Short Story Collections
Mr. Calder lived with a golden deerhound named Rasselas in a cottage in Kent. Mr. Behrens lives with his aunt and keeps bees. No one would in the least suspect that the pair are in fact agents for the British Joint Services Standing Committee and they are often tasked with jobs that no one else can take on – simply because of the extreme nature of the action needed. They are dangerous – and they are watched. Their adventures in this series of thrillers show the author to have a clear grasp of counterintelligence operations. Written with Gilbert’s usual dry wit, panache and style, the suspense is at times killing!
Michael Gilbert was never afraid in his stories to attack unnecessary and pettifogging bureaucracy, not to cover up the seedier side of the law, or fail to show that justice does not always prevail. Nonetheless, this was always done with his hallmark wit and dry humour, and the general themes can be found in ’Stay of Execution and Other Stories of Legal Practice’. ‘Back on the Shelf’, in which less than scrupulous lawyers get away with it, is regarded as a classic. Stories in this collection also feature Henry Bohun, who will be familiar to Gilbert readers from the novel ‘Smallbone Deceased’ and also other short story collections.
More short stories about the deceptively harmless but sometimes lethal pair of agents, Calder and Behrens, who are also met in ‘Game Without Rules’. Calder lives in Kent with a golden deerhound named Rasselas, whilst Behrens lives with his aunt and keeps bees. No one suspects they are in fact agents for the British security services and that, if necessary, they are prepared to kill. The first story deals with Behrens pre-Calder days inside wartime Germany, and the adventures progress through time to the late twentieth century. Ruthless in defence of the Crown, friends and those deemed innocent, but equally ruthless in disposing of wrongdoers and enemies of the state, the conclusive nature of which is arrived at through logic and reasoning. A lovable lethal pair!
Jonas Pickett, lawyer and commissioner of oaths is nearing retirement, but still has lots of energy. However, he leaves the pressure of a London practice behind to set up a new modest office in a quiet seaside resort. He soon finds that he is overwhelmed with clients and some of them involve him in very odd and sometimes dangerous cases. This collection of inter-linked stories tells how these are brought to a conclusion; ranging from an incredible courtroom drama involving a gipsy queen to terrorist thugs who make their demands at gunpoint.
Published in honour of the fiftieth anniversary of Michael Gilbert's first book, The Man Who Hated Banks and Other Mysteries gather together eighteen previously uncollected stories about Gilbert's most popular sleuths: seven about Inspector Hazlerigg, five about solicitor Henry Montacute Bohun, three about former copper Bill Mercer, and three about Inspector Patrick Petrella. Gilbert's tales range from Scotland Yard police procedurals to classic country-house mysteries, action-packed thrillers, and tales of the seamy side of London life. In all of them, Gilbert displays his seemingly effortless characterization, his use of authentic detail, and, above all, his ability to engage the reader from the first sentence. It is a rare (perhaps, non-existent) reader who can put down a Michael Gilbert story before finishing it.
A collection of short stories, all featuring the characters from the law firm, Fearne and Bracknell.
A MASTER STORYTELLER To recognize the year of Michael Gilbert's ninetieth birthday, Crippen & Landru is proud to publish this new collection of stories. The Curious Conspiracy and Other Crimes gathers together twenty previously uncollected stories including almost unknown tales about Inspectors Hazlerigg and Petrella, and stories of blackmail, murder, and revenge. The settings range from elegant (but dangerous) wine cellars in France and England, to a soundproofed room inhabited by a dictator, to early nineteenth century Spain, to a deadly shooting range. The Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection describes Gilbert as "one of the finest of the post-World War II generation of detective story writers." One of the master storytellers of our times, Gilbert displays his seemingly effortless characterization, his use of authentic detail, and, above all, his ability to engage the reader from the first sentence. The Mystery Writers of America recognized Gilbert's contributions with its highest honor, the Grand Master Award. The introduction is by the author, and the cover design by Deborah Miller. FIRST BOOK EDITION
This title features 27 uncollected short stories with themes ranging from robbery to murder. Included are all the remaining uncollected stories of Gilbert's popular series characters, Patrick Petrella, Hazelrigg, Calder and Behrens.
"The Murder of Diana Devon and Other Stories" contains the eleven remaining, previously uncollected stories by Michael Gilbert, dating between 1956 and 1991. It also includes two radio plays and a poem. In addition, this collection includes two hitherto unpublished stories: "The Fire Raisers" and "Y Mynyddoed Sanctiaidd". "The Fire Raisers" is the fifteenth case for Fearne and Bracknell whose earlier cases were collected in "The Mathematics of Murder". The two radio plays in this new volume are particularly notable as they are the first publication of two ruthless, efficient counter-intelligence agents, Mr David Joseph Calder and Mr Samuel Behrens. This new collection is a must-have for all readers of that fine writer, Michael Gilbert.
Book by Gilbert, Michael Francis