag, there is a very slight Sherlock Holmes story that is a little disappointing, but others that make up for it. I particularly enjoyed A Medical Crime by J. Stored Clouston, and I was pleased to read one of the Tea House Detective stories by Baroness Orczy.

*Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Edinburgh Mystery is the latest collection of mystery stories to be edited by Martin Edwards. This time, all of the stories and/or authors have strong links to or roots in Scotland. As in all of Edwards-involved collections, there are brief biographies to accompany each story.

There are 17 stories total and my experience was very positive after a slow start. Among my favorites were some authors I knew but more that were brand new. Among these are Footsteps by Anthony Wynne, The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir, Madame Ville d’Aubier by Josephine Tey, Thursday’s Child by Cyril Hare, The Alibi Man by Bill Knox, The Fishermen by Michael Innes, and The Running of the Deer by P.M. Hubbard. Some were straight forward procedurals. Others were more twisted and surprising. A couple left me guessing. A good collection and recommended

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oddly enough, "stories set in Scotland" turns out to be a less unifying theme than I had expected, and the result is that this collection feels a bit more scattered than others in the series. That should not, however, be taken to mean that it isn't good. Martin Edwards has still assembled an entertaining and historically varied group of tales from the mid-19th century through the mid-1970s, and that alone is well worth the price of admission. Tales by well-remembered authors (Baroness Orczy, SIr Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson) are cheek-by-jowl with forgotten masters, with Margot Bennett heading my personal list of authors I must read more by immediately. The middle of the book has the strongest stories on the whole, but that's also the section that covers the Golden Age of crime fiction, so no surprises there. It may not be the most striking collection in the series, but it is still well worth your time, especially if you're a fan of mid-century mysteries.

[JacquiWine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Over the past few years, the publishing arm of the British Library has been carving out a very successful niche for itself, reissuing a whole host of treasures from the Golden Age of crime fiction. The Edinburgh Mystery and Other Tales of Scottish Crime is part of their occasional series of anthologies, bringing together a range of short stories connected to Scotland. Some of the mysteries are by Scottish writers, while others are set in the country itself, ranging from city-based tales, such as the titular piece, to mysteries rooted in more remote areas such as the Highlands and Islands.

As ever with these anthologies, some entries are stronger than others; and while the quality of stories feels more variable here than in some of the BL’s other themed anthologies, the best stories are very good indeed. Hopefully this review will give you a flavour of what to expect, should you decide to read the book.

The titular story, written by Baroness Orczy, is one of the more compelling mysteries in the collection – a case involving the proposed transfer of a significant fortune, some property, and a particularly splendid set of diamond jewels. There’s also a whiff of disapproval about a forthcoming wedding, a match frowned upon by certain sectors of Edinburgh society.

“In Edinburgh society comments were loud and various upon the forthcoming marriage, and, on the whole, these comments were far from complimentary to the families concerned. I do not think that the Scotch are a particularly sentimental race, but there was such obvious buying, selling, and bargaining about this marriage that Scottish chivalry rose in revolt at the thought.” (p. 48)

This is a very absorbing murder mystery with a surprise or two up its sleeve, a most enjoyable and intriguing read.

While Josephine Tey’s Madame Ville d’Aubier is one of the shortest pieces in the collection, it certainly leaves a strong impression on the reader. In this enigmatic tale, a couple decide to get away from their home in Paris for the day, ultimately ending up in a sleepy village in the country. Tey excels at conveying the deeply unsettling atmosphere of her setting, a rather unwelcoming baker’s shop where they are met with a frosty reception.

To read the rest of my review, please visit:

https://jacquiwine.wordpress.com/2022...

