August 23, 2021
Edgar winner Penzler (The Big Book of Espionage Stories) draws on his encyclopedic knowledge to cast a wide net in this superior anthology of 49 stories published between 1838 and 1900. The usual suspects—Poe, Conan Doyle, Wilkie Collins—are represented, but the joy for the genre lover is the chance to meet more obscure authors such as Headon Hill, who in “The Divination of the Zagury Capsules” offers an unusual armchair detective, “an Indian mystic confined to a small room in which he spends his days chewing on betel nuts and playing with his cobras.” Penzler also includes tales from writers known for other kinds of fiction, including Leo Tolstoy, Oscar Wilde, and L. Frank Baum. The real treasure trove is the section featuring non–Anglo-American entries, from Spain, France, Russia, Germany, and Italy. A standout is German author Dietrich Theden’s “Well-Woven Evidence,” in which a police chief must figure out why the robbers who looted a safe of thousands of marks also stole “a large package of lace curtains.” This doorstop volume will provide hours of pleasure reading for fans of traditional mystery fiction.
May 26, 2023
Edgar Award winner Penzler (The Big Book of Espionage Stories) has assembled an impressive collection of short stories, which provide curious and compelling glimpses into Victorian society. These 49 stories, published between 1838 and 1900, feature a pleasing array of authors, both famous and relatively unknown. While some authors were known in their time for their detective fiction, others, such as Leo Tolstoy and L. Frank Baum typically wrote in other genres. Especially commendable is the inclusion of authors from outside of England or the U.S., including authors from Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Russia. Although some stories tend to blend together when read in succession, listeners will likely appreciate hearing about Victorian values, laws, and industry. Unfortunately, however, the audio, narrated by Dan Calley, Rachael Beresford, and Stephen Bowlby, is disappointingly dry. Beresford's reading is relatively livelier, but the overall presentation and daunting run time make this a strictly optional purchase, especially for public libraries. VERDICT Penzler's latest is remarkable in size and scope, but listeners may want to enjoy in print rather than audio.--Ammi Bui
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