WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #137: GOLDEN AGE BIBLIOMYSTERIES Edited by Otto Penzler

Mysteries that involve books. That’s the theme of this anthology. I really liked Anthony Boucher’s “QL 696. C9.” The murder of a librarian baffles the police, but the cryptic clue (and the stories’ title) expose the murderer. Frank Gruber’s “State Fair Murder” featuring a murder of a publisher by a poisoned dart! I also enjoyed Ellery Queen’s “The Adventure of the Three R’s” and Vincent Starrett’s Sherlock Holmes pastiche “The Unique Hamlet.”

But maybe the best story in this book might be Cornell Woolrich’s “The Book That Squealed” with a librarian who goes to the police to report a crime, but is turned away. Plenty of suspense!

If you’re looking for a nice collection of mysteries about books, this is a good one! GRADE: B+

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Introduction by Otto Penzler — 1

Anderson, Frederick Irving, 1877-1947. Jorgenson plates. — 5

Blochman, Lawrence G. (Lawrence Goldtree), 1900-1975. Aldine folio murders. — 31

Blochman, Lawrence G. (Lawrence Goldtree), 1900-1975. Death walks in marble halls. — 62

Boucher, Anthony, 1911-1968. QL 696 .C9. — 136

Cozzens, James Gould, 1903-1978. Foot in it. — 156

De La Torre, Lillian, 1902-1993. Missing Shakespeare manuscript. — 162

Gruber, Frank, 1904-1969. State fair murder. — 193

King, C. Daly, 1895-1963. Episode of the codex’ curse. — 224

Queen, Ellery. Adventure of the three r’s. — 259

Starrett, Vincent, 1886-1974. Unique Hamlet. — 286

Starrett, Vincent, 1886-1974. Volume of Poe. — 310

Wells, Carolyn. Shakespeare title-page mystery. — 346

Woolrich, Cornell, 1903-1968. Book that squealed. — 365

Wren, Lassiter. Stolen Endymion. McKay, Randle. Stolen Endymion. –419

6 thoughts on “WEDNESDAY’S SHORT STORIES #137: GOLDEN AGE BIBLIOMYSTERIES Edited by Otto Penzler

  1. Jeff Meyerson

    I am…looking for a collection of mysteries about books, that is. I’ve read several and probably some of these stories, right? I’m pretty sure I read:

    Death Walks in Marble Halls
    the Boucher
    the Queen
    the De La Torre
    the C. Daly King
    Unique Hamlet

    Not sure about the Woolrich (I’ve read a lot of his stories) or the Gruber, whose title is familiar.

    Anyway, I have this on hold at the library.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Jeff, I think Otto tried to include some “obscure” stories in this collection. You are more familiar with these stories than I was. I’ve read a lot of Woolrich stories, but this story about the librarian was new to me. You’ll enjoy this book especially Otto’s introductions to the stories.

      Reply
  2. Jerry+House

    As with many of Penzler’s anthologies, this is a good mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar. Gruber is of of my favorite unjustly “forgotten” writers and I look forward to reading his story. And no collection of bibliomysteries would be complete without Starrett’s “The Unique Hamlet.” This book looks like a winner.

    Reply
    1. george Post author

      Tracy, I love stories about books so GOLDEN AGE MIBLIOMYSTERIES delighted me! Plus, Otto Penzler assembles wonderful anthologies. I have over a dozen of them!

      Reply

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