The Measure of Malice: Scientific Detection Stories - (British Library Crime Classics) by Martin Edwards (Paperback)

About the Book

"The detective's role is simple: to catch the culprit. Yet behind each casual observation lies a learned mind, trained in deliberations of logic--preferably amid complicated gadgetry and scientific tomes. The detectives in this collection are masters of scientific deduction, whether they are identifying the perpetrator from a scrap of fabric, or picking out the poison from a sinister line-up. Containing stories by R. Austin Freeman, J.J. Connington, and the master of logical reasoning, Arthur Conan Doyle, [this book] collects tales of rational thinking to prove the power of the human brain over villainous deeds"--

Book Synopsis

Mystery crime fiction written in the Golden Age of Murder

"Edwards combines the well-known (Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers) with the obscure (former actor Ernest Dudley) in this impressive anthology of 14 short stories featuring scientific and technical know-how...fans of TV's CSI will enjoy seeing the evolution of criminal forensics." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED review

Forensic dentistry; precise examination of ballistics; an expertise in apiology to identify the exact bee which killed the victim?

The detective's role may be simple; solve the case and catch the culprit, but when the crime is fiendishly well-executed the application of the scientific method may be the only answer.

The detectives in this collection are masters of scientific deduction employing principles of chemistry, the latest technological innovations and an irresistable logical brilliance in their pursuit of justice. Containing stories by early masters in the field such as Arthur Conan Doyle and L. T. Meade alongside fine-tuned mysteries from the likes of Edmund Crispin and Dorothy L. Sayers, The Measure of Malice collects tales of rational thinking to prove the power of the brain over villainous deeds.

Review Quotes

"Edwards combines the well-known (Conan Doyle, Dorothy Sayers) with the obscure (former actor Ernest Dudley) in this impressive anthology of 14 short stories featuring scientific and technical know-how. Fans of TV's CSI will enjoy seeing the evolution of criminal forensics." -- Publishers Weekly