Book 50 of my 2024 Reading Challenge
read from June 10 - July 7
Detective Mysteries
My Opinion
3 stars
This is another one of the books from Flame Tree Publishing that I buy first for the aesthetic look of the book and secondary for reading the actual stories. These books are the only ones I've purchased for this reason; they all just look so cool and old-fashioned.
There are 39 stories ranging in date from this being their first publication to the oldest originally published in 1837. At first it felt like there were less original stories than usual which I thought could be due to the genre and its current popularity. However, there were a few originals in a row towards the end so it could just be a coincidence (the stories go in alphabetical order of the author). I'm a detective noticing things too.
The book was fine, although I noticed short stories seem to end with spontaneous confessions to wrap things up quickly. As always with books with multiple authors, I'll include a mini review about each story separately.
The Meaning of the Act
It's not a good sign that I had to put a bookmark in a 9 page story because I didn't read it all at once. Apparently the character is featured in other books and I might actually be interested in reading one but in this short format it was way too many people and an explanation at the end, not an actual solving.
Lord Chizelrigg's Missing Fortune
I didn't have a shot at solving anything because the fortune and techniques were very old-fashioned but when I got to the end and looked back it all fit and made sense so I probably would've enjoyed it at the time it was written (1906).
The Avenging Chance
This was a good, interesting story. It had twists and turns and then a little extra surprise at the end even after the culprit was revealed.
Murder by Proxy
This story was very close to a "locked room" mystery. Other than it being wrapped up in a few sentences because the culprit spontaneously confessed, it was a good mystery.
The Case of the Disappearing Body
This is the first publication but the author wrote Sherlock Holmes and Watson in a way that I wouldn't have known wasn't the original voice if it hadn't delved into the supernatural.
At first I thought using supernatural elements (don't want to give specifics for spoilers) was a copout but then I realized detective work went into solving the case and the culprit was the only thing that made it supernatural.
The Secret Cell
That felt unnecessarily long and had so many words to convey a surprisingly thin plot.
Murder Is My Middle Name
I'm not old enough to read the line "Let me come in through the back door on this" and not giggle even though there was absolutely no innuendo implied at all.
There was an underlying humor to this writing and I would definitely read this author again.
The Point of a Pin
Good length and I like that the detective actually solved the mystery through deduction, not a last-second confession or lucky break.
If Death is Respectable
There were twists and turns and double crosses and double crossing the double crossers so I was on my toes the whole time. I'm still not 100% sure who were the "good guys" and who were the "bad guys" but I enjoyed the ride.
The Adventures of Silver Blaze
This wasn't as wordy as most Sherlock Holmes mysteries so it passed quicker than I expected. Even though I could surmise which little tidbits were important as clues throughout the story I still didn't put it all together.
The Tea Leaf
I don't know if the science behind it is plausible but it made a very unexpected cause of death.
I knew the tea leaves would be relevant because of the title, I prefer vague titles that don't give anything away.
The Yorkshire Manufacturer
The story itself was fine but there was no way to "play along" because there were no clues along the way until the detective did the big reveal.
The Case of Oscar Brodski
The story is especially interesting since it was published in 1910 when these forensic ways of investigating were probably still very new (or maybe the author made them up). A lot of coincidences to get from point A to B but it was a good journey.
The Mystery of the Fatal Cipher
The flip flopping between suspects kept me on the edge of my seat. It ended with a monologue explanation and the culprit disappearing so it was a bit anticlimactic. There was a great final jab at the end though.
A Jury of Her Peers
I recognized the title as a story I'd read before but had no memory of it even when I started reading it. I really do read things and then forget them quickly. But I looked back and I liked it the first time I read it and I also liked it now.
An Intangible Clue
The story was fine even though it was solved by men underestimating a woman, although it helped a little that she fully knew she was being dismissed and used it to her advantage.
No Head for Figures
Sometimes having something supernatural in a detective story can be a copout but in this story it made sense (or as much sense as something supernatural would) because it had been mentioned multiple times.
I wouldn't have guessed this was a new story, the author captured the feelings of an "old-timey" story very well.
The Divided House
A short story I couldn't read all at once because I was bored. I guess it came together at the end but the plot was flimsy and explanations were given through a monologue at the end after the detective solved everything in his mind throughout the story.
The Story of the Spaniards, Hammersmith
It didn't really fit with the theme of the book because there wasn't much detective work or a mystery, it was a ghost story. As a ghost story it was fine but not super memorable.
The Strange Case of Mr. Challoner
There were a lot of different physical clues that made sense when explained. There have been a few stories so far that hinged on how to rig a key to lock the door from the inside by someone on the outside - that must've been a thing in the late 1800s/early 1900s.
A Cat with a Gat
Before reading...am I supposed to know what a gat is? Will that matter to the story? I'm not going to look anything up unless I'm still confused after the story.
After reading...a gat is a gun. Having the detective be an actual cat was surprising and unique. The story itself was fine.
Arsene Lupin in Prison
I think I understood what was going on but the story was trying so hard to be clever that I couldn't keep up.
Vandergiessen's Daughter
The subtitle of "The Door to Nowhere" did give an idea that a trick door would factor in. I liked the story and the dynamic between Kemble and Hester but thought the imposter aspect on top of the initial mystery was a touch too out there to be thrown in at seemingly the last moment.
To Prove an Alibi
I'd already read this story so I knew what was going to happen. I don't usually remember things I've read but the unique circumstances must've been memorable.
Argent
I really like the main character and see in the author's bio that she is featured in other stories. This story fizzled out at the end for me though, I would've liked more in between the reveal and the conclusion.
Nobody Special
I liked the main character but it felt like this particular plot took a long time to get to a fairly obvious culprit. Also, this story does what many stories do...the murderer killed someone to keep information from getting out yet also confessed the second they were questioned. It wrapped up the story but also felt anticlimactic.
The Case of the Flitterbat Lancers
It was very short. Although it took the time to explain the cipher it didn't explain how he knew his name or the address.
Welcome to Paradise
I'm not sure how this fits into the theme when the detective is merely a person who happens to ride along with someone who is supernaturally solving the whole thing.
A Problem with Threes
I liked the pacing of the reveal but having it happen so long after the fact took away some of the excitement. What reaction would such an old man have? I almost felt sorry for him to be ambushed in that way even though he should face justice.
The Fenchurch Street Mystery
Maybe it would've been better if it hadn't started off with such a strange premise bringing the two strangers together to talk but also, it was just a monologue from start to finish.
Drawn Daggers
That story used genuine detective work to piece everything together. It's a reminder of how different things were before instant communication; people really could just pick up and reinvent themselves.
Naboth's Vineyard
It was completely unexpected yet understandable when going back through the story with hindsight. I didn't understand all the theatrics in the courtroom but it pushed the story along.
The Case of the Mislaid Plans
The story was fine if a little predictable. The truth powder in the punch would be a fun element for a story unrelated to a crime.
The Lady in Black
The snow added to the mystery and urgency. I'm glad there was a happy ending.
The Hollow Man
The story was a good length with enough extra details to muddy the waters without being overwhelming or gratuitous.
The Murder at Karreg Du
Tenuous circumstances but a good story. I'd read more about these characters.
The Poetical Policeman
The title was a red herring. As soon as they introduced the policeman I thought he was the culprit but he wasn't (although his romanticism did factor into the case).
The Man With Nine Lives
Way too much emphasis placed on a woman doing a man's job (detective) but that's not surprising based on the age of the story. The plot was interesting but the reveal was out of left field - who would know the butler used to be a chemist?
Going Through the Tunnel
It had all the commotion that made things plausible but I don't like that they watched them get away at the end.
