The Oxford book of Victorian detective stories Book

This huge volume is not for the faint of heart. The editor has taken a scholarly approach and uncovered a huge range of Victorian era detective stories in the style of Sherlock Holmes. The stories are diverse, but central ingredients are obviously crime, detection, clues and the laborious tracking down of suspects and criminals. The lengthy and sometimes long-winded style of these 19th century authors may be offputting to some, but the book is worth sticking with as it contains many intriguing and unknown gems to savour.

There was only one story I actively disliked - Mary E. Wilkins' THE LONG ARM, which seems insipid and lacking in colour. Many others are mildly entertaining and worth a single read. These include: Edgar Allan Poe's THE PURLOINED LETTER, one of Auguste Dupin's lesser cases; HUNTED DOWN by Charles Dickens, a murder mystery that starts off slow and builds to an electrifying climax; THE GOING OUT OF ALESSANDRO POZZONE by Richard Dowling, a typical story set during a dark and stormy night; WHO KILLED ZEBEDEE? by one of my favourite authors, Wilkie Collins, which is well structured but lacks atmosphere; also A CIRCUMSTANTIAL PUZZLE by R. E. Francillon, which does what it says on the tin - with the nice addition of a psychological angle to the usual proceedings.

THE MYSTERY OF ESSEX STAIRS by Sir Gilbert Campbell starts off strongly but ends with a wild leap of logic which turns it into an Enid Blyton-style fairy story. Grant Allen's THE GREAT RUBY ROBBERY has a good villain and a nice twist at the end, while THE SAPIENT MONKEY by Headon Hill belies its title and offers straightforward detective thrills. C. L. Pirkis offers a female crime-fighter in DRAWN DAGGERS, similar to a Holmes adventure, as do L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace in THE ARREST OF CAPTAIN VANDALEUR which is solid fare.

THE AZTECK OPAL by Rodrigues Ottolengui predates Agatha Christie in its tale of a crime at a dinner party on a ship, while M. P. Shiel's THE CASE OF EUPHEMIA RAPHASH is a little too abstract for my tastes. THE TIN BOX by Herbert Keen may not be the most exciting story in the world but it doesn't disappoint and THE BANKNOTE FORGER by C. J. Cutcliffe Hyne makes fine use of a drawing pin as a vital clue! A WARNING IN RED is one of many 'railway mysteries' written by Victor L. Whitechurch and his friend E. Conway. Baroness Orczy's THE FENCHURCH STREET MYSTERY features a decomposing body and a very obvious solution and THE CLUE OF THE SILVER SPOONS is Robert Barr's take on the genre with a distinctly psychological spin.

Other stories are definitely above average. Mary Elizabeth Braddon's LEVISON'S VICTIM is a fine, traditional murder mystery that sees a truly despicable villain getting his comeuppance. THE MYSTERY AT NUMBER SEVEN by Mrs Henry Wood is a suspenseful tale both surprising and enjoyable, while THE ADVENTURE OF THE BLUE CARBUNCLE is a top-end Holmes adventure from Conan Doyle with an unusual and intriguing plot. Fergus Hume's story, THE GREENSTONE GOD AND THE STOCKBROCKER, has the best title in the anthology and tons of style to go with it and Arthur Morrison's THE IVY COTTAGE MYSTERY belies its workmanlike roots to prove very entertaining. MURDER BY PROXY, by M. McDonnell Bodkin, is a typical locked room mystery told in a good way.

Now for the stand-outs:

THE MURDERED COUSIN by J. S. Le Fanu - a short-story precursor to his novel, UNCLE SILAS. As gripping a tale of murder and mystery as you could wish to read.

CHEATING THE GALLOWS by Israel Zangwill - the author totally pulled the wool over my eyes in this unconventional story.

THE ACCUSING SHADOW by Harry Blyth - classic period fare from the creator of Sexton Blake. French fraudsters, romance and gruesome murder combine in this lengthy but compelling read.

THE DUCHESS OF WILTSHIRE'S DIAMONDS by Guy Boothby - a totally unpredictable story in which master-detective Klimo works as both detective - and criminal!

THE STORY OF THE SPANIARDS, HAMMERSMITH by E. and H. Heron - a spooktacular jaunt as psychic detective Flaxman Low tackles the spirit of a diseased leper.

THE LOST SPECIAL by Conan Doyle - this tale of a disappearing train might have a David Copperfield ring to it, but it's a logical, enthralling mystery nonetheless.

THE GREEN SPIDER by Sax Rohmer - weird gruesomeness and an almost Lovecraftian atmosphere combine to make one of the best.