Classic Crime Fiction: A Starting Point

Classic Crime Fiction: A Starting Point

Kate Jackson, otherwise known as the Armchair Reviewer, is celebrating 10 years as a blogger this month with an intriguing competition. She asks those of us who read classic crime to recommend 10 titles for someone unfamiliar with the subgenre. See the details...
Friday’s Forgotten Book: They Tell No Tales by Manning Coles

Friday’s Forgotten Book: They Tell No Tales by Manning Coles

Manning Coles was the joint pen name used by British writers and neighbors Cyril Henry Coles (1899-1965) and Adelaide Frances Oke Manning (1891-1959). Between 1940 and 1958 they produced more than 20 lively spy stories featuring Thomas Elphinstone (Tommy) Hambledon,...
Friday’s Forgotten Book: Go Down, Death by Sue Brown Hays

Friday’s Forgotten Book: Go Down, Death by Sue Brown Hays

Sue Brown Hays (1905-?) was the descendant of several generations of Mississippi and Louisiana cotton planters. Go Down, Death, which appears to be her only book, was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1946 and by Hammond, Hammond & Company in 1948....
Friday’s Forgotten Book: Casual Slaughters by James Quince

Friday’s Forgotten Book: Casual Slaughters by James Quince

James Quince was the pseudonym used by James Reginald Spittal (1876-1951), an English clergyman who wrote three novels in the 1930s and then went on to other pursuits. As has been noted, it is a loss for crime fiction readers that he didn’t continue writing. Based on...