A bundle of novels from the pen of Edmund Crispin, featuring Professor Gervase Fen--the eccentric Oxford don with a knack for solving "impossible" crimes.

Holy Disorders - reprinted, 1960
Fen is in Tolnbridge, where he is happily bounding around with a butterfly net until the cathedral organist is murdered, giving him the chance to play sleuth. The man didn't have an enemy in the world, and even his music was inoffensive: Could he have fallen afoul of a nest of German spies or of the local coven of witches, ominously rumored to have been practicing since the 17th century?

The Moving Toyshop - reprinted, 1960
It is late at night when poet Cadogan stumbles on the dead body of an old lady in an Oxford toyshop. The following morning, the toyshop has vanished and in its place is a grocery store. Nobody, not even the police, seem surprised…

Buried for Pleasure - reprinted, 1961
When young actress Gloria Scott throws herself from Waterloo Bridge, the news sends shockwaves through her film studio. Luckily Fen is in London to investigate. But when someone acts fast to cover up any evidence – removing all signs of Ms Scott’s identity from her apartment and poisoning a suspicious cameraman – the truth is hard to find…

Frequent Hearses - reprinted, 1960
At the offices of the Hatton Garden diamond merchant Duke and Peabody, the body of old Mr Gething is discovered beside a now-empty safe. With multiple suspects, the robbery and murder is clearly the work of a master criminal, and requires a master detective to solve it. Meticulous as ever, Inspector French of Scotland Yard embarks on an investigation that takes him from the streets of London to Holland, France and Spain, and finally to a ship bound for South America…

All of these books are originals, published by Penguin Books. All books are Fair overall condition. There may be corner folds, inscriptions, tears, signs of wear etc. inside some of these books not shown in photographs. The photographs do form part of the description and the condition is reflected in the price.

Penguin 1st Edition, published 1948.

Roger Ackroyd was a man who knew too much. He knew the woman he loved had poisoned her first husband. He knew someone was blackmailing her – and now he knew she had taken her own life with a drug overdose. Soon the evening post would let him know who the mystery blackmailer was. But Ackroyd was dead before he’d finished reading it – stabbed through the neck where he sat in the study.

Condition grading: Good Minus. Foxing to both covers. Some wear to edges of tanned spine. Light circular crease to top right corner of front cover. Binding tight. The photographs form part of the description.

Penguin 1st Edition, published 1948.

Poirot had been present when Jane bragged of her plan to ‘get rid of’ her estranged husband. Now the monstrous man was dead. And yet the great Belgian detective couldn’t help feeling that he was being taken for a ride. After all, how could Jane have stabbed Lord Edgware to death in his library at exactly the same time she was seen dining with friends? And what could be her motive now that the aristocrat had finally granted her a divorce?

Condition grading: Good. Some wear to grubby spine. Small light stain to rear cover. Very light foxing in some places on front cover. Binding tight. The photographs form part of the description.

Penguin 1st Edition, published 1953.

Before retirement, Poirot takes on the twelve labours of his namesake, each one a new mystery to be solved across Europe.

Condition grading: Fair. Annotations to inside front cover and first page (see photo). Taped tear to rear cover (see photo). Light creases to front cover. Some wear and creasing to spine. Binding tight. The photographs form part of the description.

Penguin 1st Edition, published 1953.

Mrs Packington felt alone, helpless and utterly forlorn. But her life changed when she stumbled upon an advertisement in The Times which read: ‘Are you happy? If not, consult Mr Parker Pyne.' Parker Pyne is a most unconventional investigator. In a uniquely charming way, he solves matters of the heart, yearnings for adventure, and one or two crimes along the way. This collection comprises fourteen tantalising cases for this intriguing retired civil servant.

Condition grading: Good . Very light creases across front cover. Some areas of light foxing to both covers. Some bumping to top right corner of front cover. Minor loss to top of spine, some wear to bottom fo spine.. Binding tight. The photographs form part of the description.

Penguin 1st Edition, published 1953.

One Tuesday evening a group gathers at Miss Marple’s house and the conversation turns to unsolved crimes. The case of the disappearing bloodstains; the thief who committed his crime twice over; the message on the death-bed of a poisoned man which read ‘heap of fish’; the strange case of the invisible will; a spiritualist who warned that ‘Blue Geranium’ meant death…

As each of her guests is mystified by the sinister tales they tell one another, the company is inclined to forget their elderly host. But there is a ruthless precision in Miss Marple’s pursuit of the killers in each tale… and a few surprises in store for The Tuesday Night Club.

Condition grading: Good Minus. Wear to top and bottom edges of front cover. Crease to top right corner of front cover. Wear damage to spines. Foxing to rear cover. Binding tight. The photographs form part of the description.

A trio of novels from the pen of Michael Innes, featuring Detective Inspector Appleby of Scotland Yard.

Death at the President’s Lodging - reprinted, 1959
The first Appleby novel - Appleby is called to St Anthony's College, where the President has been murdered in his Lodging. Scandal abounds when it becomes clear that the only people with any motive to murder him are the only people who had the opportunity - because the President's Lodging opens off Orchard Ground, which is locked at night, and only the Fellows of the College have keys...

The Secret Vanguard - 1st Penguin, 1958
Successful minor poet, Philip Ploss, lives a peaceful existence in ideal surroundings, until his life is upset when he hears verses erroneously quoted as his own. Soon afterwards, he is found dead in the library with a copy of Dante's Purgatory open before him.

A Family Affair - 1st Penguin, 1972
Over a period of twenty years, a series of highly elaborate art hoaxes have been perpetrated at carefully time intervals, and in each case, the victim has a very good reason for keeping quiet. Inspector Appleby's interest is kindled by an amusing dinner-party anecdote - when he enlists the help of his wife and son, the ensuing investigation is truly a family affair.

All of these books are originals, published by Penguin Books. All books are Good overall condition. There may be corner folds, inscriptions, tears, signs of wear etc. inside some of these books not shown in photographs. The photographs do form part of the description and the condition is reflected in the price.