British Library Crime Classics 5 Books Collection Set by Various Authors - Fiction - Paperback

Titles in This Set:
Death Has Deep Roots
It Walks by Night: A Paris Mystery
Surfeit of Suspects
Murder by Matchlight
The Colour of Murder

Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9786500923285

Overview:
Step into a thoughtfully curated five-volume collection from The British Library Crime Classics, where five enduring detective tales span from wartime tensions to mid-20th-century psychological thrillers. This paperback set brings together the smoky atmosphere of crowded salons, fog-swept streets, and courtroom suspense that defined British crime writing of the era. Included are Death Has Deep Roots, a wartime-inspired puzzle that threads a Soho hotel murder with Franco-Spanish secrets and a courtroom-cross examination; It Walks by Night: A Paris Mystery, John Dickson Carr’s celebrated locked-room thriller that challenges a Parisian salon when an escaped would-be killer returns; Surfeit of Suspects, a Scotland Yard puzzle focused on a gas-leak incident and a cast of suspects with hidden motives; Murder by Matchlight, a near-impossible homicide under the glow of a single match in Regents Park; and The Colour of Murder, a psychological study of jealousy, motive, and the nature of justice. A thoughtful gift for vintage crime fans and anyone who craves intelligent, atmosphere-rich whodunits with cunning plotting.

What Makes This Collection Special:
This set gathers five distinct crime classics that showcase the breadth of mid-century mystery writing. From Carr’s atmospheric Parisian intrigue to quintessential British whodunits set in London and beyond, the collection offers a varied reading journey while maintaining a cohesive mood of clever deduction and suspense. Each title stands on its own, yet together they create a satisfying binge-read experience for collectors, students of the genre, and curious readers seeking introductions to era-defining detective fiction. The British Library Crime Classics presentation preserves iconic editions with period-appropriate atmospherics, making this collection both a tactile joy and a lasting library cornerstone for gift-givers and new readers alike.

Books Included in This Collection:
Death Has Deep Roots
Across a polished courtroom and a wartime backdrop, this mystery threads a Soho hotel murder to long-buried Franco-Spanish secrets. The prosecution’s assertion of vengeance and the shadow of the Maquis-era tactics create a tense bridge between occupied France and postwar England. The result is a meticulously plotted puzzle where motive, loyalty, and the reach of wartime consequences intersect in a brittle, gripping narrative. A smart, character-driven start to the set that rewards careful reading and re-reads.

It Walks by Night: A Paris Mystery
John Dickson Carr’s celebrated locked-room ingenuity arrives in the Crime Classics collection with this atmospheric Parisian puzzle. In a smoke-darkened salon, Inspector Bencolin gathers allies to confront a would-be killer who has escaped a witness’s gaze and a plastic surgeon’s secret. The case hinges on misdirection, identity, and the eerie calm of a city at dusk, delivering a quintessential example of Carr’s mastery over claustrophobic suspense and clever deduction.

Surfeit of Suspects
A seemingly calm English village hides volatile resentments as a curious explosion and hidden dynamite spark a property of secrets. Scotland Yard’s Superintendent Littlejohn must sift through a crowded cast, each with a plausible grievance and a personal motive. The suspense hinges on who benefits from the misdirection and who is willing to dig into long-simmering conflicts, turning a quiet English street into a furnace of suspicion.

Murder by Matchlight
A stroll through Regents Park becomes a corridor to murder when two men’s suspicious behavior culminates in a death visible only in the flicker of a matched flame. MacDonald, the reliable CID investigator, unravels a puzzle where perception can deceive and a single, fleeting detail holds the key to truth. This is a crisp, atmospheric blend of deduction and psychology that rewards patient unraveling.

The Colour of Murder
A study in motive and perception, this 1957 crime novel marches into the psychology of murder. John Wilkins confronts jealousy, faith, and a trial that tests the limits of justice. With a focus on character psychology and the color imagery that frames the crime, the book offers a sharp, thought-provoking close to the collection, balancing noir mood with courtroom drama.

Who This Set Is Perfect For:
Ideal for fans of classic British crime fiction, vintage mystery collectors, and readers who love atmospheric whodunits with smart plotting. This collection is perfect for book clubs exploring mid-century crime, gift buyers seeking a premium, five-title set, and readers who enjoy both Parisian intrigue and London-based puzzles. It also suits newcomers curious about the evolution of detective fiction and long-time devotees chasing a curated, high-quality anthology experience.

Key Benefits:

• Five complete, standalone crime classics in one premium paperback collection
• Varied settings—from Paris to London—offering a rich, atmospheric reading journey
• Intricate plotting and psychological depth that rewards careful reading
• Great gift idea for collectors, bibliophiles, and mystery lovers
• Durable paperback format with period-authentic presentation
• Ideal for reading groups, discussions, and literary exploration

About the Author:
This collection features John Dickson Carr’s It Walks by Night: A Paris Mystery, a standout title that established Carr as a master of the locked-room subgenre. Carr’s ingenious plotting, precise misdirection, and visceral sense of place helped shape a golden era of puzzle-driven crime fiction. While the other four novels are by other celebrated mid-20th-century writers, the set as a whole showcases the British Library Crime Classics’ commitment to reviving period-authentic mysteries with crisp storytelling, atmospheric settings, and enduring appeal for modern readers.

Why You’ll Love This Set:
Owning all five titles in one elegant collection offers immediate breadth and depth: five distinct moods, five opportunities to catch a new breadcrumb in a classic puzzle, and a cohesive reading experience that feels both premium and timeless. It’s a superb way to begin a vintage crime shelf, to share with a reader looking for their next binge, or to gift a lover of smart, character-forward mysteries a treasure trove of nocturnal intrigue.

Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.