Murder at the manor

Another volume of British Library Crime Classics. This is a collection of country house mysteries ranging from "The Copper Beeches" by [a:Arthur Conan Doyle|2448|Arthur Conan Doyle|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1289836561p2/2448.jpg] to "Weekend at Wapentake" by [a:Michael Gilbert|15451774|Michael Gilbert|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]. There are stories featuring Raffles ("Gentlemen and Players") and Max Carrados ("The Secret of Dunstan's Tower"), stories involving lesser-known characters by [a:Sapper|370972|Sapper|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1273670055p2/370972.jpg] ("The Horror at Staveley Grange") and [a:G.K. Chesterton|7014283|G.K. Chesterton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1365860649p2/7014283.jpg] ("The White Pillars Murders"). This is a very good mix of stories, styles, and authors, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A few of my favorites:

"The Copper Beeches" by Arthur Conan Doyle - Do I need to explain this? Sherlock Holmes is always fun.

"The White Pillars Murders" by G. K. Chesterton features a detective I have never heard of, Dr. Adrian Hyde, who is totally unlike Father Brown - tall, gangling, and awkward with a taste for the finer things in life. The case is actually solved by his two young assistants, who are World War I veterans. The solution to the crime is very surprising.

"The Secret of Dunstan's Tower" by [a:Ernest Bramah|92718|Ernest Bramah|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1339898729p2/92718.jpg] concerns a mysterious bloodstain that appears on a staircase whenever a member of the Aynosforde family is about to die. Max Carrados is called in by a former school friend to investigate when the bloodstain appears, threatening the life of the elderly Mrs Aynosforde.

"The Manor House Mystery" by [a:J.S. Fletcher|1462007|J.S. Fletcher|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1317924658p2/1462007.jpg] is a traditional mystery with a neat little twist.

"The Horror at Staveley Grange" by Sapper features Ronald Standish, who is referred to as Sapper's "second-string hero." He is called in by an old friend to investigate the deaths of her fiance's father and older brother, and keep the same thing happening to the young man. The method of murder is rather bizarre and hard to believe, but the story is entertaining.

"The Mystery of Horne's Copse" by [a:Anthony Berkeley|246785|Anthony Berkeley|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1408927615p2/246785.jpg] features his amateur detective, Roger Sheringham, and Chief Inspector Moresby. It's a complex story with a lot of twists and turns. It was originally published as a magazine serial, which explains a lot. Personally, I think it ran on a little long, but it was still a good story.

"The Perfect Plan" by [a:James Hilton|2031|James Hilton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1331248994p2/2031.jpg] - Hilton is best known as the author of [b:Goodbye Mr Chips|2141948|Goodbye Mr Chips|James Hilton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1348024958s/2141948.jpg|2147442], [b:Lost Horizon|13637810|Lost Horizon|James Hilton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1336400914s/13637810.jpg|1180015], and [b:Random Harvest|23897990|Random Harvest|James Hilton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1433838199s/23897990.jpg|6860]. However, he also wrote the occasional mystery ([b:Murder At School|6472491|Murder At School|James Hilton|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1394421583s/6472491.jpg|1976667]). This is one of my favorite stories in the book - the tale of a much put-upon man who kills his employee in what he believes to be the perfect murder plot. However, there's a catch. Great ending.

"An Unlocked Window" by [a:Ethel Lina White|11217|Ethel Lina White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/authors/1449202830p2/11217.jpg] - White is best known as the author of [b:Some Must Watch|64883|Some Must Watch|Ethel Lina White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1339447782s/64883.jpg|62975] (filmed as "The Spiral Staircase") and [b:The Wheel Spins|12364191|The Wheel Spins |Ethel Lina White|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1367433089s/12364191.jpg|1011180] (filmed as "The Lady Vanishes"). This story is about a nurse who is watching over an invalid in an otherwise empty house. The doctor on the case has called in another nurse to help her. Meanwhile, there is a serial killer loose - a medical student with a grudge against nurses. This is a well-written, truly scary story with a wonderful twist at the end. This is my favorite story of the entire volume.

The reason this book only gets four stars from me is simple - there is no index and the table of contents does not list page numbers. The book title is listed at the top of every page rather than the title of the story. This makes finding a particular story rather difficult. I have no idea why they did that, but it's annoying.

Otherwise, this is a very good collection of mystery stories and well worth trying.