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This collection of stories is all about Scotland: either Scottish authors or settings. Other than that, the stories are very individual in tone, and some are excellent while others are forgettable and a few are just confusing. There's even a Sherlock Holmes story which is amusingly meta, though very slight and plotless. Stand-out stories include The Edinburgh Mystery by Baroness Orczy (of Scarlet Pimpernel fame), The Honour of Israel Gow by GK Chesterton, A Medical Crime, Footsteps, and The White Line. As a collection, it's fairly uneven, but fans of Golden Age detection will find things to interest them.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this advance review copy!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking the low road…

Another anthology of vintage crime from the British Library, this one has the theme of Scottish stories – either stories written by Scots, or written by people from elsewhere (generally England) but set in Scotland. There are seventeen stories in total, though a handful of them are very short and quite slight. There’s the usual mix of weel-kent names, such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Robert Louis Stevenson; some regulars of these anthologies, such as Michael Innes and GK Chesterton; and several that I’ve never come across before. Some of my favourite stories were from these never previously encountered writers, of whom several were Scottish, so that pleased my patriotic little soul and has given me a few names to investigate further – always one of the pleasures of these anthologies. The geographical spread is good too – a few of the stories are set in the big cities, but the writers have taken full advantage of the less populated areas of the Highlands and the Borders too.

In terms of quality, there was only one outright dud and that was the Chesterton story. However, regular readers of my reviews might remember that I can’t stand Chesterton’s silly religiosity, and he compounded his usual faults in this one by throwing in just about every negative Scottish stereotype you can think of, so I suspect my rating is quite subjective! Of the rest, I rated ten as either good, very good or excellent, which makes this one of the stronger of these collections. I really liked the variety – everything from humour, both dark and light, to veering towards the noir end of crime fiction, and Edwards has picked a lot of stories that show different aspects of Scottish life, from urban to rural to wilderness, from the mean streets of Glasgow to the huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ Lairds of the Highlands. The vast majority of the stories are about the middle or upper classes but that’s standard for British vintage crime generally.

Here’s a flavour of a few of the ones I enjoyed most:

A Medical Crime by J Storer Clouston – Carrington, a sort of consulting detective, tells of a case in Kinbuckie, a smallish town where a series of burglaries have taken place. The local provost has asked Carrington to investigate, since the police seem baffled. The local Superintendent tells Carrington that there are signs that lead him to believe one of the six local doctors must be involved, and Carrington has to work out which. He uses some clever trickery to do just that. An excellent story, well-written and clever enough to be enjoyable though I did have my suspicions which proved to be right for once. But what lifts it is the gentle humour that Clouston pokes at small-town Scottish prejudices. Lots of fun!

Footsteps by Anthony Wynne – Starring Dr Hailey, who was Wynne’s regular detective. Here he is invited to visit a friend who is staying in an old Scottish castle, where a few years earlier the Laird’s wife had died and the Laird had killed himself. Now ghostly footsteps sound along the corridors and Hailey’s friend’s nerves are frayed to breaking point. Hailey is a strictly rational man, so sets out to discover the truth of the footsteps and in so doing uncovers a dark story of jealousy and murder. A delightfully creepy start to this one and it gradually becomes very dark towards the end. Wynne uses the Gothic setting to create a deliciously sinister and spooky atmosphere.

The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir. MacIver, now a bigwig in the police, tells a tale of when he was a young beat policeman in the Borders. One rainy night a car stops and the driver asks him for directions to a nearby village where there is only one big house (the obvious inference being that anyone who could afford a car back then must be gentry). As the car drives away, it is suddenly lit up by the reflection of its headlights in a shop window, and MacIver sees that the back seat is occupied by a beautiful woman… and what looks to him like a dead man! He decides to follow them on his bicycle to the big house to investigate. The mystery element of this is very slight but the story-telling is great, with a touch of creepiness, some humour and a healthy dash of danger.

The Running of the Deer by PM Hubbard. Our narrator, himself a member of the gentry, has been asked by a friend to supervise the culling of the deer hinds on the friend’s estate. The other two men who are helping with the culling seems to be a little at odds with each other. During the hunt, something spooks the deer and they begin to run towards the stalkers. In the ensuing chaos, one of the two men dies. Accident? Or murder? A very well-written story, full of great descriptions of the hills in winter and of the traditions and rules surrounding deer-stalking, and the behaviour patterns of deer. The strength of the central story is all in the ambiguity of it. My favourite story of the collection!

