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
Author
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. Born in Lincolnshire in 1912, Michael Francis Gilbert was educated in Sussex before entering the University of London where he gained an LLB with honours in 1937. Gilbert was a founding member of the British Crime Writers Association, and in 1988 he was named a Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America - an achievement many thought long overdue. He won the Life Achievement Anthony Award at the 1990 Boucheron in London, and in 1980 he was knighted as a Commander in the Order of the British Empire. Gilbert made his debut in 1947 with Close Quarters, and since then has become recognized as one of our most versatile British mystery writers. He was the father of Harriett Gilbert.
