One of the newest additions to the fine series of British Library Crime Classics, published in the U.S. by Poisoned Pen Press, is Miles Burton's mystery/thriller, The Secret of High Eldersham. I reviewed the book on this blog more than two years ago, based on an earlier edition, and it was also reviewed in audio format on the Classic Mysteries podcast, which you may hear by clicking here, but I'm glad to see it back in print, together with a new introduction by Martin Edwards.
Miles Burton was one of the pen names used by the extremely prolific author, Cecil John Charles Street. The Secret of High Eldersham, first published in 1931, introduced Burton's central series character, Desmond Merrion, who, as Edwards's introduction puts it, "typifies the Great Detective beloved of so many Golden Age authors and their readers." The book begins and ends as a traditional Golden Age mystery, with Merrion invited to help police solve the murder of a pub landlord in a peculiar little English village called High Eldersham, which shows a rather surprising hostility to visitors. The book goes on to become a thriller in the fashion of something by, say, Edgar Wallace, and there's more than enough action, a touch of romance, obligatory close calls for our hero, and more, before Merrion and the authorities are able to close the case.
You'll find a much fuller review either in my earlier posting or my audio review. As I say, I'm delighted to see the book back in print - I think it's remarkably entertaining and I recommend it highly. Poisoned Pen Press provided me with a copy of this edition for my review.
Les, I've just reserved this at my local library. Today I found out that they have quite a few of these British Crime Classics so I'm in heaven. :)
Posted by: Yvettespaintbox | June 18, 2016 at 03:19 PM
That's great news, Yvette. It's an excellent collection and it keeps on growing. Enjoy!
Posted by: Les Blatt | June 18, 2016 at 03:50 PM