So loads of variety and lots of writers who deserve to be much better known than they are. I’m off now to see if any of their books are in print! 4½ stars for me, so rounded up.

www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Editor Martin Edwards does not disappoint in his latest crime anthology. Mostly set in Scotland (although a few are the products of Scottish authors but set elsewhere), there’s not a bum short story in the bunch. The authors range from famous authors Arthur Conan Doyle, Baroness Orczy and Robert Louis Stevenson (although their short stories are among the least clever) to virtual unknowns.

My favorites were J. Storer Clouston’s “A Medical Crime,” G.K. Chesterton’s “The Honour of Israel Gow,” Cyril Hare’s “Thursday’s Child,” Michael Innes’ “The Fishermen,” P.M. Hubbard’s dark “The Running of the Deer” and Jennie Melville’s “Hand in Glove,” with its surprising twist ending. I’m so impressed with Clouston’s private eye, F.T. Carrington, that I will definitely be checking out Carrington’s Cases, and I’ll be picking up some of Hubbard’s thrillers and Melville’s Charmain Daniels series. I also enjoyed H.H. Bashford’s “The Man on Ben Na Garve,” which, sadly, was one of his few mysteries.
.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Frantiska]

"and when i got to the top of the mountain, i might have been the only person in the world. and i'm not going to tell you that it was the finest view in scotland, because i change my mind about that every time i go there" <3

[Michaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like to read short mysteries, and this book contains several that all have a connection to Scotland. They range from Robert Louis Stevenson and Conan Doyle´s Sherlock Holmes over Baroness Orczy, Josephine Tey, Cyril Hare till Michael Innes in the 1960s, and also includes a couple of authors I hadn´t heard of before.
Like in every collection of short stories they are of different quality, some more gothic, others simple or not easily understandable, and there´s also fun in some of those. There were some I didn´t like much, but most of them were to my taste. It took me a while though to read them all. On the whole a good collection.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short stories all set in Scotland or by Scottish writers. I especially enjoyed the stories by Orczy, Wynne and Bashford.
Overall an entertaining read with some well-written stories.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

1. Markheim - Robert Louis Stevenson (1885) On Christmas Day Markheim is looking for a present for a lady. But he kills the shop owner. Will his day get worse or will he survive.
2. The Field Bazaar - Arthur Conan Doyle (1896) Watson has received a letter and Holmes deducts
3. The Edinburgh Mystery - Baroness Orczy (1902) The man in the cafe gives his theory on the death of Lady Donaldson abd the theft of her jewels
4. The Honour of Israel Gow - G.K. Chesterton (1911) Father Brown investigates the mystery of the odd objects found after the death of Lord Glengyle
5. A Medical Case - J. Storer Clouston (1920) P.I. Carrington is requested to come to Kinbuckie, to investigate 5 burglaries which had strange items taken
6. Footsteps - Anthony Wynne (1926) Dr Eustace Hailey, amateur investigator is asked to Ardvore Castle by Lord Tarbet and the case of the mysterious footsteps.
7. The White Line - John Ferguson (1929) Can Francis McNab discover the thief aboard the ship Magnificent
8. The Body of Sir Henry - Augustus Muir (1929) while on duty in Battlekirk, MacIver becomes suspicious of a car and its occupants.
9. Madame Ville d'Aubier - Josephine Tay (1930) A couple on walking to the Ville d'Aubier receive a hostile reception in a cafe and later they read..
10. The man on Ben Ne Garve - H.H. Bashford (1933) At a dinner party, guest Wentworth tells of an event he saw while visiting Ross-shire the previous year. Should he go to the police or wait for an explanation
11.Before Insulin - J.J.Connington (1936) Is the will of dead diabetic Robin Ashby, valid.
12. The Case of The Frugal Cake - Margot Bennett (1955) Who did kill rich and miserly Aunt Allen
13. Thursday's Child - Cyril Hare (1959) On the island of Cara who is James Filby
14. The Alibi Man - Bill Knox (1965) Why has Manny Davis been locked in a cellar for 7 days
15. The Fisherman - Michael Innes (1970) playwright Freddie Vivarini arranges a fishing party in Dunwinnie which includes ex-policeman Appleby. When a body is discovered can he solve the case.
16. The Running of the Deer - P.M. Hubbard (1974) it is time for the hind season on Colonel Guthrie's estate but the keeper is ill. Without his expertise what could happen
17. Hand in Glove - Jennie Melville (1974) Mr Macaulay always wore gloves even when intimate with Desiree Lindsay. But why does he want the letters written to her back.

