My favorite story in Verdict of 13 is Peter Dickinson’s “Who Killed the Cat?” It’s a science fiction story where a crew of aliens, including a human, land on a planet and the human discovers the alien Cat crew member is dead. The blob-like physician declares the Cat was murdered. But, why…and by whom?
I also enjoyed P.D. James’s “Great-Aunt Allie’s Fly-Papers.” Chief Superintendent Adam Dalglish investigates a death that happened 70 years ago…and actually solves the case.
“Twenty-One Good Men and True” by Dick Frances shows how to win a racing bet every time! Michael Gilbert’s “Verdict of Three” uses the Past to affect the Present.
Verdict of 13 includes an informative Introduction by Julian Symons who delivers a brief but interesting history of the Detective Club. This is a solid anthology. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCITON. Julian Symons — vii
James, P.D. Great-aunt Allie’s fly-papers — 1
Butler, Gwendoline. The rogue’s twist — 22
Francis, Dick. Twenty-one good men and true — 38
Gilbert, Michael. Verdict of three — 52
Brand, Christianna. Cloud nine — 65
Innes, Michael. Pelly and Cullis — 77
Highsmith, Patricia. Something the cat dragged in — 92
Fremlin, Celia. The postgraduate thesis — 112
Keating, H.R.F. Gup — 129
Underwood, Michael. Murder at St. Oswald’s — 144
Marsh, Ngaio. Morepork — 159
Dickinson, Peter. Who killed the cat? — 181
Symons, Julian. Waiting for Mr. McGregor — 197
1978? It definitely has the late ’70s feel to it. A quck look at other online reviews notes that the Brand story is a fantasy, and not the most popular one. ISFDB isn’t aware of either her nor Dickinson’s story yet, I gather.
Nice thing to have.
Todd, I was surprised by the Peter Dickinson story. I’ve read some of Dickinson’s novels and maybe a dozen of his short stories, but he really hit it out of the park with this one.
I don’t have the date, but I know I read this one many years ago. Don’t remember his story here, but my favorite short story writer in the group is Michael Gilbert. I’ve also read a lot of stories by Symons himself, Michael Innes, Christianna Brand, H.R.F. Keating, Patricia Highsmith, and P.D. James.
Jeff, I liked the Michael Gilbert story, too. He’s great at writing suspenseful and clever short stories!
This looks like a great anthology. I love Peter Dickinson’s writing but I don’t think I have read any of his short stories.
Tracy, VERDICT OF 13 is a very good anthology. I’ve read some of Peter Dickinson’s novels and a bunch of his shorts stories. All of them were clever and entertaining!