One of my favorite Ngaio Marsh books, Les. I love the title too. And I too am fond of Troy. Another Troy book I love is SPINSTERS IN JEOPARDY which is a bit of nonsense, but features the whole Alleyn family including their little boy who in this book steals the show.

I'm with you on this one, Les. I am especially fond of the audio version narrated by Ian Carmichael. If you've never heard it, I highly recommend it.

I enjoyed this book, Les, when I first read it a couple of years ago. I think this one and LADY IN THE LAKE are my two Raymond Chandler faves. But not sure - you know how old lady memory works. :)

One of my favorites as well, Les. I really enjoyed Marsh's 'theatrically' centered mysteries. I read all of Marsh's books in one giant binge a couple of years ago and I highly recommend this way of indulging in an author one has always meant to read but never got around to. Now if only I could remember more details about the books...Actually, there are several which I do remember, so it wasn't a total loss. Ha! I think I want to read this one again. '...in full lurk.' LOVE THIS choice of words.

Recently re-read this for the umpteenth time, Les. It never gets old. :) But I hadn't realized that THE FBI NOBODY KNOWS by Fred J. Cook was a real book. Wow. Rex Stout was a brave man for sure.

Les, I've just reserved this at my local library. Today I found out that they have quite a few of these British Crime Classics so I'm in heaven. :)

I like the sound of this, Les. I believe I have the title on my Vintage Mystery board over at Pinterest and that means that I will be reading it at some point. Pinterest has changed greatly and isn't very much fun these days, but it's a good way to keep track of books you mean to read and other lists in visual form. I'm not all that crazy about 'locked room' mysteries since to me they all seem contrived - even the best ones - but for whatever reason that never seems to stop me reading them. I'm contrary that way. :)

Off to visit family for Christmas, Les. I'll be gone for a few weeks. So just dropping in to wish you and your family a very Happy Holiday and wonderful New Year. God bless.

I loved this book too, Les. I wrote about it on my blog just a couple of weeks ago. For reasons that elude me, my library had this copy on a shelf and I happened upon it. I say 'for reasons that elude me' because my library is not known for having much in the way of vintage golden age stuff lying around. :) Now that I've read DEATH OF AN AIRMAN I naturally want to read more from this author, but Sprigg's books are not exactly readily available. Too bad. I really loved this one.

I have just about given up on the Mrs. Bradley mysteries, Les. Having just struggled through DEATH AT THE OPERA with it's unworkable plot. I've read three or four so far and only really enjoyed one. So that's about it for me. Except that you make ST. PETER'S FINGER sound pretty good. So maybe I'll give this one a try before I abandon all hope.

My favorite Miss Marple story, Les. There is a major clue in the story which is passed right in front of our noses and slips right on by. Christie was SO adept at this sleight of hand. Even after I realized it at the end, I had to go back and double and triple check. I defy anyone to guess the killer.

Don't you hate it when the body up and disappears and everyone looks at you as if you must be nuts? Happens to me all the time. Ha. I've never read any George Harmon Coxe, Les. At least I don't think I have. But maybe I will. One of these days. I'm slowly going through as many vintage mystery authors as I can find for a reasonable price (cheap, cheap) on abebooks.com.

Les, I haven't read any Robert Barnard is quite a while. But I do remember reading some years ago and enjoying whatever the novel was - you can't expect me to remember the title - right? :) This one sounds good and vaguely familiar. I think I'll add the title to my TBR list. DEATH OF AN OLD GOAT. very similar to the way M.C. Beaton titles her Hamish Macbeth books. I used to read those too, once upon a time.

I've read one Henry Gamadge book (or maybe two) but I can't say I was overly impressed, Les. Truth to tell, I found it kind of boring. Disappointing because I love Gamadge's profession and can see how it might dip him into mystery. But it's just not handled very adroitly. At least that I remember. But still, I might give another one a try one of these days. I think I'm running out of easily available vintage authors to binge on. :) Still hanging in there with Michael Innes, though I'm skirting the later books which aren't as intriguing as his earlier stuff, though still enjoyable.

I'm with you on most of this, Les. Though for Josephine Tey I'd have added BRAT FARRAR and A SHILLING FOR CANDLES as well as DAUGHTER OF TIME. For Michael Innes I'd have made different choices simply because there are Innes books I liked better. It's so hard to know what other people will enjoy reading.

It seems Bev knows this author! Well, I don't. But again, thanks for the introduction, Les. I think I may have actually heard of the name Helen McCloy in the context of mysteries and golden age, but that's about it.

Sounds good, Les. Needless to say, never heard of this guy's work. But I checked around online and I'm intrigued. Thanks for the intro to a 'new' author. Maybe Kindle will do a download special.

Years ago, Les, I remember reading a bunch of Freeman Wills Croft mysteries (alongside my ex-husband who loved them as well) and then I went on to other writers and never returned. I think it's time for me to return. Don't remember reading this particular book, mostly I do remember train mysteries. Anyway, I'm looking for this one on Abe books. (Don't want to pay ten bucks on amazon, at least, not yet.) Summer always brings out the vintage in me. :)

You have to stop recommending all these wonderful books and authors, Les. You simply have to. HA! Well, who knows, maybe I'll live forever - that's the only way I'm going to get to read all the books on my TBR Lists - Vintage and otherwise. But here we go, I'm adding another author - thanks a heap!!! No, I mean it. Ha.

John Christmas. LOVE that name for a sleuth. I'm adding these to my TBR vintage list, Les. Thanks for the intro.

I definitely want to read this, Les. Thanks for the reminder. I'm going to look for the e book now that I have a Kindle. YES, I actually do! I always liked Mr. Goby and his preference for looking anywhere but. You may be be right - possibly he is a long lost relative of Mr.Gryce. One never knows. :)

This sounds like my kind of book, Les. I've added the title to my list. I'm like you, I never know whether I'm grateful or not to learn of a new author (new to me at any rate) since I already have so many books waiting to be read. Especially now that I finally have a Kindle. (Thanks to a generous friend.) I'm almost afraid to think of all the books out there ready to be downloaded for free or for minimal cost. I'm like a kid let loose in a candy store!

Interesting, Les. Remember the blind detective played by Edward Arnold in a movie whose name escapes me at the moment but which is available for viewing on youtube? If you haven't seen it, you must. I talked about it on the blog a while back. I'm assuming that this film character was or might have been sparked by Isabel Ostrander's creation??

Hi, Les - stopping by to wish you a Happy New Year and to say that I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with in the new year. I'm not a 'challenge' person but I can see the 'lure' they cast. :) I'm not going to be commenting or blogging as much in the new year as I have a new and time consuming art project I'm working on and that must, necessarily, take up most of my reality time. :) But I'll still be around and blogging when I have free moments.

I've read this, Les, but damn if I can remember much. It's the usual way with me. My memory refuses to cooperate hence my liking for rereading. Maybe it's time to reread Chandler. I know that my favorite of the Marlowe books was THE LADY IN THE LAKE. It also make for a good film with Robert Montgomery and Audrey Totter. Remember that one? You do if your memory is better than mine. :)