'We Know You're Busy Writing...': The Collected Short Stories of Edmund Crispin

A collection of forty-six detective stories by Edmund Crispin, featuring his Oxford don, Gervase Fen, and Inspector Humbleby of Scotland Yard, is compiled in one volume for the first time. The stories are intricate and entertaining, with clues such as dandelions, hearing aids, a bloodstained cat, and a Leonardo drawing. This is classic crime at its finest.

Format: Hardback
Length: 480 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2023
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Detective stories often get a bad rap for being anti-social, as some people believe that criminals can't gain any valuable information from them, despite their often fantastical and far-fetched nature. However, Gervase Fen takes a different stance on this matter. He argues that if criminals were to study detective stories carefully, they could actually use them to their advantage and get away with murder.

Forty-six detective stories by the renowned Edmund Crispin are gathered in this splendid collection, making it a treasure trove for fans of the genre. Most of these stories revolve around Gervase Fen, an Oxford don, and Inspector Humbleby of Scotland Yard, and the cases are solved through a diverse range of clues. From dandelions to hearing aids, bloodstained cats to Leonardo drawings, corpses with alibis to poisonous letters, Crispin's imagination knows no bounds, and his wit shines brightly throughout.

These stories have been compiled from various sources, including Beware of the Trains, Fen Country, and other disparate collections. The collection concludes with the recently discovered Christmas novella, "The Hours of Darkness," which adds an extra layer of charm to this already impressive collection.

Edmund Crispin is widely regarded as one of the masters of the detective story, and this collection showcases his exceptional talent. His stories are erudite and complex, yet they are also succinct and leisurely, making them a pleasure to read. They are classic crime at its finest, with intricate plots, well-developed characters, and a keen sense of humor.

Whether you're a seasoned detective story enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this collection is sure to captivate and delight you. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy the intricate world of Edmund Crispin as he weaves his magic through these forty-six thrilling tales.

Weight: 498g
Dimension: 137 x 206 x 43 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780008530662