tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post3761628632965456848..comments2024-03-27T22:32:02.739+01:00Comments on Beneath the Stains of Time: A Swarm of VillainyTomCathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-2296303607119611662015-12-13T13:03:11.253+01:002015-12-13T13:03:11.253+01:00I'd say it's a major one.I'd say it's a major one. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-30741038834721118732015-12-13T05:51:24.098+01:002015-12-13T05:51:24.098+01:00I've read very little of Brand's work but ...I've read very little of Brand's work but GREEN FOR DANGER is a minor classic. Maybe even a major classic.dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-25731357843423478702015-12-13T05:50:25.617+01:002015-12-13T05:50:25.617+01:00Gladys Mitchell is a taste I haven't managed t...Gladys Mitchell is a taste I haven't managed to acquire. I'm afraid I detest Mrs Bradley! An awful woman.dfordoomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02306293859869179118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-72703817841667759742015-12-12T09:16:27.985+01:002015-12-12T09:16:27.985+01:00Agreed. Green for Danger has a nearly perfect over...Agreed. <i>Green for Danger</i> has a nearly perfect overall score, but, personally, I'm also very fond of <i>Death of Jezebel</i> and <i>London Particular</i>. All three of them should be widely read among mystery fans. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-74726379502222333792015-12-12T00:29:18.174+01:002015-12-12T00:29:18.174+01:00Brand was an excellent short story writer and I ag...Brand was an excellent short story writer and I agree this is a really good collection. Of her novels, my favourite, by a distance, is Green for Danger.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-40474025059725906982015-12-11T18:35:40.722+01:002015-12-11T18:35:40.722+01:00Thanks and happy hunting, Sergio! Thanks and happy hunting, Sergio! TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-81309277363268750032015-12-11T18:34:49.022+01:002015-12-11T18:34:49.022+01:00I've read that one, but did not like it. Not a...I've read that one, but did not like it. Not a fan of Vickers, I'm afraid. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-73177944107254107982015-12-11T09:26:50.334+01:002015-12-11T09:26:50.334+01:00Thanks for the really detailed review TC - I do li...Thanks for the really detailed review TC - I do like Brand (especially GREEN FOR DANGER) but haven't got this yet, so as long as I can get a ppaper copy ... cheers mate!Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)https://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-5725343319021833382015-12-11T02:58:28.743+01:002015-12-11T02:58:28.743+01:00Just to say if you like collections of golden age ...Just to say if you like collections of golden age inverted crime short stories you may enjoy department of dead ends by roy Vickers if you haven't read it alreadygrimwighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06150168436753680867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-48575641911492680202015-12-10T17:03:22.634+01:002015-12-10T17:03:22.634+01:00Gladys Mitchell is an acquired taste and not alway...Gladys Mitchell is an acquired taste and not always the purest of detective writers, but for sheer imagination and originality she's hard to beat - especially her earlier to middle period. <br /><br />I'd recommend starting with some of her more traditional novels such as <i>The Mystery of a Butcher's Shop</i>, <i>The Saltmarsh Murders</i>, <i>St. Peter's Finger</i> and <i>When Last I Died</i>. <br /><br />However, if you want something out of the ordinary, I recommend <i>Come Away, Death</i>, which is a personal favorite of mine. <i>The Rising of the Moon</i> is completely off the beaten track, but don't start with it and the ending leaves some questions open. <br /><br />By the way, I should return to Mitchell myself, because the last review was from 2012. I'm kind of curious about <i>Death of Delft Blue</i> and has her series detective tramping around my country, but it's reportedly from her boring period and a travelogue at best. <br /><br />Helen McCloy is an honorary Crime Queen. TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-76579911753951962952015-12-10T15:27:04.870+01:002015-12-10T15:27:04.870+01:00I haven't read 'Death in High Heels', ...I haven't read 'Death in High Heels', but the few reviews I've come across don't seem to rate it any higher than 'Heads You Lose'... Rather frustratingly, my local Amazon doesn't seem to stock the Mysterious Press digital versions of Brand's works anymore. <br /><br />Unless we're sticking to the UK, Helen McCloy should be considered in the running as a possible Crime Queen. Though much of her later output veered towards thriller rather than mystery; I gather the same can be said for some of Brand's later novels. <br /><br />I haven't tried anything by Gladys Mitchell - where would be a good place to start? Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03389512470283015279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-81892097641019327732015-12-10T10:03:10.559+01:002015-12-10T10:03:10.559+01:00You gave up on writing a review, because there was...You gave up on writing a review, because there was too much to talk about? I never considered that an option! <br /><br />Anyhow, <i>Buffet for Unwelcome Guests</i> and <i>Brand X</i> are collections with high marks on my wish list, which reportedly have both a strong and original impossible crime story. Not that that's the only reason for getting them... but it certainly helps.<br />TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-2657285187669450872015-12-10T10:01:22.020+01:002015-12-10T10:01:22.020+01:00It's logically to assume Brand's small poo...It's logically to assume Brand's small pool of novels and short story collections is what prevented her from claiming the crown, but Josephine Tey was even less prolific and she's regarded by many as one of the Crime Queens. Did she even write something on par with <i>Green for Danger</i>, <i>Death of Jezebel</i>, <i>Tour de Force</i> or <i>London Particular</i>? So I'd say Brand was unjustly ignored as a potential Crime Queen. The same goes for Gladys Mitchell. <br /><br /><i>Heads, You Lose</i> is not very strong, I’m afraid. Luckily, I still have <i>Death in High Heels</i>, <i>Three-Cornered Halo</i> and some short story collections to go. There are apparently some standalones I have to look into (e.g. <i>Cat and Mouse</i>). TomCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03415176301265218101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-73122662075245985602015-12-10T08:41:53.702+01:002015-12-10T08:41:53.702+01:00A while back I read Brand's Buffet for Unwelco...A while back I read Brand's Buffet for Unwelcome Guests, which was an excellent short story collection. A couple of the stories are also collected in this short story collection, it appears. I gave up on writing a review though, as there was just too much I wanted to write about per story! Definitely recommended reading if you haven't already.Ho-Linghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04673330638260132388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5516189026477178777.post-3034376169122588222015-12-10T03:40:40.421+01:002015-12-10T03:40:40.421+01:00Thanks for the review, especially since I tend to ...Thanks for the review, especially since I tend to shy away from short-story collections: my volume of Ellery Queen's first set of adventures is collecting dust on the shelf... <br /><br />I like Christianna Brand very much, and agree that she would be a worthier candidate for the crown than Ngaio Marsh would, on the strength of 'Green for Danger' and 'Death of Jezebel'. These two titles can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with some of Agatha Christie's stronger, if not strongest, works. 'Tour De Force' and 'Crooked Wreath' boast of strong puzzles, but are not quite in the same league. The mystery for 'London Particular' wasn't as good, but showcased significant human interest. <br /><br />I think the problem is that Brand simply didn't write enough to be in the running, which is a real shame. With respect to her full-length novels, I'm only left with 'Heads You Lose', which hasn't garnered glowing reviews. Looks like I might have to check out this short-story collection... <br /><br />Jonathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03389512470283015279noreply@blogger.com