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City and Shore

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Gillian Mary Hanson - City and Shore. The Function of Setting in the British mystery (2004)

From the back of the paperback edition of 2004 published by Mcfarland & Comp.

Certain settings have long been a common element in British mystery and detective fiction: the quaint village; the country manor; the seaside resort; the streets of London. More than simply providing background, physical setting — in particular the city of London and the British seashore — takes on an added dimension, in a sense becoming a player in the mysteries, one that symbolizes, intensifies, and illuminates aspects of the British mystery novel.

This critical study examines 18 British mystery novels set in the city of London and 15 set by the sea. The novels span the twentieth century; among the authors whose works are included are Agatha Christie, Graham Greene, G.K. Chesterton and P.D. James. The book includes a short biography and listing of the primary works of each author covered.

Most of the novels discussed date from the Golden Age.

Part One: The City

The Old Man in the Corner (1901-1905) by Orczy, Baroness Emmuska

The Club of Queer Trades (1905) by Chesterton, GK

The Secret Agent (1907) by Joseph Conrad

The Man Who Was Thursday (1908) by Chesterton, GK

The Charing Cross Mystery (1923) by Fletcher, JS

Strong Poison (1930) by Sayers, Dorothy L

Hangover Square (1942) by Hamilton, Patrick

The Ministry of Fear (1943) by Graham Greene

Murder by Matchlight (1945) by Lorac, ECR

Bodies in a Bookshop (1946) by Campbell, RT