The Measure of Malice: Scientific Detection Stories
Edited by Martin Edwards
You may have picked up a couple of things on the Ramblings i.e. that I’m very behind with my reviewing and that I got a bit bogged down in November with “Berlin Alexanderplatz”…. The first couple of sections of that were so downbeat that I ended up interspersing them with some Golden Age crime, and my! was it a joy in comparison!!
The book in question is the latest collection of short stories in the British Library Crime Classics series, and it’s a wonderful gathering of works called “The Measure of Malice”; the subtitle “Scientific Detection Stories” makes it clear that we’re to be treated to a varied and marvellous selection of tales where the detecting heroes employ all manner of scientific methods; some of which to have a sounder basis than others… ;D
“Measure…” has been expertly compiled by Martin Edwards (the man really *does* deserve an award for services to detective fiction!) and opens neatly with a classic mystery featuring Holmes and Watson, “The Boscombe Valley Mystery”. This is quintessential Conan Doyle with a race to save a wrongly accused man, crimes that stretch into the past and overseas, the introduction of Inspector Lestrade and Holmes at his best; it is the latter’s scientific study of footprints that proves so crucial in this case. Most satisfying!
The book is stuffed with other familiar names; Dorothy L. Sayers‘ short tale, “In The Teeth of the Evidence” has poor Wimsey suffering the dentist and solving a devious crime. Edmund Crispin‘s “Blood Sport” is even shorter, and unusually doesn’t feature his regular detective Fen; instead, Inspector Humbleby traps the killer with a particular kind of specialist knowledge. Some of the sciences are very outre, like the belief that the last thing a person sees as they die is imprinted on their retina; others are ahead of their time; and some of the techniques are a really chilling, such as the method employed in “The Man Who Disappeared”.
I particularly liked the fact that this collection drew on a good number of less well-known authors, and the stories by C. E. Bechhofer Roberts and J.J. Connington were very clever and entertaining. L.T. Meade shares credit for two of her stories with other authors, Robert Eustace and Clifford Halifax; both are clever and atmospheric, and she’s obviously a woman whose work needs tracking down and rediscovering. I was less taken with Ernest Dudley‘s “The Case of the Chemist in the Cupboard”; the story itself was clever and devious, but his detective Doctor Morelle has an insufferably patronising attitude towards his female assistant Miss Frayle (who is obviously quite smart) and I ended up wanting to slap him!
Langdon is one of the outlying suburbs of London, but most of it was built last century. Then it attracted men who are making comfortable, third-class fortunes. The result is that it consists chiefly of genteel villas, each in its own piece of ground, which have tried hard to be unlike one another with contortions of inconvenience. Some of these are still inhabited by the survivors or descendants of those who put them up. Others have been converted by the forces of progress into modern ugliness as blocks of flats offering modern comfort to those who do without babies.
Breakfastless and pallid, Reggie came to the hospital built in the lowest, dampest situation which the hills of Langdon provide.
I’ve left the best for last. Any anthology which features Reggie Fortune, surgeon and Home Office Consultant, is a winner in my mind, and this one contains a wonderful story entitled “The Broken Toad”. I’ve sung the praises of H.C. Bailey and his marvellous detecting creation before on the Ramblings; I love Bailey’s writing, Fortune’s idiosyncratic character and his fierce determination to protect the innocent (particularly children). “Toad” is a pure delight, featuring Reggie’s tolerant wife Joan and his regular sidekick, Lomas of the CID. The mystery itself is quite brilliant; the sudden death of a policeman by poison in the middle of the night is unfathomable, and it takes all of Reggie’s ingenuity and deductive skills to get to the bottom of matters. In doing so, he uncovers a real nest of iniquity and the story is utterly gripping. Really, what’s needed is a concerted campaign to get Reggie republished! 😀
“The Measure of Malice” is a lovely chunky anthology of nearly 350 pages; and yet it took me less time to read than a small section of “Berlin Alexanderplatz”… This is another wonderful collection of Golden Age crime from the British Library, and the books are a real treat for the connoisseur of detective stories (or indeed just the casual reader!) Perfect reading for dark evenings when you’re snuggled up in front of the fire (or in whatever cosy corner you might have) – definitely a book for your Christmas list! 😀
JacquiWine
Dec 06, 2019 @ 07:12:06
Ah, what would we do without the British Library Crime Classics, particularly in these troubling times? This does sound very good indeed, a diverse selection of old friends and new discoveries (always a selling point of these anthologies). The scientific theme also appeals. I studied Chemistry at Uni, so this collection sounds right up my street. Many thanks for the tip!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 06, 2019 @ 20:29:21
Yeah, real life is so awful that I do need to escape at the moment! I think as you are a *proper* scientist you might find some of the techniques involved here a bit dodgy, but the book itself is great fun! ;D
tbr313
Dec 06, 2019 @ 11:23:21
I can’t wait for the North American edition, especially when the Reggie Fortune story sounds so wonderful. I love Joan!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 06, 2019 @ 20:28:27
So do I! She’s so tolerant of his foibles! Hurray for Reggie!
Silvia
Dec 06, 2019 @ 16:04:41
There’s such a comfort in those type of stories. I’m glad they afforded you a break from the harder title.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 06, 2019 @ 20:26:16
There is – they’re my go-to reading when I’m stressed!
Jane
Dec 06, 2019 @ 18:55:14
This sounds brilliant, top Christmas tip!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 06, 2019 @ 20:25:52
Oh yes – perfect reading when hiding from too much food and hideous relatives!
heavenali
Dec 06, 2019 @ 19:30:57
This sounds like a perfect antidote to Berlin Alexanderplatz. BLCC do publish some brilliant collections alongside their novels. The Broken Toad is an hilarious title. The story itself sounds excellent, I can see why you think it the best.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 06, 2019 @ 20:25:34
It was an ideal alternative to the pain of BA! I love the BLCC collections, especially when there’s a Reggie Fortune included! 😀
Elle
Dec 06, 2019 @ 22:23:33
“Breakfastless and pallid” is an absolutely bangin’ clause. I can frequently identify.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 07, 2019 @ 16:15:12
It’s great, isn’t it? I adore Reggie – the writing is right up my street! ;D
BookerTalk
Dec 07, 2019 @ 10:16:48
i find it challenging enough to work out what’s happening in most crime fiction tales – I would make a useless detective! Add some science into that mix and all hope is lost. Dropped those subjects in school as fast as I could…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 07, 2019 @ 16:14:33
LOL! I don’t mind not guessing – I like to be dazzled by the detectives, and tbh it doesn’t matter here if you aren’t scientific. I’m not either…
Julé
Dec 07, 2019 @ 14:27:41
Ah, another BL Crime Classics to look forward to. I love the collections Martin Edwards puts together and always end up with more ‘new’ authors added to the TBR list
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 07, 2019 @ 16:13:44
They’re always marvellous, and as you say it’s such a delight discovering new authors. Very cleverly themed, too!
cirtnecce
Dec 09, 2019 @ 06:44:50
This sounds wonderful…..just the thing to read on a cold winter night!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Dec 09, 2019 @ 16:09:18
Very much so – ideal winter reading and so entertaining!
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