[Les Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book which I cannot often say regarding short story collections. However must of the stories in this one are first class. Well worth reading.

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of stories that move from oldest to more recent. An interesting selection though I certainly felt some were more successful stories than others. Stevenson's piece and the last two I felt didn't actually feel like they meshed with the others... but showed how the area's influence as a location moved through various writers and times.

Actually I found the introduction to be a highlight of the book as it really delved into other writers/writing of the time. (If you like to find some interesting books this intro seems to point to some to seek out.) Also, the ability to get a sampling of authors I may not ever get a chance to find is one of the main reasons I try and read through many of this series collections of short stories.

I did find Chesterton's short story quite memorable (and I do like his short stories) as it contained so many odd elements that even suggested various levels evil - with a wonderfully plain as ever solution (though not plain to see.)

[Tina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a mix of stories that kept me guessing and boring ones. My favorites were Robert Louis Stevenson's Markheim, Josephine Tey's Madame Ville d'Aubier, and Margot Bennett's The Case of the Frugal Cake.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I am Edinburgh-born, I suppose I could be prejudiced, but I rather enjoyed this quair of Scottish-inspired tales. In all there are seventeen, either written by Scots or set in Scotland. Four are pre-WW1, seven from the 1920s and '30s and the remainder cover 1955-74.

Scots are, allegedly, prone to be laconic and none of these outstays its welcome. Indeed the obligatory Conan Doyle is little more than a jeu d' esprit, contrasting sharply with the wonderfully dark and rich "Markheim" of R L Stevenson.

There is a good balance of familiar and unfamiliar authors, 10 to 7 in my case, and there are numerous finds and rarities, including a rather good Josephine Tey. I had only read five of the stories before.

The style is mostly restrained, (even Michael Innes is well under control), and understated, but this does not engender sameness as each is quirkily individual.

Overall this was, for me, among the better of the recent anthologies, an indication that carefully chosen themes lead to strong offerings.

Martin Edwards provides good background and comment in the Introduction and biographical notes, despite two errors. Horace Walpole, not Hugh, was the Gothic novelist, and John Ferguson's play opened at the Royalty, and not the Royal, Theatre.

Very recommendable.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable set of short stories revolving around crime in Scotland, including both amateur detective fiction and police procedurals. The quality of the writing, particularly the plotting and the mature treatment of character, seemed to get better as the book progressed. The stories were listed in publication order, and I appreciated the way that editor Martin Edwards included biographical information about each author that addressed their place in the history of crime fiction, which is his specialty and the reason he edits so many books in the British Library Crime Classics series. My favorite stories were two short-but-sweet gems written by women familiar to me: "Madame Ville d'Aubier," by Josephine Tey, and "The Case of the Frugal Cake," by Margot Bennett, the latter of which twists upon a careful observation of personal character. A standout by an author I wasn't familiar with was "The Running of the Deer" by P.M. Hubbard, which was more of a thriller, in that there is a creeping sense of dread at the knowledge of what the reader expects to happen, given the foreshadowing that the author subtly includes. I also appreciated "The Fisherman" by Michael Innes, as I have never read any of that author's Inspector Appleby stories before; I found his style concise and readable and, given a love of British police procedurals, I will likely seek out some of the novels in his series. For lovers of classic crime fiction, this collection is a must-read.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This varied and enjoyable anthology of short stories edited by the vastly knowledgeable Martin Edwards reflects the output of Scottish authors and stories set in the dramatic landscapes of Scotland itself. In his fascinating Introduction, Edwards points out that while the phrase “Tartan Noir” reflects the current crime writing trend for successful Scottish authors, the background of excellence of Scottish crime fiction extends many decades back.

