Promotional Information

Georgette Heyer's brilliant and highly acclaimed series of detective novels, now in a handsome new package.

About the Author

Author of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, making the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of fifteen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. She wrote twelve detective stories, which earned her much critical acclaim and the title 'Queen of Crime.' Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.

Reviews

Although her contemporaries Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and Ngaio Marsh got more attention, Heyer (1902-1974) also was an important pioneer in the mystery field. When she wasn't writing her more famous historical romances, Heyer turned out several sharp and satirical mysteries such as this one, which in many ways is as bracingly modern as the film Gosford Park in its treatment of life above and below stairs in a posh country house. The excellent British television actor Dickson, probably best known to American audiences for his performance in A&E's The Scarlet Pimpernel, perfectly catches both the edge and depth of Heyer's writing, as he creates dozens of characters who differ subtly in age, sex and-most importantly-class, in this story of a poisoning and its aftermath. Dickson's solid, no-nonsense reading of Inspector Hannasyde, Heyer's quietly impressive sleuth, might make listeners long for a video version somewhere down the road. (Oct.) Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information.

Although Heyer is better known for her Regency romances and was outshone by her contemporaries Dorothy Sayers, Agatha Christie, and Ngaio Marsh, she also wrote mysteries between the World Wars. Behold, Here's Poison was originally published in 1936, and fans of Gosford Park will adore it. The Poplars is a big English house-home to the Matthews family: Gregory, the head of the family, discovered dead of nicotine poisoning; his sisters, the domineering Harriet and Gertrude; the Nosy Parker and dramatic Zoe, the sister-in-law with her grown children, Guy and Stella; and his nephew and heir, the oh-so-smooth Randall. Added to this lot are the neighbors and servants, including the redoubtable Mr. and Mrs. Beecher, who give their notice after the second murder. The author's trademark sparkling dialog is here along with an intricate, twisting plot, and the suave Inspector Hannasyde is much less irritating than Wimsey or Poirot. Hugh Dickson gives a masterful performance at delineating all of these characters as well as the subtle class distinctions that are such a part of Heyer's writing. A listening treat; enthusiastically recommended for all libraries.-Barbara A. Perkins, Irving P.L., TX Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.