I’m a big fan of Martin Edwards’s anthologies (you can read some of my reviews here and here). The Measure of Malice: Scientific Detection Stories (2020) presents 14 stories that use scientific and technical know-how to solve crimes. The anthology starts out with one of my favorite Sherlock Holmes stories: “The Boscombe Valley Mystery” where the crime is solved with a focus on footprints and Holmes’s monograph “on the ashes of 140 different varieties of pipe, cigar, and cigarette tobacco.” (p. 2)
L. T. Meade is a writer new to me, but her two stories–with different partners–impressed me. “The Horror of Studley Grange” involves two sick people whose issues concern a clever physician. “The Man Who Disappeared” centers around a fabulous gold mine and a “scientific” application to make a body disappear.
Also of note is Anthony Wynne’s “The Cyprian Bees,” the first mystery story I’ve ever read where bees are the method of murder. I’m a fan of R. Austin Freeman’s Doctor Thorndyke mysteries. and “The Contents of a Mare’s Nest” is complicated and a challenge to Thorndyke and the reader. H. C. Bailey is largely forgotten, but he wrote a twisty story in “The Broken Toad.” What a creepy family he concocted!
If you’re looking for a high quality mystery anthology, I recommend The Measure of Malice. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction — vii
The Boscombe Valley Mystery / Arthur Conan Doyle — 1
The Horror of Studley Grange / L. T. Meade and Clifford Halifax — 34
The Tragedy of a Third Smoker / C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne — 66
The Man Who Disappeared / L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace — 80
The Cyprian Bees / Anthony Wynne — 111
The English Filter / C. E. Bechhofer Roberts — 134
The Contents of a Mare’s Nest / R. Austin Freeman — 155
After Death the Doctor / J. J. Connington — 179
The Broken Toad / H. C. Bailey — 213
In the Teeth of the Evidence / Dorothy L. Sayers — 252
The Case of the Chemist in the Cupboard / Ernest Dudley — 271
The Purple Line / John Rhode — 290
Blood Sport / Edmund Crispin — 302
The New Cement / Freeman Wills Crofts — 309
Sounds interesting! You might want to take a look at your second paragraph again! There’s an echo in here!
Bob, Martin Edwards anthologies are among my favorites! Thanks for the heads up!
A talented line-up of Golden Age detection authors, many sadly overlooked today. The only author I was unfamiliar with was C. E. Bechhoffer Roberts, who mainly wrote about psychical research and spiritualism. Once again, Edwards has complied an interesting collection of familiar and unfamiliar stories for a must-have anthology. Interesting to note, though, that editor Edwards did not include one of the over 170 stories about Craig Kennedy, one of the first truly popular scientific detectives.
Jerry, I’ll have to look into Craig Kennedy. Thanks for the recommendation!
Sounds like a good one. Megan’s novel on a science lab was one of my favorites. A good setting for a dark story as Dr. Fauci,persecuted yet again yesterday, will attest.
Patti, I felt outraged by the treatment Dr. Fauci received at the hands of lunatics like Marjorie Taylor Greene and the House Republicans. They don’t believe in science or medicine. It seems like they only believe in Voodoo!
Poor Fauci has been retired for more than a year, and the loonies are still persecuting him. I think most of these far-right fools are simply ignorant and opportunistic, but Taylor Greene is certifiable.
Fred, I hate that the MAGA crowd also sends Death Threats to Fauci’s wife and daughters. What scum!
Hmm, I thought I’d read all of Edwards’s British Library anthologies, but I don’t see this on my list even though it says February 2020. Of course I’ve read the Doyle and the Freeman, Crispin and Sayers titles, but since my library doesn’t seem to have it, I might have to buy a copy.
George strikes again!
OK, the Kindle is $9.95 (too much) so I got a used paperback for $3.52.
Jeff, I’m sometimes surprise at the prices of Kindle e-books. Some are very cheap, others very pricey!
Jeff, George the Tempter is hard at work! You’ll really enjoy THE MEASURE OF MALICE. I love Martin Edwards’ anthologies!
Jackie said that Fauci should have told Comer & Jordan and Greene and the rest of the lunatics to f#ck off. What were they going to do, fire him?
But Greene was truly unhinged.
Jeff, Marjorie Taylor Greene might be unhinged but her antics attract a lot of money.
Good for Jackie.
Edwards’ anthologies are always excellent. George, if you liked the killer bee story, check out H.F. Heard’s A TASTE FOR HONEY.
Fred, I have A TASTE FOR HONEY around here somewhere. I’ll look for it and review it when I find it! Thanks for the recommendation!
George, there are so many of these British Library anthologies edited by Edwards that I have not read yet. I will have to catch up slowly. This one does sound interesting and I will look for it.
Tracy, I’ve read many of the Martin Edwards/British Library Crime Classics anthologies and recommend them all! A great series!