The Mystery of the Skeleton Key (Detective Club Crime Classics)
Language: English
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Limited, 2015
- Hardcover
- Used

Seller: Better World Books Ltd, Dunfermline, United KingdomBetter World Books Ltd
AbeBooks seller since October 13, 2008
Condition: Used - Very good
£ 12.29
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
Seller Inventory # GRP102803782
- Title
- The Mystery of the Skeleton Key (Detective Club Crime Classics)
- Author
- Capes, Bernard
- Publisher
- HarperCollins Publishers Limited
- Publication year
- 2015
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0008137145
- ISBN 13
- 9780008137144
- Item weight
- 0.595 pounds
- Dimensions
- N/A
The fourth in a new series of classic detective stories from the vaults of HarperCollins involves a tragic accident during a shooting party. As the story switches between Paris and Hampshire, the possibility of it not being an accident seems to grow more likely.
“The Detective Story Club”, launched by Collins in 1929, was a clearing house for the best and most ingenious crime stories of the age, chosen by a select committee of experts. Now, almost 90 years later, these books are the classics of the Golden Age, republished at last with the same popular cover designs that appealed to their original readers.
The Mystery of the Skeleton Key, first published in 1919, has the distinction of being the first detective novel commissioned and published by Collins, though it was Bernard Capes’ only book in the genre, as he died shortly before it was published. This is how the Detective Club announced their edition ten years later:
“Mr Arnold Bennett, in a recent article, criticised the ad hoc characterisation and human interest in the detective novels of to-day. “The Mystery of the Skeleton Key” contains, in addition to a clever crime problem and plenty of thrills, a sensible love story, humour, excellent characterisation and strong human interest. The scenes are laid in Paris and Hampshire. The story deals with a crime committed in the grounds of a country house and the subsequent efforts of a clever young detective the track down the perpetrator. The Selection Committee of “The Detective Story Club” have no hesitation in recommending this splendid thriller as one which will satisfy the most exacting reader of detective fiction.”
This new edition comes with a brand new introduction by Capes expert and anthologist, Hugh Lamb.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Bernard Edward Joseph Capes (1854-1918) was a prolific Victorian author who published more than 40 books - romances, ghost stories, poetry and history - and won awards in England and America. He is best remembered as an accomplished writer of horror stories in the vein of M.R. James, and has the distinction of writing the first detective novel commissioned and published by Collins - The Skeleton Key in 1919, whose enormous success (8 different editions in 10 years) paved the way for a century of crime books. It was his only crime book, as Capes died in the influenza epidemic on 2 November 1918 before The Skeleton Key was published. A plaque commemorating his life is in Winchester Cathedral, near where he lived.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Better World Books Ltd
Dunfermline, United Kingdom
AbeBooks seller since October 13, 2008
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