Page Updated: 08/10/98
Michael Gilbert
Michael Gilbert
Michael Gilbert's Criminal Career A Profile by Martin Edwards
About the Author
Bibliography
Over and OutOver and Out New30 Sep 98
Young PetrellaYoung Petrella
Smallbone DeceasedSmallbone Deceased
The Doors OpenThe Doors Open


New First British Edition - Hale (1998) (1998)

Over and Out
As World War One creeps forward into its fourth year, and the British Army sinks into the obscene slime of Passchendale, so does a new threat loom; the fear that disgust at the unending, pointless slaughter will sap the morale of the fighting men. Desertion, starting as a trickle, threatens to develop into a flood.
Luke Pagan, transferred to the Intelligence Corps, has been given the job of investigating a dangerous organisation, controlled by Belgian traitor, Rud Naroch, which encourages British soldiers to quit the increasing horrors of the trenches and move across into the welcoming arms of Germany.
It is a perilous assignment which takes him and his disreputable side-kick, Joe Narrabone, to the brink of disaster
'Leave it to Gilbert to keep readers hooked while making his tale reverberate with all kinds of historical chords.' Publishers Weekly
'In Gilbert's always entertaining period mysteries ... one has a thoroughly enjoyable, intelligent crime novel.' Booklist
'Gilbert has unequalled narrative abilities to carry the readers along' Chicago Tribune
'Gilbert is deservedly regarded as one of the icons of crime fiction' Philadelphia Inquirer
'Entertaining. [He] artfully melds history and espionage into an interesting tale' Publishers Weekly
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First British Edition - Hodder & Stoughton (1988)

Young Petrella
Patrick Petrella was considered something of a curiosity at Divisional Headquarters. He certainly brought unusual qualifications to the lowly rank of detective constable. Son of a Spanish policeman and an English school mistress, he spoke four languages including Arabic, could judge wines, pick locks, and had the sort of endlessly enquiring mind which once caused Superintendent Barstow to ask if his latest recruit knew why God gave young policemen two feet but only one head.
Petrella's north London beat covers a world of small-time burglars, shady pawnbrokers, outraged ratepayers, juvenile delinquents, curious property dealers, clever fences and bent solicitors. More seriously, it touches gang rivalry, drug trafficking and murder. Sometimes it takes him across the Channel.
These sixteen stories, following Petrella's career as Detective Constable and his promotion to Detective Sergeant, come from the 1950s and 1960s when they appeared in Mystery Magazine and Argosy. They are collected here in book form for the first time and mark the beginning of a police career, a later stage of which has already been recorded in hard covers under the title, Petrella at Q. These popular London police procedural stories emerge as classics of the genre - Michael Gilbert at what he knows best is unbeatable.
Praise for Michael Gilbert
 "Mr Michael Gilbert understands the thriller theory to perfection." SPECTATOR
"From Michael Gilbert one expects super-civilised writing and he does not disappoint." NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
'What a joy to read a writer who is never short of ideas and gets better as he Bets older." MAIL ON SUNDAY
"Michael Gilbert appeals to that ancient and simple need in us, the story." H.R.F. Keating, THE TIMES
"Michael Gilbert tells a story almost better than anyone else." T.J. Binyon, TLS
"Any book by Michael Gilbert is a treat." Jessica Mann, DAILY TELEGRAPH
THE BLACK SERAPHIM
"Grips like a bishop's gaiters." The Guardian
"Very well observed, splendidly plotted." The Standard
"Michael Gilbert tells the story beautifully.' Times Literary Supplement
THE LONG JOURNEY HOME
'Mr Gilbert commutes splendidly between low villains and boardroom criminality, at ease in every environment, setting out a sweet-sour entertainment." Sunday Times
TROUBLE
"Gilbert stirs the headlines into life with hair-trigger authority." Observer
"Plotting and pace are immaculate, the people utterly believable and not a word is wasted." Sunday Telegraph
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Paperback - Hodder & Stoughton (1954)
Smallbone Deceased
Could such a thing really happen to the impeccably legal firm of Horniman, Birley and Craine? The use of hermetically sealed deed-boxes was one of the finer points of the Horniman system: and it was scarcely to be expected that the body of one of the firm's clients should be found dead, after some weeks, in the Ichabod Stokes Trust Box.



