You may have spotted that every month, I take part in Past Offences’ Crimes Of The Century meme. I don’t often take part in Challenges, as I’ve found in the past that it ends up dictating what I read a little too much. But this one has so much freedom that I’ll even forgive Rich for getting me to read The Pit-Prop Syndicate. Basically a year is nominated and bloggers are encouraged to review a book or film or whatever from that year.

1941 –  the choice of year for December 2015 – on the face of it seemed an easy one. A lot of authors were at the peak of their powers during the war years. So a quick trip to the internet and I found the following books. There shouldn’t be any difficulty at all, should there? Unfortunately, yes…

 

 

 

 

You see, there are loads of books by the classic authors that were published in 1941. And I’ve read virtually all of them. So I thought, while I hunted something else out, to give a quick summary of the books that I can’t read – because I’ve already reviewed them. So, some potted reviews of those books – for the full review, just click on the link.

Evil Under The Sun by Agatha Christie

One of the better known of the Poirot novels, due in part to the Peter Ustinov-Diana Rigg version. Unfortunately, I read this quite soon after another (and much better) Poirot that shared, in my view, very similar ideas in the plot. It’s good and colourful but I think the murderer sticks out a mile. I can only say I think, though, as I saw the Ustinov version a long time before I read the book.

N or M? by Agatha Christie

Forget about the recent BBC adaptation, this Tommy and Tuppence caper – the first that I read – completely won me over from Tuppence’s early surprise appearance and it’s a fun mystery/thriller. Lots of fun – one of Agatha’s often overlooked books, imho.

The Case Of The Constant Suicides by John Dickson Carr

The book that won me over to Carr – and I read this after The Hollow Man. Loads of fun, especially for a Fell novel, with a clever murder method (which probably actually wouldn’t work but I guarantee that you won’t care) and a great atmosphere. One of his best (and often overlooked) mysteries.

Death Turns The Tables aka The Seat Of The Scornful by John Dickson Carr

Never rated as one of his best, and some will be disappointed by the lack of an impossibility. But it’s also a long way from his worst – in fact, it’s a very clever, well-clued puzzle. The last few pages are a bit odd, but the rest is well worth a look.

Seeing Is Believing by Carter Dickson

Carr’s third book of the year and one of the less convincing books from his peak period. A lot of people consider it a contains a complete cheat on the author’s part and the method of replacing a rubber knife with a real one – so that a hypnotised woman will actually stab someone on command – is ridiculous. And let’s not go into the notion of being able to hypnotise a person to murder…

Surfeit Of Lampreys by Ngaio Marsh

Just read the review. And then don’t bother to read the book…

Traitor’s Purse by Margery Allingham

My introduction to Allingham and much rated by some – but not by me. Really not the best book to introduce the reader to Mr Campion.

When Last I Died by Gladys Mitchell

More Gladys on the way but this is definitely the best of the three books that I’ve reviewed on the blog so far. One of the better “miscarriage of justice in the past” that I’ve read. Well worth a look.

The Case Of The Abominable Snowman by Nicholas Blake

And probably the best of the three books of Blake’s that I’ve read as well. In fact, this is one of my favourite books on this list apart from The Case Of The Constant Suicides.

As I said, for more info, do click on the links for the full reviews. And a new 1941 review is coming next time.