Cyril Hare's short stories were mostly written for the London Evening Standard. Among them, The Story of Hermione, in which the eponymous character grows rich from the all too convenient deaths of several relatives, has been called one of the most chilling short stories ever written. Sister Bessie describes vividly the agonies of a blackmail victim and the desperate crimes he commits in the hope of freeing himself from his tormentor. Miss Burnside's Dilemma

Who killed solo violinist Lucy Carless during a concert by the Markshire Orchestra? Was it her first husband? Or her second? Womanizer Bill Ventry? Or perhaps the clarinetist and fellow Polish émigré, Zbartorowski, with whom she'd had a violent argument? "A plot compounded of musical knowledge, a Dickens allusion, and a subtle point in law is related with delightfully unobtrusive wit, warmth, and style." - The New York Times

England is in the grip of the Second World War and the Blitz has forced the evacuation of various government offices from London. Francis Pettigrew, an unsuccessful barrister and amateur detective, accompanies his ministry to the distant seaside resort of Marsett Bay where the civil servants must make the best of their temporary home. In this strange atmosphere, Pettigrew begins to fall in love with his secretary, Miss Brown, who is also being courted by a widowed man who is much older tha...

The picturesque village of Yew Hill, Markshire becomes an idyllic retreat for Francis Pettigrew and his wife until Francis is suddenly summoned to sit in as the County Court Judge and an elderly neighbor is brutally murdered.

Curl up by the fire with this Christmas Eve-set Golden Age classic festive whodunnit.Some things have happened in this house that are not to be cured by pots of tea . . .The snow is thick, the phone line is down, and no one is getting in or out of Warbeck Hall. With friends and family gathered round the fire, all should be set for a perfect country house Christmas - but as the bells chime midnigh...

Suicide Excepted shows a man committing an almost perfect murder, only to find that a quirk of the insurance laws may deprive him of the reward.

Tragedy at Law follows a rather self-important High Court judge, Mr Justice Barber, as he moves from town to town presiding over cases in the Southern England circuit. When an anonymous letter arrives for Barber, warning of imminent revenge, he dismisses it as the work of a harmless lunatic. But then a second letter appears, followed by a poisoned box of the judge's favourite chocolates, and he begins to fear for his life. Enter barrister and amateur detective Francis Pett...

An Inspector Mallett mystery - Daylesford Gardens, South Kensington, is an unlikely address for the discovery of death by strangulation. Even more unusual is that the house does not belong to the deceased financier. In the meantime, the mysterious tenant, Colin James, has disappeared. Inspector Mallett of Scotland Yard is brought in to unravel a complicated trail.

In "With a Bare Bodkin," Cyril Hare devises an intriguing mystery that blends sharp wit with a profound understanding of human nature. Set against the backdrop of post-war England, this novel captures the zeitgeist of an era laden with social change and moral introspection. Hare's narrative style is both engaging and incisive, employing a clever use of dialogue that reveals character depth while propelling the plot forward. The book intricately weaves themes of deception and justice, chall...

In "Suicide Excepted," Cyril Hare masterfully weaves a complex tapestry of mystery and moral inquiry set against the backdrop of post-World War II England. The narrative revolves around the tragic death of a prominent barrister, ostensibly by suicide, which unravels into a grueling exploration of the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding this act. Hare's literary style is characterized by its sharp wit and intricate plotting, immersing readers in the societal tensions and personal motivat...

«Escrita con elegancia e ingenio, Tragedia en el tribunal es para muchos la mejor novela detectivesca inglesa ambientada en el mundo de la justicia».P. D. JamesEn el otoño de 1939, el juez William Hereward Barber del Tribunal Supremo recorre el sur de Inglaterra presidiendo casos de municipio en municipio. Cuando una carta le advierte sobre una inminente venganza sobre su persona, el magistrado le resta toda importancia, atribuyéndola sin duda a algún inofensivo lu...

When an anonymous letter arrives for Mr Justice Barber, the High Court judge, warning of imminent revenge, he dismisses it as the work of a harmless lunatic. But then a second letter appears, followed by a poisoned box of the judge's favourite chocolates, and he begins to fear for his life.