Three compelling crime novels from different eras of British fiction have recently been reissued, offering readers fresh opportunities to discover classic mysteries that blend intricate plotting with sharp social observation.
The Carousel of Time by Bernard O’Keeffe
The Carousel of Time by Bernard O’Keeffe (Muswell Press £10.99, 360pp) transports readers to the seemingly tranquil west London suburb of Barnes, where Inspector Garibaldi finds himself investigating a particularly perplexing case. The annual fair on Barnes Common takes a dark turn when, after closing time, the body of a woman is discovered on the carousel.
This mysterious death pits Garibaldi against a tight-knit group of old school friends who are gathering for their annual reunion. Their meeting holds particular significance this year as they commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of a tragic car crash that claimed one of their own. O’Keeffe, himself a native of Barnes, delivers a sharply observed critique of the suburban social set who resent police intrusion into their carefully maintained lives.
As Garibaldi digs deeper, it becomes apparent that these friends have substantial secrets to conceal. The investigation reveals hidden connections and long-buried truths that make this a cleverly constructed and thoroughly enjoyable mystery that challenges assumptions about idyllic suburban life.
Sky High by Michael Gilbert
Sky High by Michael Gilbert (British Library £10.99, 256pp) begins with a shocking explosion that literally blows apart the calm of an English village. The blast wrecks a house and kills its occupant, a retired Army officer about whom little is known locally.
Police investigators quickly determine that this was no accidental explosion, but find themselves baffled by the complete absence of apparent motive. The case is taken up by a determined local activist who enlists the help of her son, a former commando with specialised knowledge of booby traps and explosive devices.
Their investigation uncovers that the deceased officer was leading a sophisticated double life, though this discovery alone cannot explain his violent demise. Gilbert, one of the great post-war crime fiction writers, was a practising solicitor who avoided self-promotion during his career, which perhaps explains why he never received the full acclaim he deserved. These British Library reissues provide contemporary readers with the opportunity to appreciate his significant contribution to the genre.
Let’s Choose Executors by Sara Woods
Let’s Choose Executors by Sara Woods (Dean Street Press £10.99, 277pp) represents what many consider to be one of the most valuable rediscoveries of a long-overlooked crime writer in recent years. This 1966 legal drama follows Anthony Maitland QC, a rising star of the Central Criminal Court, as he ventures out of London to defend a woman accused of poisoning her wealthy godmother.
The prosecution’s motive appears straightforward: the victim had recently changed her will to leave everything to her godchild, completely cutting out her immediate family. This disinheritance sets in motion a complex web of deceit as family members attempt to protect one another from suspicion while concealing their own secrets.
Adding considerable tension to the proceedings, a vociferous campaign against the accused soon escalates into outright violence. Maitland finds an unlikely ally in a tough-minded local solicitor, a woman with an advanced sense of justice who helps him unravel a mystery worthy of the Golden Age of detective fiction. Woods demonstrates remarkable skill in blending legal procedural elements with classic whodunit suspense, creating a narrative that remains compelling decades after its original publication.