Accordingly Edwards has brought us a collection of stories that, while not all are set in the country, reflect the diversity of output from Scottish sources from 1885 to 1974. While I always look to discover Golden Age and Second World War based novels, this wide time span kept me greatly entertained while on my yearly visit to Scotland, and I certainly enjoyed the way that the countryside was reflected in several of these stories. After all, in sparsely populated areas of the countryside the suspects are few and there are unexpected dangers. I really enjoyed this book and am so grateful for the opportunity to read and review it.

The novel opens with a convoluted story by the Scot Robert Louis Stevenson, where a crime results in a sort of mental torture of someone involved. There is an obvious need for the ultimate detective who, though English, was a product of Scottish imagination and observation. In “The Field Bazaar” a very short piece featuring Sherlock Holmes and Watson, he explains his reasoning once more to the incredulous doctor. One of the stories with the “slenderest” connection to Scotland in this collection features a society scandal and mystery from Baroness Orczy of Scarlet Pimpernel fame, but is certainly interesting and offers an implied view of the Scottish legal view of justice. G.K.Chesterton’s Father Brown reaches a quiet and unexpected conclusion to an incident. Anthony Wynne continues his reputation for “impossible crimes” with an unsettling mystery, while John Ferguson writes of an onboard romance. Josephine Tey’s story is of French foreboding, while others write of mysteries in various settings. The sporting possibilities of Scottish estates, fishing and shooting, take centre stage in some stories, while the final story is quite a twist.

It is obviously difficult to give a true flavour of each of the seventeen stories in this excellent book, especially while avoiding giving too much away about whodunnit, whydunnit or what on earth happened. This is especially true when, as Edwards says he has “aimed to showcase a diverse range of settings, styles and storylines”. There are several advantages to an excellent selection of stories like this one - it means that the reader can dip into short tales of crime and mystery and if they prove less than enthralling, they have not invested too much time and effort in trying to follow a full length novel. The variety of the stories means that there will be something for everyone, and the benefit of Edwards’ informative introduction to the life and times of each author means that it is perfectly possible to find longer and other works by a particular writer. As such, this book is a perfect depiction of Scottish writing of the twentieth century in itself, and a valuable introduction or reminder of writers with a diversity of approach. I really recommend this as an entertaining book to dip into, as well as increasing the appetite for further writing of the Golden Age and well beyond.

[Jean-Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

An irresistible anthology of Scottish short stories full of murderous shenanigans and suspicious deaths, and the perfect tool to discover an interesting list of unknown authors who have left their marks on Scottish crime fiction throughout the 20th century.

Highly recommended and to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Poisoned Pen and Netgalley for this terrific ARC!

[Jane Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of short stories written by crime authors from days gone by and were a mix of tales with a common thread of being set in Scotland. Some interesting ones in them and I enjoyed it.

[Carmen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite irregular; some stories are rather good, but none of them is excellent, and, on the whole, it has been a slightly disappointing read. Besides, I couldn’t find the ‘Scottish connection’ in a couple of stories. Three stars because two would be too few.

[Tiina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meeldiv kogumik krimiteemalisi lühijutte, mille keskmes on Šotimaa oma ilus ja võlus. Tekitas küll veidi soovi sinna tagasi minna, aga nagu kogumike puhul ikka meeldisid mõned jutud rohkem kui teised. Üldiselt oli üsna asjalik minu arust.

