Deep Waters: Mysteries on the Waves – Edited by Martin Edwards
My go-to books for stressy times have in recent years become the British Library Crime Classics; and so being back at work and being busy meant that I was naturally very keen to reach for one of these lovely volumes! I’ve read several rather wonderful anthologies of stories, edited by the redoubtable Martin Edwards, and the most recent one collects together a marvellous of array of short stories involving water. And bearing in mind that that can mean anything from an ornamental pond to the sea, there certainly is a lot of scope for murder, mayhem and mystery involving the wet stuff!
Edwards provides a useful introduction, looking back over watery crime writing over the years, as well as providing a short piece on the author of each story. The collection launches (ahem) with a Sherlock Holmes yarn, “The Adventure of the Gloria Scott“; this is a notable story in the Holmes canon, as it’s one in which the Great Detective reveals something of his past (as well as being very clever and entertaining). The final story is a Michael Innes ‘Appleby’ story first published in 1975. And in between there is an excellent selection of writers, from better known names like C.S. Forester, Edmund Crispin and E.W. Hornung, to more obscure authors like R. Austin Freeman and Josephine Bell, and relative unknowns such as Kem Bennett. I was particularly happy to see one of H.C. Bailey’s ‘Reggie Fortune’ stories included, as he’s a relatively recent discover for me and I absolutely love him. Both author and character are very individual and idiosyncratic, and I imagine Bailey’s writing is not necessarily to everyone’s taste. But I think his stories are clever and wonderfully written, and I do wish more were available.
Well – it’s hard with short story collections, because I can never decide to pick favourites or not. And this (like previous collections) is so good that there isn’t actually a dud in there. However, I’ll mention a few which really struck me. “The Echo of a Mutiny” by R. Austin Freeman was a longer entry in the book, and featured his regular detective Dr. Thorndyke, as well as an atmospheric lighthouse setting and a clever solution. Gwyn Evans’ “The Pool of Secrets” had some wonderfully outré elements and a fiendish plot. “The Turning of the Tide“, a mystery by C.S. Forester (better known perhaps for the Hornblower series), was short, sharp and shocking. And “The Swimming Pool“, the Reggie Fortune story, is really quite dark and remarkably ingenious.

H.C. Bailey, creator of Reggie Fortune – George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress) [Public domain via Wikimedia Commons]
Review copy kindly provided by the publisher, for which many thanks!
Sep 23, 2019 @ 07:35:49
I do like the idea of these anthologies. They’re like the literary equivalent of a box of chocolates – a sprinkling of familiar favourites and hopefully a few pleasant surprises too. 🙂
Sep 23, 2019 @ 10:17:19
Exactly – dipping into this collections was just lovely, and each story a treat!
Sep 23, 2019 @ 07:43:03
I haven’t seen this wonderful series here in Australia. I will have to ask my book shop here when next there. I think the reason these are so popular is they were written before crime books became so graphic with the murders and the violence so descriptive. There seems to be more of the mystery element and also there is no google internet and mobile phones. Although I love the technology I find I’m much more relaxed when away from it and also when it is absent from my books.
Sep 23, 2019 @ 10:16:54
They are lovely – perhaps you could persuade your local library to invest? And yes – I like the lack of the graphic stuff, because the puzzle element (and often the characterisation) becomes more important. The old school ‘technology’ appeals too, because I can remember life before mod cons! 😀
Sep 23, 2019 @ 11:37:27
I very much enjoyed this collection as well! Particularly the Reggie Fortune story, and also Phyllis Bentley’s short but poignant one. But it was the piranhas that nearly did me in!
Sep 23, 2019 @ 13:26:09
It was such a lovely collection. The Reggie story is a joy, isn’t it? The Bentley one was also very moving, and agreed about the piranhas – very wacky and unsettling! 😀
Sep 23, 2019 @ 16:24:15
Ooh I have this tbr and it sounds like a brilliant collection of stories by some pretty big names. Looking forward to it.
Sep 23, 2019 @ 18:30:57
It’s great fun Ali – some really wonderful authors and stories. I think you’ll really enjoy it!
Sep 23, 2019 @ 18:45:06
There covers are always so beautiful but I think that one may be among my favourites!
Sep 23, 2019 @ 20:07:51
It’s particularly stunning, isn’t it? 😁
Sep 24, 2019 @ 02:42:20
I agree with your thoughts on why the Golden Age revival. I suspect both reasons to be those why, escapism and the order.
Among the homeschooling moms who were good books readers, one says how in the chaos of raising her children, and stressful times, she resorted to Dorothy Sayers mysteries.
I’m feeling interested in mystery in general, but other traditions may not always be inside the old world order.
Beautiful cover, yes.
Sep 24, 2019 @ 11:36:02
I can understand that love of Dorothy L. Sayers – she’s one of my long time favourites and I often return ot her. I love the puzzle element of these books, but Sayers was also a great novelist!
Dec 06, 2019 @ 07:03:17
Dec 31, 2019 @ 07:53:22