Customer Reviews

The Best British Mysteries

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This is a compilation of short stories from experienced crime and mystery writers, as well as relative newcomers. Indeed, it is difficult not to be entertained by the distinctive styles in Ian Rankin's "Saint Nicked", or Simon Brett's "Exit, Pursued" (bound to be a hit with Shakespeare fans), both of which lead the reader on a meandering course of false trails before their sly endings. A notable new voice is Mat Coward, whose "Too Subtle for Me" both utilizes and mocks existing mystery standards.

On the other hand, there are many stories in the book that fall short of the complexity that is needed for a mystery/crime story; experienced mystery readers will be able to discover a large number of twists within the first paragraphs. As an example of British crime telling it is patchy, but there are spots of great fun.

I took this book out of the library because my mom loves mysteries. But she said none of the books were really murder mysteries, and upon reading about half of the stories I agree. They are more stories of revenge and death, with very little of the traditional mystery involved. I found I didn't much enjoy reading them and didn't finish the book.

This anthology serves as an excellent introduction to the current crime fiction scene in Britain. Excellent up and comers and a few bestsellers known over here as well are represented allowing a chance to get in on the ground floor of the next Rankin.

Some of the best and brightest in the genre are reprsented here. Wonderful short stories that are a very good look at today's British writers. These aren't traditional mysteries like Agatha Christie, but that's not whats being written today and it's not representative of todays world.

In particular I loved the fact that all the stories are a bit different from one another. You definitly can not judge the whole collection by one story.

The Best British Mysteries provides an excellent introduction to many of the best British mystery writers. Each story was interesting, and many were outstanding. I recommend choosing several of these authors and reading at least one of their full-length mysteries.
I hope to see similar collections offered in the future.

Each story is unique and absorbing; sometimes the ending is so unexpected I have to catch my breath; for example; The Greatest Trick of All, by Lee Childs, unforgettable!

I was disgusted with this book. For one thing, the title is deceptive because the stories do not meet what I had always considered the definition of mystery stories. They are short stories and admittedly well-written as far as content and structure are concerned, but they are not mystery stories in the tradition of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle. Furthermore each story was depressing and most were filled with enough vulgarity to make me sick to my stomach. I would be embarrassed for anyone to see this book in my collection. I returned it to the bookstore for store credit, but if they had not taken it back I would have thrown it in the trash.

If you love mysteries or are new to the field and want to discover some of the best writers in the business, than this is the book for you! Wonderful stories from names many will recognize as regulars on the best-seller lists here in the States, and from others who are best sellers in Britain. This book is a must read for anyone who loves good writing let alone a good mystery!!

Imaginatively compiled and deftly edited by Maxim Jakubowksi, The Best British Mysteries is an impressive and rivetingly entertaining anthology of chilling mystery and suspense tales drawn from the very cream of British crime writers. An often dark, sometimes demented, but always enthralling compilation of delectably selected tales of mystery and suspense, The Best British Mysteries is a "must read" compendium for dedicated mystery story enthusiasts.

If you enjoy British mystery authors such as Elizabeth George, PD James, Martha Grimes,or the established Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle, and you are hoping to find similar fare in this anthology, you will be disappointed. The first story was so offensive, basically a detailed description of pedaphilia, that I tore it out of the book. I have never done this before and do not regret it. The other included stories were also disappointing.