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+
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
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.
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.
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.
Jerry, Otto also provides a list of bibliomystery novels at the end of his Introduction. I’ve ordered a few.
This looks like a very good collection and I am sure all the stories would be new to me. I will definitely get a copy.
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!