Editor David Skene-Melvin has produced an entertaining and important collection of fine writers, each with a uniquely Canadian twist to their styles and theme. Here are fine examples of the best work by Robert Service, John Dent, William Fraser and Roger Pocock.
The editor's introductory essay is fascinating, surpassed only by the stories themselves. Our favorite character is Madame Storey who solved crimes using insight into women's psychology but written by Hulbert Footner.
Mr Harvey O'Higgins was also included with his fine detective stories written for adults, but with a teenage PI protagonist.
Essential for any mystery fanatic or public library who cares about getting their patrons to read. Simon & Pierre/Dundurn Press Toronto $18.99/US$16.75 0-88924-260-7. (Watch for upcoming special issue of New Mystery, Bad Canada, featuring new crime fiction from Canada's newest authors.
THE YEAR'S 25 FINEST CRIME & MYSTERY STORIES is a fine collection of some big name contributions mixed with stories nominated for the Edgar and Golden Daggar Awards short lists.
This is a safe collection, the editors take no risks by including Mary Higgins Clark, John Lutz and Robert Barnard. In spite of such caution, however, several excellent stories appear and most are well worth reading especially, With Anchovies, by Mr Lutz, and Bill Pronzini's fine piece, Out of the Depths.
For book collectors, we recommend two fine reference books:
BOOK COLLECTING 1995 by the respected duo, Allen and Patricia Ahearn, (Putnam $35.) is the latest in the series of Ahearn guides for estimating the value of first editions and first printings of first books, updated to include the works of over 5,000 authors. It includes glossaries and lists of dealers. Our critic was immediately rewarded by finding the real name of Trevanian, his favorite but unknown mystery writer. Recommended.
Another one for collectors, THE BLOODY DAGGER REFERENCE is a fine new price guide to mystery, crime and detection fiction with many prestigious and active book dealers contributing. Compiled and edited by insurpressable Nick Pappas of Bloody Dagger Books in San Diego it is $35 from BD Books, 3817 Shasta St #D, San Diego, CA 92109. The big red book is a fun haggling handbook for bookfairs. Recommended. by Linda Wong.