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...

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...

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.

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...

When the body of a murdered deaf-mute vagrant is found in a West End square, Scotland Yard have trouble finding a motive for the deed. When the body of another deaf-mute, apparently a suicide, is found in the grounds of a Hendon hotel, the police are even more baffled. Are the crimes related? And did the first murder have anything to do with a recent spate of jewel robberies in the houses near where the body was found? These are the questions that Superintendent "Paddy" Mix and C...

The little town of Martley is alive with gossip concerning Julius Hennessy, who has been spending a great deal of time on the golf links with the young and pretty wife of Mr. Holt the solicitor. Mrs. Hennessy, meanwhile, has also been exciting gossip, on account of the amount of time she has been spending on the river fishing in the company of Bill French. Thomas Brown, a man whose interest in criminology has led to a growing friendship with Captain Maylem of the local police, has also att...

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.

Dansford, the wealthy financier, has arranged a meeting with seven fellow businessmen, to be held at his country residence, 'Colham Gorse'. Each of the seven men represent a failing concern, which Dansford is convinced he will be able to make good - if only his guests are willing to accede to his terms. Also present is the house's previous owner, Chauncey Colham, and his niece Letty, whom Dansford now employs as his host and hostess. Tensions run high, but when Dansford is found dead at th...

When Colonel Coppe, an elderly bachelor, inherits a fortune from his father, he is keen to do right by his large extended family. As well as setting up his various nieces and nephews in appropriate professions, he takes care to make the necessary provisions in his will. Everyone is content - until, that is, the Colonel becomes engaged to a local widow, Mrs. Brown. On the evening the Colonel announces his engagement, and the terms of his new will, one of the family resorts to murder in orde...

When a policeman patrolling a country market in the sleepy village of Sulcote spots a car parked illegally on the Green, he knows he must wake the sleeping occupant and move him along. But the policeman is in for a shock. The Sulcote constabulary are about to encounter their first murder investigation for over a century - and the victim is a Chief Inspector from Scotland Yard...  Originally published in 1933 in Collins's celebrated 'Crime Club' imprint, this is an intrigu...