Today I am reviewing Martin Edwards’ latest publication, a non-series title, which also happens to be his first Christmas mystery novel. I have been aware of this book since last Christmas and at the time I was immediately intrigued by the title, which echoes the language of Cluedo, which in turns emphasises the game playing […]| crossexaminingcrime
October sees the British Library adding a new author to their crime classics series, Susan Gilruth. This was the penname for Susannah Margaret Hornsby-Wright (1911-1992). Gilruth was her first married name (she married twice), divorcing James Gilruth in the 1940s. Between 1951 and 1963 she wrote seven mystery novels, which comprised a series featuring Liane […]| crossexaminingcrime
Today I am reviewing the final Nigel Strangeways mystery that I needed to re-read before I could put together another ranked list. I have to admit I have been putting off this task, as my memories of this one were not the best. The Whisper in the Gloom is a Strangeways mystery which has an […]| crossexaminingcrime
Today’s review is part of my 2025 Green Penguin reading project. Julian Symons, like Michael Underwood (who I reviewed earlier this month), is another author I haven’t really engaged with in a while. My last Symons read was in 2019 and I have only read four novels by him (and some short stories) in total. […]| crossexaminingcrime
It has been nearly a decade since I have read a novel by Michael Underwood. Back in 2016 I read Murder on Trial (1954), where someone is shot whilst in the witness box. The courtroom setting certainly added to that story, and I remember enjoying it. But for some mysterious reason I just never got […]| crossexaminingcrime
Examining books thematically and considering how they interact with other works of fiction is something I really enjoy doing, so I have been looking forward to reviewing Victoria Dowd’s latest novel, Death in the Aviary, the first in her Charlotte Blood 1920s series, as it affords me the opportunity to do just that. Synopsis ‘New […]| crossexaminingcrime
Out of all our choices for book group in 2025, this was the one that I was looking forward to the most, as I am a big fan of Fremlin’s work. It has been great to see Fremlin’s stories getting repri…| crossexaminingcrime
Out of all our choices for book group in 2025, this was the one that I was looking forward to the most, as I am a big fan of Fremlin’s work. It has been great to see Fremlin’s stories getting reprinted in recent years and being more visible in book social media. In the past […]| crossexaminingcrime
Today’s post finishes off my reviewing for August and Writing the Murder was an unplanned bonus nonfiction read. The introduction begins with the general premise that crime fiction grew up alongside the development of law enforcement e.g. the rise of the modern-day police force etc. Not the most groundbreaking but I guess a book has […]| crossexaminingcrime
Today’s read was an impulse charity shop purchase. I have read a few books by this writing duo (Patrick Quentin was a penname for more than one collaboration, but for this novel it was for Richard …| crossexaminingcrime
Back in 2019 I read Dorothy Cameron Disney’s Crimson Friday (1943), and it has taken me this long to try another by her. She is perhaps not the most accessible of authors, which has certainly fed i…| crossexaminingcrime
Today’s a read is a recent edition to the A Very Short Introduction series. I have read various ones over the years, including one on Crime Fiction (2015). This was a particularly bad reading exper…| crossexaminingcrime
It has been over a year since I last read a novel by Potts. So, I was excited to be loaned a copy of today’s read, as it is one I had heard good things about. Nevertheless, there was some anxiety, …| crossexaminingcrime
Yes, July saw me binge read all four Adrian Monk mysteries by Hy Conrad. I don’t binge read a series that often, but sometimes it fits where I am at mentally. The blurb for this final Monk mystery …| crossexaminingcrime
Earlier this year I posted my ranked list of the Adrian Monk mysteries which were written by Lee Goldberg. Whilst it is satisfying to complete a series there is always a bit of sadness that there w…| crossexaminingcrime
This is the fifth book in McCloy’s Basil Willing series, with her sleuth operating as a psychiatrist who supports the District Attorney’s Office and the police. Cue for Murder is my eighth novel-le…| crossexaminingcrime
There are a few vintage mystery novels which focus on a jury. The first two that sprang to mind were Verdict of Twelve (1940) by Raymond Postgate and The Jury (1932) by Gerald Bullett. Curtis Evans…| crossexaminingcrime
