Detective Stories (Story Library) (Hardcover)

~ Philip Pullman (Author) "OF ALL THE HEROES in story, one of my favorites is the detective..." (more)
Key Phrases: fat sergeant, sensitized paper, great detective, Big Butch, Harry the Horse, Cross of Lorraine (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 9 Up-An unusual and uneven collection of tales from across the past century, though most date to the first half of that period. Authors include masters such as Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie and lesser known or newer writers such as Andrew Vachss and Raymond Smullyan. In addition, Pullman has chosen the work of some authors not normally considered "detective" writers at all-Isaac Asimov, Italo Calvino, Damon Runyon. All of the selections are well written and plotted, and are overwhelmingly selected from authors writing for adults. Herein lies the unevenness. The styles of the various authors and the ages of their characters should pose little problem for young adults who like to read. Why then, one wonders, has Pullman included chapters from Emil and the Detectives, which are both inconclusive as selected and too childish to be enjoyed by most of the seemingly intended audience? One likewise questions the inclusion of "Murder at St. Oswald's," set in a British boys' school among "middle school" students whose behavior seems about on par with American sixth graders. On the other hand, older readers can simply skip these entries and enjoy instead what is likely to be their first exposure to Runyon, Calvino, Vachss, and Dorothy Sayers. The inclusion of one "true story," Tony Fletcher's "Fingerprinting a Ghost," is both a marvelous idea and a marvelous choice.
Coop Renner, Coldwell Elementary-Intermediate School, El Paso, TX
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-12. Teenagers with a taste for classic (mostly British), cerebral mysteries, as opposed to the more contemporary American shoot-'em-up variety, will find plenty to occupy them in this collection, even though not all the offerings are detective stories in the strict sense. Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, and Sherlock Holmes do show off their investigative talents, but Pullman also includes a parody, an "Italian folktale," a selection of "you-solve it" puzzles, and a funny story by Damon Runyan about a safecracker who brings his baby to work. An excerpt from Erich Kastner's children's book Emil and the Detectives, now out of print, is a bit disappointing, as it ends at a very exciting part. Readers looking for mysteries by women aren't well served: only Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie are in the author roundup. And, to find a solid mystery with a female protagonist, they will need to go to Pullman's own excellent Victorian puzzler, The Ruby in Smoke (1988). Stephanie Zvirin

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Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (April 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753451573
• ISBN-13: 978-0753451571
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,810,954 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, September 26, 2000

By A Customer

This book was the scariest book I have ever read. All of the characters are deep, and the plots are very complex and twisted. It is a thuroughly enchanting book, all of the books in it, I should say. All of the stories grab you and don't let go. It's a full time thriller, you can't get away.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of some of the best detective stories ever., March 31, 2001

By	"shayamorph" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Detective Stories (Story Library) (Paperback)

DETECTIVE STORIES is a wonderful compilation of a few of the best detective stories that have ever been written. Some stories, others elaborate, some puzzling, and some rather comical, this wonderful novel includes mysteries written by legendary detective authors such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Ellery Queen, Raymond Smullyan, Issac Asimov, Italo Calvino, And Tony Fletcher. The first story, THE SPECKLED BAND, is by Arthur Conan Doyle and features everyone's favorite detective: Sherlock Holmes. It's a little bit of a scary story involving a terrified woman who hears the strange, low whistle is the night air that once killed her sister while she was sleeping. The mystery is deep and dangerous, and chilling. Another personal favorite of mine was THE CROSS OF LORRAINE by Isaac Asimov, which elaborately tells the story of a keen magician who met a woman who disappeared as soon as he took a liking in her. Even he can't find her, and when he tells the story of the vanished lady to guests at a dinner, the plot of the mysterious vanishing thickens. Yet another wonderful mystery is that of FINGERPRINTING A GHOST, by Tony Fletcher. It is a frightening tale that involves the obvious supernatural: taking the fingerprints of a mysterious ghost that appears and reappears in an old house in order to solve a mystery. These are just some of the mysteries available in this great novel selected by my favorite author, Philip Pullman, who also wrote the wonderful HIS DARK MATERIALS trilogy and the thrilling Sally Lockhart mystery trilogy. It even has one very silly and comical story just for fun in case the reader has had too many serious reads. Any detective story fan shouldn't miss out on this thrilling read, perfect just before bed when it is at the peak of its fright.

3.0 out of 5 stars A nice and eclectic mix of Detective Stories, some are sure to be familiar while others will be new to you, February 24, 2008

By	Joshua E. Garfinkle (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Detective Stories (Red Hot Reads) (Paperback)

I am always pleased to see what authors whom I enjoy, themselves enjoy reading. This book is full of an eclectic mix of Detective stories from the well known (Sherlock Holmes) to the lesser known, but all are sure to please.