British Library Crime Classics

There are at least two books of short stories in the Britsh Library Crime Classics series, both edited by Martin Edwards and containing 12-15 short stories. These appear to be the fourth and fifth.

Dramatic Murder

I have finished reading this now and it was okay. It takes place over Christmas but is not particularly Christmassy whatever that is. I found the solution a little unsatisfying, although I'm sure a re-read would confirm its appropriateness. At the beginning I found it hard to distinguish who was who in the large cast. One or two have the same name. So not amazing but okay.

Lost Detective Novel Republished

I like to read a bit of fiction at Christmas and so when I saw this in a bookshop the other day I bought it. I hope it will be good. Originally published in 1948, it was somehow 'Lost'. It has now been republished with an attractive Christmassy cover. We'll see.

Christmas Crime

Here is a nice selection of detective fiction for Christmas time. The last volume (Christmas in the snow) fails as it is not really Christmassy or snowy enough all through

Christmas Stories by P D James

These two books of Christmassy detective stories were put together in recent years from magazine items and so on and are worth a read. There are four tales in the first and six in the second. The second is less Christmassy than the first.  It is an interesting phenomenon the detective story and the late P D James is clearly a master of it. Very enjoyable.