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Paperback - Hodder & Stoughton (1953)

The Doors Open
Why was Mr. Britten killed? What did his employer, Mr Legate, the outward and visible sign of authority in the Stalagmite Fire and Accident Insurance Corporation, know about it? Chief-Inspector Hazelrigg-and Lord Cedarbrook--made some startling discoveries.



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About The Author
After serving in the Second World War, Michael Gilbert completed his training as a solicitor. He was a founder member of the Crime Writers' Association, and has had thirty crime novels and six collections of crime short stories published. He was given the Swedish Grand Master Award in 1981 and the Edgar Allan Poe Grand Master Award of the Mystery Writers of America in 1987. He is married with seven children and lives in Kent.

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Bibliography
N.B. dates and publishers in dark red indicate British First Editions. Dates and publishers in black indicate recent reprints.

  • Over and Out (Hale, 1998) New Sep 98
  • Into Battle (Hale, 1997) (Luke Pagan)
  • Ring of Terror (1995) (Luke Pagan)
  • Roller-Coaster (1993) (Patrick Petrella)
  • The Queen Against Karl Mullen (Hodder & Stoughton, 1991) (Luke Pagan)
  • Anything for a Quiet Life Short Stories (Hodder & Stoughton, 1990) (Jonas Pickett)
  • Paint, Gold and Blood (Hodder & Stoughton, 1989)
  • Young Petrella Short Stories (Hodder & Stoughton, 1988) (Patrick Petrella)
  • Trouble (Hodder & Stoughton, 1987)
  • The Long Journey Home (Hodder & Stoughton, 1985)
  • The Black Seraphim (Hodder & Stoughton, 1983)
  • The Final Throw (Hodder & Stoughton, 1982)
  • Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens Short Stories (Hodder & Stoughton, 1982) Daniel John Calder and Samuel Behrens ( Calder & Behrens)
  • Death of a Favourite Girl (Hodder & Stoughton, 1980) (Mercer and Charlie Knott)
  • The Empty House (Hodder & Stoughton, 1978)
  • Petrella at Q Short Stories (Hodder & Stoughton, 1977) (Patrick Petrella)
  • The Night of the Twelfth (Hodder & Stoughton, 1976)
  • Flash Point (Hodder & Stoughton, 1974)
  • The Ninety-Second Tiger (Hodder & Stoughton, 1973) Black Dagger Jul 98
  • The Body of a Girl (Hodder & Stoughton, 1972) (Mercer and Charlie Knott)
  • Stay of Execution and Other Stories of Legal Practice Short Stories (Hodder & Stoughton, 1971) (Patrick Petrella)
  • The Etruscan Net (Hodder & Stoughton, 1969)
  • Game Without Rules Short Stories (Hodder & Stoughton, 1968) ( Calder & Behrens)
  • The Dust and the Heat (Hodder & Stoughton, 1967)
  • The Crack in the Teacup (Hodder & Stoughton, 1966)
  • After the Fine Weather (Hodder & Stoughton, 1963)
  • Blood and Judgement (Hodder & Stoughton, 1959) (Patrick Petrella)
  • Be Shot for Sixpence (Hodder & Stoughton, 1956)
  • Sky High (Hodder & Stoughton, 1955)
  • Fear to Tread (Hodder & Stoughton, 1953) (Wilfred Wetherall)
  • Death in Captivity (Hodder & Stoughton, 1952)
  • Death Has Deep Roots (Hodder & Stoughton, 1951) ( Hazelrigg)
  • Smallbone Deceased (Hodder & Stoughton, 1950) Hodder & Stoughton Pbk 1954 ( Hazelrigg)
  • The Doors Open (Hodder & Stoughton, 1949) Hodder & Stoughton Pbk 1953 ( Hazelrigg)
  • They Never Looked Inside (Hodder & Stoughton, 1948) ( Hazelrigg)
  • Close Quarters (Hodder & Stoughton, 1947) ( Hazelrigg)
  • Amateur in Violence Short Stories New York, Davis, 1973 (Patrick Petrella)

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