New Crime & Mystery Fiction Titles From
Robinson
1998 July-Sept
File Updated: 01/04/00
New Crime & Mystery Fiction Titles From
Robinson
JULY-SEPT 1998
Mike Ashley
Shakespearean Detectives
Pbk published August 1998 by Robinson at £6.99
ISBN: 1 85487 559 0
Artwork by: Cover: The Senate
See Review by
Martin Edwards
- author of the highly acclaimed Harry Devlin Mysteries Shakespearean Whodunnits set some of our best-known historical detective writers to considering the 'real' mysteries behind Shakespeare's plays. Now Shakespearean Detectives continues the investigation, setting further puzzles based on plays and poems not featured in the first book, as well as putting Shakespeare himself in the picture.
Wonderfully entertaining mysteries, murder and all-round mayhem abound in this second volume of stories set in the world of Shakespeare's plays with another equally inventive collection, completing the canon of the Bard's plays and poems. The book also includes stories based on 'forgotten' works and other pieces supposed to have been written by Shakespeare , including Arden of Feversham and A Yorkshire Tragedy. All the stories have been specially written for this book and are by masters of the medieval mystery.
Amy Myers on the real-life murder at Arden of Feversham Edward Marston unravels the mayhem of Titus Andronicus Peter Garrett sets Hamlet on the trail of the lost play Love 's Labours Won Tom Holt discovers who killed Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra Stan Nicholls reveals the darker secrets of Shakespeare's childhood Cherith Baldry discovers Falstaff the detective Gail-Nina Anderson finds something nasty in the flower-bed in Measure For Measure whilst Shakespeare figures as villain, victim and investigator in stories by John Aquino, Edward D Hoch and J F Peirce
Further revelations by Paul Barnett, Margaret Frazer, David Langford, Stephen Baxter, Darrell Schweitzer and Peter Tremayne
Mike Ashley has an encyclopedic knowledge of myths, fantasy tales and legends. He is the author or editor of more than 500 ;articles and 30 books, including the successful The Mammoth Book of Historical Detectives Classical Whodunits, Historical Whodunits, Camelot Chronicles, Merlin Chronicles, Chronicles of the ,Holy Grail and Chronicles of the Round Table. He lives in Chatham, Kent.
Peter Haining
Mammoth Book Of Armchair Crime, Detectives & Thrillers
Pbk published September 1998 by Robinson at £6.99
ISBN: 1854875396
A selection of the very best stories of crime and detection that have inspired some of the most popular movies and television series ever made, including works by Edgar Wallace, George Simenon, Anthony Schaffer, Frederick Forsyth and Lady Antonia Fraser.
Steven SaylorA Murder On The Appian Way
Pbk published July 1998 by Robinson at £6.99
ISBN: 1 85487 891 3
Artwork by: Cover design: Pete Rozycki. Cover painting and bust courtesy of the Bridgeman Art Library
See Review by
Michael Jecks
- author of the highly acclaimed Furnshill & Puttock series Vivid historical fact, a completely believable world and keen plotting are the hallmarks of Saylor's novels. in A Murder on the Appian Way the year is 52BC and Rome is in turmoil. Rival gangs prowl the streets as Publius Clodius, a high-born populist politician and his arch-enemy Titus Milo fight to control the consular elections. But when Clodius is murdered on the famed Appian Way and Mile is accused of the crime, the city explodes with riots and arson. Even the sacrosanct Senate House is burned to the ground. As accusations and rumours fly, Gordianus the Finder - whose shrewd investigative skills and integrity have made him much sought after by all sides in the escalating conflict - is charged by Pompey the Great with discovering what really happened. Should the perpetrator condemned as a villain or hailed as the savour of the Roman Republic? For on the truth of that hangs the fate of Titus Milo and with Rome descending into chaos Pompey and his rival Julius Caesar watch from a distance and coolly plot their own ambitions.
Compared to the novels of Robert Graves and Mary Renault for their historical authenticity, to the whodunnits of Agatha Christie for their deft plotting, and praised for the skilful blending of real and imagined historical characters, Saylor's novels in the highly acclaimed ROMA SUB ROSA series provide a panoramic ~ctional account of Rome in the last years of the dying Republic. Surrounded by towering figures like Cicero, Pompey, Julius Caesar and Mare Anthony, Gordianus the Finder and his family encounter murder, mayhem and mystery as they reveal the secret history of Rome while investigating a series of complex crimes.
"A wonderfully clever series" New York Times
"engrossing ancient Rome whodunnits" Peter Kemp in The Sunday Times
"Steven Saylor is one of the most meticulous when it comes to historical detail" Susanna Yager in The Sunday Telegraph
"How wonderful to have a scholar write about ancient Rome; how comforting, to feel instant confidence in the historical accuracy of a novel. With effortless grace, Steven Saylor's A Murder on the Appian Way puts the reader immediately at home in this distant world." Donna Leon in The Sunday Times
"Steven Saylor vividly brings the underbelly of Ancient Rome to life and leapfrogs over the massed legions of other historical mystery writers to spearhead a Roman invasion with a wicked difference." Maxim Jakubowski, Murder One in Time Out
Colin Wilson
The Mammoth book of True Crime
Pbk published August 1998 by Robinson at £6.99
ISBN: 0 85487 519 1
A new edition of this vast, classic account of every aspect of crime and criminality, on both famous cases and bizarre little-known events. There is also much new material on computer crime, serial killers and conspiracy theories.