Customer Reviews

Victorian Tales of Mystery and Detection: An Oxford Anthology

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

 

 

So fascinating a collection that I ordered it twice for the pleasure of having it in two formats. Too bad it is not always available or easily available as a new item. A must have for lovers of the genre and novices alike.
Excellent intoductory section. Highly recommended.

This is the second Oxford anthology I'm taking the trouble to criticize, and for the same reason as the first. The title tells of 'mystery and detection.' Does that suggest to you detective fiction? It did to me. Instead, in the first few stories I get 'suspense' fiction. No detectives, no mystery presented and solved. Just crime stories whose endings resolve the 'mystery,' such as it is. Now the stories are well written, and I don't mind reading some of them, but I would not have taken the book out of the library if it had been titled 'Victorian Suspense Stories.' I happen to be on a detective fiction kick, and I want what I want. I don't think it's asking too much to demand truth in labeling.

I rated the book two stars to make my point. If you happen to be looking for a book of crime/suspense stories, this would be a perfectly good place to start. If you expect 'Mystery and Detection' to include both mystery and detection, look elsewhere. Unfortunately, the publisher is playing games here.