MAIDEN MURDERS

by Inc. Mystery Writers of America ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 5, 1952

A collection, prefaced by Lawrence G. Blochman and introduced by John Dickson Carr, which assembles the first published short story of the authors included, who, in turn, provide a short paragraph which describes the where, why, when and how of the writing. A goodly fistful of ranking names -- Pentecost, Simenon, Boucher, Queen, de la Torre (whose fine bit of fancy turns Dr. Samuel Johnson into a sleuth in the Hebrides), Biochman, Veronica Parker Johns, Stuart Palmer (Hildegarde Withers' first appearance (which scared hell out of the Metropolitan Museum) in print), Lawrence Treat, Keeler (from 1914 with a strangler strangled story), August Derleth -- and nine others. Stanley Ellin tosses in a gruesome gourmet, Kenneth Millar uses the Navy Air arm for a murderous mother, William Gault pits a scaredy man against graft, the Princes tape a city panic, David Alexander has a grim tale in a Good Friday lynching, Ruth Wilson's unnecessary bride outthinks a lethal bridegroom, Jerome Barry lets the police win with a fourth degree, Joseph Fishman goes inside a penitentiary where a deputy warden proves tougher than his hardened criminals, and Day Keene varies the mad scientist theme. Some had novels published before their first short story, others are making a first showing in this -- and the whole, if uneven, has its interest in special starters.

Pub Date: Sept. 5, 1952

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1952

Categories: FICTION