[Sewingdervish · Rating 4 out of 5]

DNF - my fault. I don't LOVE short stories and that is what this was. One story will stick with me for sure. May revisit at another time.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like short stories and mysteries/crime fiction, you’ll most likely enjoy these. I liked just about every story in the book!!

[Danique Smit]

Dnfed. I couldn’t for the life of me get through the stories — bought this in Edinburgh and it goes to show that I’m not made to read stories from decades ago

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another interesting mystery anthology from The British Library Crime Classics, this time with a Scottish theme - either the story takes place in Scotland or the writer is Scottish.

Like all the BL crime anthologies, it’s a mixed bag and hard to rate. Some stories I had already read in other anthologies, for example Before Insulin which is included in the Bodies in the Library series. Some stories, like the Sherlock Holmes and Josephine Tey trifles, I wouldn’t even call mysteries, rather vignettes or curiosities.

The stories are presented more or less chronologically and range in age from the 1880s to the 1970s. I found most of the older stories underwhelming and, what’s worse, void of suspense. However, the well-written foreword and the informative introductions of the authors almost made up for this. I got a sense of what was written at the time and the context of the stories, which was very interesting. Once we enter the later part of 1920s, there are some enjoyable stories and also authors that I hadn’t heard of before. The Body of Sir Henry by Augustus Muir (1929), The Man on Ben Na Garve by H H Bashford (1933) and The Alibi Man by Bill Knox (1965) are all suspenseful, exciting reads with twist endings. The three concluding stories (from the 1970s) by Michael Innes, P M Hubbard and Jennie Melville are excellent, with very strong descriptions of place and characters.

All in all, the stories rate from 2 stars to 4 stars, so I’ll compromise by rating the anthology 3 stars. I did miss my favorite Scottish crime writer, William Roughead, “the Henry James of true crime”, but I understand that the BLCC are strictly whodunnits.

I received the proof of this book from netgalley and the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[tara bomp · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5? Ish.

It's really hard to rate these because mystery short stories is kind of my popcorn. I've read a lot in the British library series and most of the stories are just competent at best. But I still am drawn to them. There's something about the format with the ending on a solution that really appeals to me. And even though I feel like it probably doesn't help the average quality I really appreciate that the editor makes the effort to bring in lots of mystery writers and from lots of times - even when the obscurer writers probably didn't need rediscovering it's a cool look at the past and that compensates somewhat. It's just hard in quality terms to pick any one collection over any other.

Broadly the stories here are fine, although I admit I preferred to round down because the last two stories ended on a weird note where I had no idea how I was supposed to understand the reveal. There's a couple others which whiff a bit or seem overly complicated for a mundane ending but it's not too bad. In a way the worst is the Chesterton story - as per usual he comes across as a tedious narrow minded bigot, using his usual broad brush attacks on any non Catholics to also attack Scottish people in general (or as he calls them "scotch". Yeesh.) The ending is silly but ok but the general contempt visible throughout is unpleasant. I never really understood how Chesterton became so popular, all his stories are bad in this way.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

So far I've loved all the British Library Crime Classic short story collections, but unfortunately this was my first disappointment. I found it a drag to get through, and none of the stories really stood out to me. I might blame that on the first two stories, which in most collections are the best and set the tone for what follows, but in this one were just terrible. Even the Arthur Conan Doyle story felt like a throwaway, and I usually love his work.

I'd say it's still worth giving it a try and seeing if you enjoy the first few stories more than I did, but overall, if you have to choose between any of the other BLCC short story collections and this one, I would pass on this one.

[Andréa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.

[Gregory Moses · Rating 3 out of 5]

Martin Edwards, the great mystery editor and anthologist, brings us another in a long-running series of British Library Crime Classic themed collections. If you've read one, you know the drill—stories arranged chronologically, introduction by Edwards, story introductions also by Edwards. The premise of this collection is a little muddled, it has to be said, containing as it does both stories by Scottish-born authors and stories set in Scotland by authors born outside of it, but what about the stories themselves? Well … they're fine! Not a lot to blow me away, not a lot that I resented. Seventeen stories, so keeping this really brief ...

