The World's Greatest Detective


Book Description

A 2017 Agatha Award Nominee! * A Best Children’s Book of the Year Pick for Kids 9 to 12 from Bank Street College! Caroline Carlson, author of the Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates series, returns with The World’s Greatest Detective, a story of crime, tricks, and hilarity for those who know that sometimes it takes a pair of junior sleuths to solve a slippery case. Detectives’ Row is full of talented investigators, but Toby Montrose isn’t one of them. He’s only an assistant at his uncle’s detective agency, and he’s not sure he’s even very good at that. Toby’s friend Ivy is the best sleuth around—or at least she thinks so. They both see their chance to prove themselves when the famed Hugh Abernathy announces a contest to choose the World’s Greatest Detective. But when what was supposed to be a game turns into a real-life murder mystery, can Toby and Ivy crack the case?




Great Detective Stories


Book Description







Books to Die For


Book Description

The world’s most beloved mystery writers celebrate their favorite mystery novels in this gorgeously wrought collection, featuring essays by Michael Connelly, Kathy Reichs, Ian Rankin, and more. In the most ambitious anthology of its kind, the world’s leading mystery writers come together to champion the greatest mystery novels ever written. In a series of personal essays that reveal as much about the authors and their own work as they do about the books that they love, over a hundred authors from twenty countries have created a guide that will be indispensable for generations of readers and writers. From Agatha Christie to Lee Child, from Edgar Allan Poe to P. D. James, from Sherlock Holmes to Hannibal Lecter and Philip Marlowe to Lord Peter Wimsey, Books to Die For brings together the best of the mystery world for a feast of reading pleasure, a treasure trove for those new to the genre and for those who believe that there is nothing new left to discover. This is the one essential book for every reader who has ever finished a mystery novel and thought…I want more!




The Oxford Book of English Detective Stories


Book Description

Essential reading for all armchair detectives, this collection of 33 classic whodunits is the cream of crime writing.










THE GOLDEN BOOK OF WORLD'S GREATEST MYSTERIES – 60+ Detective Stories


Book Description

THE GOLDEN BOOK OF WORLD'S GREATEST MYSTERIES 60+ Detective Stories, is a meticulously curated anthology that traverses the intricate alleys of mystery and detective fiction through various epochs and locales. It brings together an extraordinary range of literary stylesfrom the gothic suspense of Poe to the cunning riddles of Conan Doyle, encapsulating the evolution of the genre within its pages. The collection is notable not only for its diversity but also for the way it highlights the thematic and stylistic shifts in mystery writing, presenting readers with seminal works that have shaped the genre, alongside lesser-known gems that offer fresh perspectives. The contributing authors and editors, each a luminary in their own right, provide a panoramic view of the historical and cultural landscape that shaped these stories. From Twain's wry observations of American society to Chekhov's subtle dissections of Russian life, and Hardy's melancholic English countryside narratives, this collection acts as a conduit for exploring the diverse settings and moral philosophies that underpin the mystery genre. The anthology aligns with significant literary movements, offering a snapshot of the zeitgeist of various periods and the universal appeal of the mystery narrative, demonstrating how these stories have served as a mirror to societys complexities and the human condition. This anthology is an indispensable volume for both aficionados and newcomers to the detective story genre. It offers a unique opportunity to delve into the converging narratives of innocence and inquiry, justice and juxtaposition, through a scope as broad as the collective human imagination. Readers are encouraged to explore these tales not just for their entertainment value but also for their capacity to educate, to challenge perceptions, and to foster a deeper appreciation of the literary arts. THE GOLDEN BOOK OF WORLD'S GREATEST MYSTERIES is more than a collection; its a global dialogue spanning centuries, inviting readers to unlock the secrets it holds within its pages.




The Worlds of Sherlock Holmes


Book Description

Questing was Sherlock Holmes’s business. He famously adopted the latest forensic techniques, channelled the Victorian passion for enquiry, kept abreast of the key scientific breakthroughs of his age, and conducted his investigations in an enigmatic and stylised manner. And the brains behind it all was, of course, the great Arthur Conan Doyle. In this deep dive into the contemporary world of Holmes and Conan Doyle, biographer Andrew Lycett explores all that encompasses the world of the great detective – tracing the infamous character’s own interests, personality and mythologised biography alongside that of his creator’s. From the Victorian crazes for detection and séance, to contemporary developments in science and psychology, Lycett weaves together everything that inspired Conan Doyle in creating the world’s most famous detective and one of fiction's most enduring, enigmatic and recognisable characters.




The Origins of the American Detective Story


Book Description

Edgar Allan Poe essentially invented the detective story in 1841 with Murders in the Rue Morgue. In the years that followed, however, detective fiction in America saw no significant progress as a literary genre. Much to the dismay of moral crusaders like Anthony Comstock, dime novels and other sensationalist publications satisfied the public's hunger for a yarn. Things changed as the century waned, and eventually the detective was reborn as a figure of American literature. In part these changes were due to a combination of social conditions, including the rise and decline of the police as an institution; the parallel development of private detectives; the birth of the crusading newspaper reporter; and the beginnings of forensic science. Influential, too, was the new role model offered by a wildly popular British import named Sherlock Holmes. Focusing on the late 19th century and early 20th, this volume covers the formative years of American detective fiction. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.