Ellery Queen called Vincent Cornier the author of “one of the great series of modern detective stories.” Of course he said that more than 60 years ago, so you can be forgiven if you didn’t know it. Mike Ashley brings back some the best of Cornier’s stories in The Duel of Shadows: The Extraordinary Cases of Barnabas Hildreth. Hildreth is an agent of the British Secret Service, and he deals with some wonderful problems, such as the one involving an ancient Egyptian curse. I find stories like this irresistible, and while some might find Cornier’s writing style a bit dated, I have no problem at all getting into the spirit of things to read about impossible crimes and incredible events. The first story in the book, “The Stone Ear,” is probably the best known, mainly because the mystery is not resolved until the final word. Ashley provides a comprehensive introduction to Cornier and the stories.
Wednesday, 15 September 2021
Naomi Hirahara’s powerful new book, Clark and Division, follows the Ito family in 1944.
Thursday, 18 October 2018
"For me, the books I read were the call—the call to adventure, to thinking, to acknowledging other points of view. But to complete the ritual, I needed to respond."
Saturday, 16 June 2018
I am surrounded by books. Every room, every space in my large, sprawling 1750s house is full of books...
Monday, 30 April 2018
Our history and experiences can define us, inspire our actions, and as writers impact our words and stories. Mine most definitely has: my father was a small-time gangster. Really.
Thursday, 12 April 2018
"My ah-ha moment came when I read The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald.... That was it for me – I was off to the races."
Sunday, 01 April 2018
Nietzsche once wrote, “There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”
Thursday, 15 February 2018
"Mystery books were daring and exciting, firing up my imagination and making me yearn to become a girl detective or even a secret agent. They also empowered me to make up impromptu ghost stories around the campfire for my Girl Scout troop and sneak into the cemetery at night on a dare."
Thursday, 27 July 2017
Fire and Ashes, the latest Angela Richman Death Investigator mystery, is an exploration of a fatal fire. To research this novel, Viets delved into the devastating consequences of junk science and arson investigations.
