KindlePrintReviews

Marple: Twelve New Stories

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While Agatha Christie eventually grew tired of Hercule Poirot, describing him as ‘an egocentric creep’ and devising a deeply divisive ending for him, she retained her affection for the far more personable Miss Jane Marple. From her first appearance in The Tuesday Night Club, a…
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Features

CIS: Crime classics on the box

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Classic crime novels have been a source of rich pickings for TV writers and producers since the days of good old black and white. They can provide a solid foundation for a beloved, long-running and essentially faithful set of programmes (think Poirot), or a stepping stone for…
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KindleReviews

NTN: Mrs Kaplan and the Matzoh Ball of Death

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Written by Mark Reutlinger — Not all crime books have to be gory, graphic or downright dangerous. For example, Agatha Christie’s murder mysteries tend to tax the brain without unsettling the stomach, while Alexander McCall Smith’s No1 Ladies’ Detective Agency books feature a traditionally built…
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PrintReviews

Never Laugh As A Hearse Goes By

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Written by Elizabeth J Duncan –- Mum, gran or great aunt, most families are blessed with a member who has a saying for every occasion, guaranteed to come up with such gems as ‘Look before you leap’, ‘Don’t put all your eggs in one basket’…
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KindleReviews

Mr Bazalgette's Agent

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Written by Leonard Merrick — The British Library’s dedication to publishing new editions of lost and forgotten crime fiction is an affirmation of the genre’s importance to the UK’s literary heritage. Mr Bazalgette’s Agent, originally published in 1888, is a concise, captivating novel written in…
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Features

CIS: The first female detectives

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We’ve just been celebrating the 123rd birthday of Agatha Christie, who created spinster sleuth Miss Marple in 1926. But if you thought Marple was the first female literary detective – albeit, an amateur – you might be surprised to learn you were out by several…
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Features

Are crime novels killing short stories?

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While the crime novel is in rude health with huge sales for contemporary genre authors, what about the short story? It’s true that labyrinthine crime plots have always suited the novel – although Golden Age writers penned shorter novels than today’s chunky bestsellers – but…
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Features

CIS: The Agatha Christie birthday quiz!

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Win a fantastic prize! On 15 September 1890, arguably Britain’s favourite crime fiction writer of all time was born in Torquay, Devon. So, today we’re celebrating the birthday of Agatha Christie. And with it we’ve got a quiz to win a superb illustrated edition of…
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