Just Finished Reading: Crimson Snow – Winter Mysteries edited by Martin Edwards (FP: 2016) [317pp] 

Despite the fact that (as usual) we haven’t had any snow, nor are we expecting any, I thought this collection from the British Library Crime Classics seemed seasonally appropriate. 

Containing 11 tales from 19th century period pieces such as The Ghost’s Touch by Fergus Hume (which to be honest was a fairly mediocre starting point!) to more modern stories this was, as is so often the case a mixed bag. However, that’s not to say that any of the stories were particularly poor – they weren't. In fact, many of them were more than satisfying. 

Early on I was impressed by The Chopham Affair by Edgar Wallace where a quick-thinking lawyer ends a blackmail scheme in a clever and rather permanent fashion. Then we had a tale of theft and attempted insurance fraud – aided by Santa no less! - thwarted by the most able detective Albert Campion in The Man with the Sack by Margery Allingham. 

In the middle of the volume, we had the rather long but ultimately clever Death in December by Victor Gunn where a police detective and his sergeant are snowed in during the Christmas festivities and are on hand to unravel two intersecting mysteries involving a locked room and a vanishing ghost. I particularly liked Murder at Christmas by Christopher Bush where a visiting detective (I was thinking at this point that it might be a bad idea to invite anyone associated with the police to a party as they seem to attract crime!) uncovers the details to a revenge killing in a nearby village. I did enjoy the tight plotting and the clever ending.  

Despite the lack of actual snow outside I did enjoy its presence between these pages. Its impressive just how much crime happens over the holidays – but then again it IS a peak period for arguments, suicides, murders and divorces so we should expect a plethora of crime stories based during the season! I’ll certainly be looking out for more seasonal reading for next Christmas. As always such a collection is a great way to dip into new authors and some will, no doubt, be showing up in longer formats in the future. Reasonable.