For lovers of classic mysteries, the Mail Bookshop has just released a compelling trio of reissued crime novels, offering a perfect escape into worlds of poison, theft, and medical intrigue.
A Deadly Christmas in the English Countryside
Death in Ambush by Susan Gilruth transports readers to an idyllic English village in the 1950s. The narrator, Liane Crauford, is enjoying the festive run-up to Christmas with the local doctor's family. However, the seasonal cheer is shattered by the death of a cantankerous retired judge.
While few mourn his passing, a subsequent inquest suggests he was murdered by poison. This revelation prompts Liane to test her own investigative skills against those of an urbane detective from Scotland Yard. The reader is kept guessing with a generous scattering of clues and some rather high-handed police attempts to expose the killer. This comeback for the gifted writer Gilruth is published as part of the British Library Crime Classics series for £10.99.
High-Stakes Heist on the Rails
In Murder on the Great Northern Railway by Edward Marston, the railway detectives are back on the case. The plot accelerates when a priceless silver model of Lincoln Cathedral is hijacked and the train guard is shot dead.
As the Church reluctantly agrees to pay a huge ransom for the treasure's return, Inspector Colbeck and his trusty sidekick, Sergeant Leeming, focus on tracking down the ruthless robbers. The strong plot moves at a brisk pace, though some readers might find the 19th-century period detail could be richer. A memorable character, the pompous Superintendent Tallis, who has previously been a hindrance, makes amends by finding the crucial evidence that clinches another triumph for the detectives. This Allison & Busby publication is priced at £22.
Maigret's Holiday Takes a Sinister Turn
Maigret’s Holiday by Georges Simenon is a lead title in a splendid new Penguin Design Collection edition. Chief Inspector Maigret's sun-filled holiday is interrupted when Madame Maigret requires emergency hospital surgery.
During his daily visits, Maigret hears of a patient whose delirious last words spoke of family abuse and complicity in murder. Suspicion quickly falls on an arrogant society doctor, whose home is a virtual prison for his young wife. Facing a formidable adversary protected by status and money, Maigret must win a battle of wills as evidence mounts of one, or even two, murders driven by obsessive jealousy. Simenon, a master of building tension, delivers another unforgettable story for £9.99.
These three distinct crime novels showcase the enduring appeal of the genre, from classic British whodunits to tense French procedurals, all available now for a new generation of readers to discover and enjoy.