“Markheim,” but Robert Lewis Stevenson is, speaking literally, a “tale of Scottish crime,” but it's really a religiously-tinged morality tale that probably doesn't belong in this collection. I like Stevenson, though, so I won't cavil too much.

.”The Field Bazaar” by Arthur Conan Doyle is one of two very brief non-crime Holmes stories that are almost never anthologized in “complete collections.” It's disposable, but I applaud Edwards for selecting something that might be new to his audience.

“The Edinburgh Mystery” by Baroness Orczy features her armchair detective, “The Old Man In the Corner.” It didn't leave a huge impression on me, probably because the cast is so thinly drawn.

“The Honor of Israel Grow” by G. K. Chesterton features one of my least favorite things in a mystery story, when the solution depends entirely on characters having personality traits that they never exhibited or hinted at during the story, and Father Brown seems to figure things out through author-mandated omniscience rather than detective work—but I do enjoy how unusually fallible he is during the first half of this story.

“A Medical Crime” by J Storer Clouston is a brief story with a cute trick, and is charmingly written.

“Footsteps” by Anthony Wyne starts unpromisingly, since all mysteries about the sound of ghostly footsteps have basically the same, dull solution—but the detective clears that up almost immediately, and once the real mystery starts the story does improve a bit.

“The White Line” by John Ferguson has an obvious culprit who gets caught by a not very ingenious trap, but it's light and easy to read. The secondary female character the detective collaborates with is a much more engaging character than he is.

“The Body of Sir Henry” by Augustus Muir is insubstantial, the trick is obvious, and although the male and female criminal seem equally guilty, the detective's weird rhapsodies about how evil the woman specifically was gives the whole thing a vaguely misogynistic air

“Madame Ville D'Aubier” by Josephine Tey is a gloomy little thing, but not a mystery, and really pretty insubstantial—but Tey is such a big name that you can't begrudge an anthology for throwing in one of her works that is otherwise un-republished and inaccessible.

“The Man on Ben Na Garve” by H. H. Bashford has a good core, but needed to spend less time describing nature and more time developing the suspects (I am a lover of natural beauty, but rarely find that it's conveyed well in fiction).

“Before Insulin” by J. J. Connington relies on a type of clue I find very dull, something to do with papers being folded and postal stamps and impressions on the back of paper that takes pages to explain but remains impossible for me to visualize.

“The Case of the Frugal Cake” by Margot Bennett feels a little like an O. Henry story to me, although I suppose the form is a common one: brief set-up with a sting at the end. Fun.

“Thursday's Child” by Cyril Hare is very brief but uses its page count effectively and packs a punch at the end. I liked:
“Cara!” he repeated. “A beautiful place, and a beautiful name.”
“It’s the Gaelic word for a corpse.”

“The Alibi Man” by Bill Knox is a gritty story with an excellent "punchline."

“The Fisherman” by Michael Innes, featuring his series detective Appleby, has a time-worn premise, but I like Innes and I enjoyed his portrayal of the suspects. Appleby himself comes of as unusually unsympathetic.

“The Running of the Deer” by P. M. Hubbard is the best story in the collection, if you're willing to enjoy the local color and not expect the trappings of a crime story. The crime(?) is delightful in its ambiguity.

“Hand In Glove” by Jennie Melville doesn't have any detection, and there's no doubt who the culprit is; at the same time, the characters aren't interesting, and the narration feels very detached. My least favorite story in the volume.

This anthology is so uniformly “fine” that it's hard to come up with a list of favorites. A top three is easy, it's “The Running of the Deer”, “The Case of the Frugal Cake”, and “The Alibi Man”, but if you wanted a top five I'd struggle. But just as I struggle to name stories I really liked, I can only come up with two I really didn't like, “Hand In Glove” and “The Body of Sir Henry,” and the latter is maybe six pages long.