With its fascinating mix of people - rich and poor British and foreign worthy and suspicious
- London is a city where anything can happen. The possibilities for criminals and for the crime
writer are endless. London has been home to many of fiction's finest detectives and the
setting for mystery novels and short stories of the highest quality. Capital Crimes is an
eclectic collection of London-based crime stories blending the familiar with the unexpected in
a way that reflects the personality of the city. Alongside classics by Margery Allingham
Anthony Berkeley and Thomas Burke are excellent and unusual stories by authors who are far less
well known. The stories give a flavour of how writers have tackled crime in London over the
span of more than half a century. Their contributions range from an early serial-killer
thriller set on the London Underground and horrific vignettes to cerebral whodunits. What they
have in common is an atmospheric London setting and enduring value as entertainment. Each
story is introduced by the editor Martin Edwards who sheds light on the authors' lives and
the background to their writing.
