Badass biddies, screaming mimis and, erm, a fur turban: #1949 book

This gallery contains 23 photos.

As part of the Crimes of the Century strand here on Past Offences, every month we review crimes books and films first published in a particular year. In May, we focused on 1949, selected by regular contributor John from the … Continue reading →

‘She murdered minds as well as bodies.’ #1955book round-up

This gallery contains 15 photos.

Thanks very much to everyone who contributed to February’s challenge to read and review crime fiction from the year 1955. Apologies if I’ve missed anyone – this was a bumper crop or blog posts. 1955 seems to have been a varied … Continue reading →

‘You’re a big man, but you’re in bad shape.’ #1971book

This gallery contains 12 photos.

If my Mr U. N. Owen-style pre-recorded message goes to plan, this message should be going out at exactly 00.01 UK time. Happy New Year everyone! I hope 2015 is good to you. I’m kicking off this year with a … Continue reading →

‘I ‘ave ‘alf a mind to ‘ave ye keelhauled, ye blithering ape!’ #1946book

This gallery contains 14 photos.

  Welcome to the round-up page for this month’s crime-fiction-of-the-year challenge. Thanks to everyone who contributed, and as usual I apologise in advance if I’ve missed your entry. I’m bound to have missed somebody. Last month John at Pretty Sinister Books brought … Continue reading →

‘I will see you and kill you to-morrow at daybreak’ #1932book

This gallery contains 10 photos.

Happy Hallowe’en, blog-readers! Les at Classic Mysteries chose 1932 as our focus-year for October, and once again I was inundated with entries. Thanks everybody. (And a special mention for everyone I’ve missed. You’re the best ones.) No children’s classic with … Continue reading →

Where’s Papa going with that ax? The #1952book challenge

This gallery contains 12 photos.

This month I’m opening with a quiz question: ‘Where’s Papa going with that ax?’ is the ominous first line of which book from 1952? Answer at the bottom. Thanks to everyone who took part in this month’s challenge. A bumper crop, … Continue reading →

Classic crime in the blogosphere, July 2013

This gallery contains 1 photo.

I thought this was absolutely fascinating – How to Use Agatha Christie, David Suchet, Conan Doyle and Robert Downey Jr. To Rip Off Readers. The author Bill Peschel has done some sterling detective work unmasking some pretty blatant piracy, including find-and-replacing … Continue reading →