The Story of Classic Crime in 100 Books

By: Martin Edwards

Narrated by: Gordon Griffin

The main aim of detective stories is to entertain, but the best cast a light on human behaviour and display both literary ambition and accomplishment. Even unpretentious detective stories, written for unashamedly commercial reasons, can give us clues to the past and give us insight into a long-vanished world that, for all its imperfections, continues to fascinate.

This audiobook, written by award-winning crime writer and president of the Detection Club Martin Edwards, serves as a companion to the British Library's internationally acclaimed series of Crime Classics. Long-forgotten stories republished in the series have won a devoted new readership, with several titles entering the best seller charts and sales outstripping those of highly acclaimed contemporary thrillers.

©2017 Martin Edwards (P)2019 Soundings

An Excellent Survey of Classic Crime

Edwards' knowledge of classic detective fiction runs as deep as his passion for the genre.

I appreciated the thematic groupings and his willingness to venture a little beyond the twenties and thirties.

I have a long list of titles to read beyond favorites like Christie, Sayers, and Allingham--if I can track them down!