tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post3763690496517612496..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: A Skeleton in the CupboardTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-79899687959891092282017-12-02T18:21:35.661+01:002017-12-02T18:21:35.661+01:00A late update regarding the cover art. The literar...A late update regarding the cover art. The literary agent of Fearn's estate, Philip Harbottle, told me the following: <br /><br />"<i>I knew Sam personally and made an arrangement with him to re-use his wonderful covers. It was all above board. It is also standard practice in the publishing industry, where covers are resold and recycled all the time. </i>"TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-36357622452689242912017-05-21T22:05:13.839+02:002017-05-21T22:05:13.839+02:00No, the top one is, I think, one of the wildside p...No, the top one is, I think, one of the wildside press editions. They have similar cover art for some of Fearn's other detective novels. <br /><br />Just did a search for the 1961 Pan edition you mentioned and cheeky is a mild qualification. It's one of the most blatant examples of a blatant ripoff I have ever seen!TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-83686764134642919272017-05-21T17:57:01.100+02:002017-05-21T17:57:01.100+02:00Is that top cover from the Kindle edition? It'...Is that top cover from the Kindle edition? It's stolen from the 1961 Pan edition of 'The Sapphire Conference' by Peter Graaf (aka Sam Youd/John Christopher). Rather cheeky!Colin Brockhursthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13391330738257381847noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-15298280575921333382017-04-10T22:24:02.432+02:002017-04-10T22:24:02.432+02:00I've not read The Man Who Was Not, but it'...I've not read <i>The Man Who Was Not</i>, but it's one of Fearn's impossible crime novels and hopefully also a good one. Let us know! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-39831648302097790882017-04-10T20:26:32.020+02:002017-04-10T20:26:32.020+02:00I had already run over to Abe Books and ordered a ...I had already run over to Abe Books and ordered a Fearns book that sounded good - one I could afford at any rate. It's called THE MAN WHO WAS NOT. (Don't tell me if it's not a good one since it's ordered and on its way.) But I'll note your recommendations for the future.Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-27858798203946897192017-04-09T21:56:25.329+02:002017-04-09T21:56:25.329+02:00I've some good news for you, Yvette. A large s...I've some good news for you, Yvette. A large selection of his work is currently available in both paperback and ebook editions, but you really have to know what you're looking for, because the reprints cover a wide variety of genres - such as mysteries, science-fiction and westerns. <br /><br />I recommend his splendid, but short-lived, Miss Maria Black series that began with <i>Black Maria, M.A.</i> and includes <i>Thy Arm Alone</i>, <i>One Remained Seated</i> and <i>Death in Silhouette</i>. I hope this helps getting you started. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-82863303562285128282017-04-09T20:33:37.463+02:002017-04-09T20:33:37.463+02:00I've never read this author, in fact, I'd ...I've never read this author, in fact, I'd never heard of him until today. So thanks for the intro. I'll keep a look-out for this or any other of his books. One never knows when one might stumble across a vintage find. :)Yvettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919246184376538331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-2505037469918560262017-04-03T22:53:30.211+02:002017-04-03T22:53:30.211+02:00Actually, I've not covered every single title ...Actually, I've not covered every single title you've read or discussed. <i>Maria Marches On</i> is still on the big pile and have yet to acquire a copy of <i>Vision Sinister</i>, but I'm actually catching up to you, John! I would still welcome your views on <i>What Happened to Hammond?</i> and <i>Flashpoint</i>. Nobody else has reviewed them and they're both locked room novels. <br /><br />I suspect <i>Flashpoint</i> might be the better of those two, because Fearn's impossible crime plot are at their best when he keeps them relatively simple and the plot description of <i>Hammond</i> promising something on par with <i>The Silvered Cage</i> (i.e. very elaborate and overly ingenious). <br /><br />So, yes, you should take a look at them later this month. You might also be interested to learn that there's a short story collection of Fearn's crime and detective fiction, which has a cover illustration screaming "alternative crime" and "pulp." The title is <i>Liquid Death and Other Stories</i>. <br /><br />Looking forward to your view on the Mordecai Tremaine novels! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-35797614002286141602017-04-03T20:52:00.076+02:002017-04-03T20:52:00.076+02:00Hope someone else chimes in about Fearn. It'd ...Hope someone else chimes in about Fearn. It'd be sad to think that we're in the smallest mystery writer fan club in the world.<br /><br />You've now covered all the Fearn novels I've read. Have you come across any of his other Hugo Blayn books? I was doggedly hunting those down for a while several years ago and was very pleased when I found three of them in the original UK editions with DJs. As "Blayn" he wrote a rather good inverted detective novel called EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. I have copies of WHAT HAPPENED TO HAMMOND? and FLASHPOINT still unread. Maybe I'll pull them out and read/review for later this month. Also... the Mordecai Tremaine piece is coming (finally) this week. Took me long enough!J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.com