CLASSIC DETECTIVE STORIES

CSA Word has put together eight diverse but amazingly representative detective stories spanning a century of the British short story tradition. Edward Hardwicke uses an assortment of vocal styles, revealing a breadth that will surprise listeners familiar only with his portrayal of Dr. Watson in the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes television series. The stories range from Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Dying Detective" through late stories by Colin Dexter and Muriel Spark. Two stories feature Edgar Wallace's cleverly humble public prosecutor J.G. Reeder ("The Green Mamba" and "The Poetical Policeman"). Other tales include a Father Brown story by G.K. Chesterton, Sax Rohmer's rational ghost story, "The Case of the Tragedies of the Greek Room," and Nicholas Blake's "The Assassin's Club," featuring Nigel Strangeways. Hardwicke reads with an animation and depth of characterization that exceeds his television performances. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2010]