Series: Mystery Makers | Publication Date: October 1, 1985
Leopold in these 24stories is the head of homicide, later to become the department of violent crimes. Because he is given to interior musing, we learn the workings of the mind of a thoughtful detective. Showing Leopold’s mind, Hoch develops nuances of character rare in mystery stories.
“The House by the Ferris” poses a typical Hoch problem. Ancient crone Stella Gaze predicts that four men will die—by earth, air, fire, and water. Leopold is called in when one man drowns, is called again when another burns. The crimes seem to have been concocted by a witch.
The Captain Leopold tales—like most mysteries written by Edward D. Hoch— feature “bizarre crimes, subtle clues, brilliant deduction, and of course the ethos of playing fair with the reader that distinguishes the work of Carr, Christie, and Queen.”—Francis M. Nevins, Jr., from the Introduction
About the Author
Francis M. Nevins, Jr., is a prolific writer of short stories with two novels to his credit.
Martin H. Greenberg is the author or editor of more than 100 books.
Product Details
Hardcover: 360 pages
Publisher: Southern Illinois University Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1985)
This review is from: Leopold's Way: Detective Stories of Edward D. Hoch (Mystery Makers) (Hardcover)
This volume collects a generous amount of stories about Captain Leopold, one of the many detectives created by the great Edward D. Hoch, the king of the detective short story. The Captain Leopold stories may be thought of, in a way, as Hoch's police procedurals. But, as is usual with Hoch, the stories are in the best classical detective story mold, and more than one of these is an impossible crime. And Francis Nevins provides his usually instructive and entertaining introduction. You will not be dissapointed with this volume.
It is a pity that a volume such as this is out of print. Also, that no additional collection of Leopold stories has been published, although there may be hope of this. Perhaps Douglas Greene and his Crippen & Landru, or Five Star will fill the void.
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