In the Shadow of Agatha Christie

 In the Shadow of Agatha Christie (2018) by Leslie S. Klinger [all stories pre-1960]

A collection of short stories by the women who paved the way for Agatha Christie. We have early stories that don't really have a detective, but mysteries and crime. There are more than a few that have supernatural overtones. But there are also straight detective tales with police inspectors, private detectives, amateurs, and even a few female sleuths. As I've mentioned several times, collections seem to vary in the strength of their stories. Those without real detection aren't nearly as interesting and a few of those with sleuths still aren't very strong. My favorites are "Trace's of Crime," "Mr. Furbush" (even though a motive seems to be lacking), and "The Regent's Park Murder." ★★★ for the collection.

"The Advocate's Wedding Day" by Catherine Crowe: Two young men have a bitter rivalry throughout their childhood and into adulthood. When the young man who always seemed to come out the worst in their encouters has a chance a love and happiness at the expense of the other, he takes it. (one beaten; one natural)

"The Squire's Story" by Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell:  A story of a mysterious, rich squire who takes possession of a country house and marries a local man's beautiful young daughter. Everyone admires him--he has excellent taste in food, wine, and horses; can ride to the hounds like nobody's business; and has money to spare. Everyone, that is except one wise woman--after all, who knows where this man came from or where he gets his money... (one stabbed; one hanged)

"Traces of Crime" by Mary Fortune: A detective goes undercover in the gold fields of Australia to track and uncover a rapist and a murderer. His only clue at the outset...a tattoo that many prospectors might sport. (one hanged)

"Mr. Furbush" by Harriet Prescott Spofford: After most of the detective force gives up a case involving the strangulation of a pretty young woman, Mr. Furbush uses his knowledge of photography to find an all-important clue. (one strangled) [My one complaint--there's no real indication of the reason for the murder. One might speculate jealousy, but there's no actual evidence of such a thing.]

"Mrs. Todhetley's Earrings" by Ellen Wood: When a woman's valuable earring goes missing, a squire's prejudices and trusting nature lead to the theft of the other earring. 

"Catching a Burglar" by Elizabeth Corbett: Detective Dora Bell goes undercover as a lady's maid to discover who the insider is who is helping burglars repeatedly steal from a gentleman's house. 

"The Ghost of Fountain Lane" by C. L. Pirkis: Loveday Brooke solves both the mystery of the ghost and the theft of a missing blank check. [I have to say that Miss Brooke is as bad as Holmes about keeping what she knows to herself until the final paragraphs. There's no way for the reader to make the connections which she does...]

"The Statement of Jared Johnson" by Geraldine Bonner: A young reporter proves Jared Johnston innocent of what looked to be a vicious murder. [A fairly ingenious method of death.] (one hit on head)

"Point in Morals" by Ellen Glasgow: The point in question: is it more moral to help a man die painlessly who is destined for a more horrible death? And is it murder if one does? (one poisoned)

"The Blood-Red Cross" by L. T. Meade & Robert Eustace: Madame Sara, the evil adventuress, has her eye on a priceless pearl necklace. She plans to get her hands on it through a bit of blackmail. (two stabbed)

"The Regent's Park Murder" by Baroness Orczy: The Old Man in the Corner solves the murder of Mr. Aaron Cohen in Regent's Park. Cohen was on his way home late one foggy night with pocketsful of gambling winnings when he was set upon and strangled. (one strangled)

"The Case of the Registered Letter" by Augusta Groner: Circumstantial evidence overwhelming indicates that Albert Graumann must have killed John Siders. But Graumann's aunt believes him innocent and pleads with Detective Muller to prove her right. (three natural; one shot)

"The Winning Sequence" by M. E. Braddon: A woman in thrall to the gambling bug, loses her lover over a game of cards. Her distress is so intense that she becomes a ghost after her death. (one shot)

"Missing: Page Thirteen" by Anna Katharine Green: Miss Violet Strange, who had thought to retire from detection, decides to take just one more case--at the instigation of Robert Upjohn. This time, she is busy tracking down a missing scientific formula relating to explosives [aren't they always?]. She quickly solves the mystery of the missing page and is then made privy to another, older secret. (two stabbed)

"The Adventure of the Clothes-Line" by Carolyn Wells: A pastiche of Holmes and various other GAD detectives--who gather at The Infallible Detectives Club and try to solve the riddle of the fashionable lady dangling from a clothes-line.

"Jury of Her Peers" by Susan Glaspell: When a man is strangled in his bed--with his wife supposedly asleep beside him--the sheriff and his men are sure she did it. But they can't find a motive. While the men hunt in vain for clues, their wives spot hints in trifles that the superior male eye would never see. Will they point out the clues? [one strangled]

First line (1st story):Antoine de Chaulieu was the son of a poor gentleman of Normandy, with a long genealogy, a short rent-roll, and a large family.

Last line (last story): He did not see her eyes.