'Classic' Detective Stories you have enjoyed.

[amateur51]

Another cracker from UK, very well ahead of his time, was Robin Cook ( no, not the gingery former Foreign Secretary )

http://jarett.kobek.com/

Wonderful dialogue and real insights from the crime scene in UK in the 1960s & 70s onwards

[aeolium]

In the violent, almost thuggish, strain of detective fiction are the Bulldog Drummond stories of Sapper (H C McNeile) - the sort of books you could imagine Oswald Mosley enjoying.

[Don Basilio]

I think my all time favourite would be Colin Watson's Inspector Purbright, Flaxborough series, particularly those involving the ace con Miss Lucilla Teatime. She makes her first appearance in Flaxborough in Lonelyheart 4122.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Watson_%28writer%29

[vinteuil]

The rhyme would scan just as well with 'Archbishops' or 'Country squires' I guess

... well, I wd say -

injun boys (or equivalent) is a dactyl (long short short)
whereas
archbishops is an anapaest (short long short)
and
country squires is an amphibrach (short short long)
.

[amateur51]

... well, I wd say -

injun boys (or equivalent) is a dactyl (long short short)

An equivalent might be 'pedant boys' ?

[Anna]

What an interesting thread this is turning out to be and lots of new authors to explore. I really fancy (having looked at that website and a few reviews) getting one by Robin Cook. Thanks for the link Ams!

[amateur51]

Going back a while, I think someone mentioned R Austin Freeman's Doctor Thorndyke stories, early examples of forensic methods in detective fictions. That fine actor Peter Copley played the Doctor in BBC television adaptations in the 1960s I think.

When I was still in school, I was very taken with H C Bailey's upper-class amateur 'tec Reggie Fortune, described pretty well in this link:

http://www.mysterylist.com/submissions.htm

I think I liked him because Reggie has a touch of Bertie Wooster about him ( although villiains under-estimated him at their peril) and I was infatuated with Wodehouse's Jeeves & Wooster stories at the time. Reggie never let detectin' get in the way of a decent meal, either

[vinteuil]

... and talking of telly adaptations - anyone else here a fan of that 1960s series "The Mind of Mr JG Reeder", with the incomparable Hugh Burden, in the Edgar Wallace stories?

From the Internet Movie data base -

"Mr JG Reeder is the diametric opposite of Sam Spade, Philip Marlow and Mike Hammer. He is a shabbily dressed, diffident civil servant who prefers a cup of tea and a slice of seed cake to a shot of something stronger. Despite his outward appearance - of course - Reeder is a master detective with a razor sharp brain. In fact his mind gives him great cause for sorrow. He has, he claims, a criminal mind which allows him insight into motive and method denied to other men. These stories were well-presented (sadly in black and white) and Hugh Burden had the part of a life-time as Reeder, well supported by Willoughby Goddard as his expansive (in more ways than one) chief, Jason Toovey."

[salymap]

That's a completely new name to me. Look interesting.

Petrushka, yesterday I googled V.C.Clinton Baddeley but got nothing. Today I found a lot on google. He was a broadcaster in my youth and has written on detective fiction as well as writing it himself. Hope you can find it.

[amateur51]

[QUOTE=vinteuil;53809]... and talking of telly adaptations - anyone else here a fan of that 1960s series "The Mind of Mr JG Reeder", with the incomparable Hugh Burden, in the Edgar Wallace stories?

Oh yes, vinteuil that was a classy series though not popular with my mother who would do a lot of 'harrumphing' and hot water bottle filling so as to register her diapproval.

Now then ... who recalls Dornford Yates' Berry & Co and the Chandos stories??

[amateur51]

Petrushka, yesterday I googled V.C.Clinton Baddeley but got nothing. Today I found a lot on google. He was a broadcaster in my youth and has written on detective fiction as well as writing it himself. Hope you can find it.

I've had better luck, saly

http://mysteryfile.com/blog/?p=1572

[salymap]

Thanks Am, that's interesting. I remember he had a rather nice voice when on the radio. As I said earlier,I have two of his books. Just wish the print was larger. Yes, I have a magnifying glass, not much help.

[aeolium]

Now then ... who recalls Dornford Yates' Berry & Co and the Chandos stories??

My mother has I think a complete set of Yates' books, am51. I only managed to get through one (IIRC 'An Eye for a Tooth') - an acquired taste, perhaps.

[salymap]

Sorry, I couldn't stand Dornford Yates but after so long can't remember why.

[amateur51]

My mother has I think a complete set of Yates' books, am51. I only managed to get through one (IIRC 'An Eye for a Tooth') - an acquired taste, perhaps.

Definitely - and not one I acquired either but they were quite popular with my parents' generation.