This beautifully illustrated edition brings together some of the finest works by Vernon Loder, a master craftsman of Golden Age detective fiction. With a talent for intricate plots, sharp dialogue, and atmospheric settings, Loder's mysteries remain a compelling experience for readers who enjoy clever puzzles wrapped in polished prose. In Between Twelve and One, a mysterious death during the midnight hours sets the stage for a suspenseful investigation full of secrets and twists. The Vase M...

MR TOBIAS MANDER’S NEW STORES in Gaffikin Street had been a public wonder from start to finish. From the moment that this almost unknown man from the west country had visualised the idea of a store that would beat all other stores for cheapness combined with luxury, a highly-paid press-agent had seen to it that the country should join vicariously in the building and equipment.

When a guest at Stowe House is found dead, killed by a lethal dart, suspicion naturally falls on the resident collector of poisoned weapons from tribes in South America. With the entire house party as potential suspects, what part did the woman explorer play in this sinister tragedy? The local police are baffled, and call on the help of an amateur, whose recent assignment working with bushmen in Africa brings new insight into an increasingly unconventional investigation.

The Classic Collection of John Haslette Vahey is an extensive illustrated anthology of classic mystery, detective, and adventure fiction featuring fifteen captivating works . Blending traditional detective fiction with elements of psychological drama, espionage, and adventurous intrigue, these novels capture the atmosphere of early twentieth-century mystery literature. Each story presents a carefully constructed puzzle filled with unexpected twists, suspicious characters, concealed motives...

Originally published in the Golden Age of detective fiction, Between Twelve and One by Vernon Loder is a tightly plotted, atmospheric mystery that blends classic whodunit structure with a touch of psychological complexity. Set in a quiet English town shaken by a chilling murder, the novel showcases Loder’s gift for suspense, character development, and ingenious plotting. The story begins with the discovery of a dead body shortly after midnight—an apparent accident or suicide at first glanc...

Originally published in 1930, The Shop Window Murders is a stylish and cleverly plotted mystery by Vernon Loder, one of the key contributors to Britain’s Golden Age of detective fiction. With its unique setting and surprising twists, this novel stands out as one of Loder’s most inventive and engaging works. The story begins with a gruesome discovery in the heart of London: a corpse displayed behind the glass of a department store window. The shocking tableau stops pedestrians in their trac...

The Vase Mystery is a gripping and cleverly constructed detective novel by Vernon Loder, a notable figure of the Golden Age of British crime fiction. Known for his clean prose, tightly woven plots, and atmospheric settings, Loder once again delivers a suspenseful and satisfying mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the final reveal. The story centers around a seemingly simple object—an ornate antique vase—that becomes the key to a dark and puzzling crime. When a murder occurs in an ...

The Mystery at Stowe (1928) marks one of the earliest and most notable entries in Vernon Loder’s career as a master of Golden Age detective fiction. Set in the elegant and secretive world of an English country house, this novel offers everything fans of classic mysteries love: a suspicious death, a closed circle of suspects, and a detective determined to untangle the truth. When a weekend gathering at the grand estate of Stowe ends in a sudden death, what first appears to be suicide quickl...

First published by Collins in 1928, this was the first of 22 mystery novels by Vernon Loder, one of the most popular British mystery-thriller writers of his generation.When a guest at Stowe House is found dead, killed by a lethal dart, suspicion naturally falls on the resident collector of poisoned weapons from tribes in South America. With the entire house party as potential suspects, what part did the woman explorer play in this sinister tragedy? The local police are baffled, and...

Crime novelist Edward Hope has recently purchased Fen Court, a beautiful country residence on the Essex marshes. However when he and his friend Nancy Johnson go to visit the new property, they find themselves caught up in a real-life murder mystery when three bodies are discovered in the ornamental fish-ponds.Finding himself high on the list of suspects, Hope must work in collaboration with Inspector Brews of the local police to unmask the true culprit behind this terrible deed...

All is not well in the town of Cwyll, North Wales. The Horn Hotel is doing a brisk trade, with anglers coming from far and wide to enjoy the local fishing. But amongst them is Solomon Hayes, an unpleasant womaniser who has already come to blows with one of the guests over his selfish and rude behaviour. So no-one is entirely surprised when Hayes's body is discovered floating face down in one of the fishing pools - his throat pierced by a gaff. But who committed the crime? And what has happ...

The delight of Christmas shoppers at the unveiling of a London department store’s famous window display turns to horror when one of the mannequins is discovered to be a dead body…Mander’s Department Store in London’s West End is so famous for its elaborate window displays that on Monday mornings crowds gather to watch the window blinds being raised on a new weekly display. On this particular Monday, just a few weeks before Christmas, the onlookers quickly realise that one of the fi...