Edmund Crispin
Edmund Crispin was the pseudonym of Bruce Montgomery, an English crime writer and composer, known for his Gervase Fen mystery series, which featured an eccentric and scholarly detective. He was also a noted composer of film scores. Crispin's writing is characterized by its humor, complex plots, and literary allusions. He was a contemporary of other classic British mystery authors, including Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. The Moving Toyshop
In this classic British detective novel, a poet on holiday in Oxford stumbles upon a woman's body in a toyshop at night, only to find the shop has vanished by morning. Teaming up with an eccentric literature professor, the poet embarks on a whimsical and cerebral quest to solve the mystery, navigating a labyrinth of literary references, quirky characters, and puzzling clues. The story combines elements of farce and traditional whodunit, leading to a climactic chase and an unexpected twist, all set against the backdrop of the historic university town.
-
2. The Case Of The Gilded Fly
This book is a classic detective novel set in post-World War II Oxford, where a group of actors and playwrights gather to stage a new play. Amidst the theatrical setting, a complex murder mystery unfolds when a despised actress is found dead, seemingly a suicide. However, the astute and eccentric amateur detective, also a professor of English at Oxford, suspects foul play. Using his unique blend of literary knowledge and logical reasoning, he delves into the lives and secrets of the theatrical troupe, unraveling a web of jealousy, ambition, and deceit to expose the murderer. The narrative is celebrated for its witty dialogue, atmospheric setting, and the clever intertwining of literary references with a classic whodunit plot.
