London's Glory: The Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit by Christopher Fowler

First Sentence from “About the Book”:  ‘Do you remember that corpse we found in the snow with nobody else’s footprints around it?’ asked Arthur Bryant.

      

Eleven delightful stories from the case files of London’s Peculiar Crimes Unit have been gathered together into an absolutely delightful, intriguing collection of clever mysteries.

      

This is one time when the introduction is as interesting as are the stories.  Fowler writes about the history of crime novels, as well as the differences between fiction and reality in crime.  He pays homage to the great, Golden Age writers, some of whom man he Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit y may never have heard or read; i.e., Kyril Bonfiglioli, Joyce Porter, Pamela Branch, R. Austin Freeman, and Gladys Mitchell as well, of course, Allingham, Christie, Doyle and others.

      

Including a “Dramitis Personae” is something one might wish more authors would do.  Folwer goes a bit beyond the ordinary in that he takes the time to describe a bit about each character—“He’s a sturdy, decent sort, married with a son, although he gets a little overenthusiastic when it comes to discussing crimes scenes and can bore for England on the subject of inefficient internet service providers.” 
      

The eleven stories include diverse time settings and locales.  Included are a trip to see Santa, a locked room murder in a park, as well as a true locked-room murder, a carnival, swimming pool, receipt of a credit card, a yacht,   The motives and solutions are fascinating and surprising, and not ones one can anticipate.

      

“London's Glory:  The Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit” is a wonderful collection.  Each case and solution is as unique as are Bryant, May and the members of the Peculiar Crimes Unit.   It’s the perfect book for both followers of the series, and as an introduction to new readers.  

LONDON’S GLORY:  The Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit  (Pol. Proc/SS-Bryant and May-London-Contemp) – VG

      Fowler, Christopher – Short Story Collection

      Alibi, Mar 2016