but also a masterful mystery writer – winner of the Diamond Dagger planted in him by the Crime Writers Association, and a Grand Master kiss from the Mystery Writers of America. Toward the end of his career, he didn’t have much respect for short stories, but earlier – from 1950 to 1955 – he wrote a series of stories for the London Evening Standard about a private eye called Francis Quarles with an office in Trafalgar Square and a history of secret activities during World War II. The dedicated Crippen & Landru have put together 41 of these previously uncollected outings as part of their Lost Classics series, and each is a tasty morsel from a menu which no longer exists.Friday, May 12, 2006
Julian Symons, who died in 1994, was not only the brother (and biographer) of the author of the amazing THE QUEST FOR CORVO but also a masterful mystery writer – winner of the Diamond Dagger planted in him by the Crime Writers Association, and a Grand Master kiss from the Mystery Writers of America. Toward the end of his career, he didn’t have much respect for short stories, but earlier – from 1950 to 1955 – he wrote a series of stories for the London Evening Standard about a private eye called Francis Quarles with an office in Trafalgar Square and a history of secret activities during World War II. The dedicated Crippen & Landru have put together 41 of these previously uncollected outings as part of their Lost Classics series, and each is a tasty morsel from a menu which no longer exists.
but also a masterful mystery writer – winner of the Diamond Dagger planted in him by the Crime Writers Association, and a Grand Master kiss from the Mystery Writers of America. Toward the end of his career, he didn’t have much respect for short stories, but earlier – from 1950 to 1955 – he wrote a series of stories for the London Evening Standard about a private eye called Francis Quarles with an office in Trafalgar Square and a history of secret activities during World War II. The dedicated Crippen & Landru have put together 41 of these previously uncollected outings as part of their Lost Classics series, and each is a tasty morsel from a menu which no longer exists.
