Peter Drax – författare

The knife with the carved sheath inlaid with silver, had been driven up to its haft between the shoulders of Captain Geoffrey Hunt.

Johannis Kudorfer, master mariner, is a fraudster and a rogue. But that suits Sam Hartford just fine, because he is a scoundrel himself. When Sam devises a scheme to wreck a ship for the insurance money, Kudorfer is a key collaborator, along with a small gang of other miscreants and dupes, plus Lena the languid cigarette-smoking girl. But Sam is unaware that some of his trusted cohort are playing games of their own—games so treacherous they will end in murder. Detective-Sergeant Woods, suspicious of the con game from the start, will need to call in Chief Inspector Thompson of Scotland Yard to solve this gritty and absorbing case.

Murder by Chance was first published in 1936, and has remained out of print for many decades until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

‘A thriller of great merit ... all extremely convincing’ The Times

‘Recommended as a most exciting and full-blooded crime story’ Morning Post

‘I have not for a good many months enjoyed a thriller as much as I have enjoyed Murder by Chance’ Observer

His arms were hanging down, but his face was turned upwards. For the first time Johnny saw a dead man.

Colonel Meroy is a prosperous pillar of the landed gentry. But his neighbours would be shocked to learn he’d started out as a London pickpocket, and still earns his income from a career in smoothly organized robbery. Now he’s hit a perilous snag – his latest job means going up against the rival and ruthless Luvello gang for a fortune in gold bullion, and even risking the safety of his own son. When a river policeman is killed, Inspector Thompson of Scotland Yard is drawn into the case, and he always gets his man …

He Shot to Kill was first published in 1936, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

‘I have the highest opinion of Peter Drax’s murder stories … The secret of Peter Drax’s success is his ability to make the circumstances as plausible as the characters are real’ Sunday Times

‘One brown mouse. Victim of foul play.’

Chalk Street, Camden Town, is the busy scene for all kinds of commercial activity – some legal, some a little less so. By day, local crime boss Mr. Rivers works as a market trader, but gladly turns his attention to the potentially lucrative theft of fox-skins in the countryside. However, what should have been a simple robbery leads to a string of murders, and a Scotland Yard investigation, led by Chief-Inspector Thompson. A case in which one of the clues is no fox, but a fat brown mouse …

Death by Two Hands was first published in 1937, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

‘Little people in [the] grip of tragic destiny … brilliantly done’ Saturday Review of Literature

‘I have the highest opinion of Peter Drax’s murder stories … The secret of Peter Drax’s success is his ability to make the circumstances as plausible as the characters are real’ Sunday Times

He called out, ‘Abie!’ The word was swallowed up in the depths of the hall. It was like a morgue.

Captain Eric Macrae is down on his luck, living in a cheap London boarding house and on his wits. When chance puts a string of valuable pearls his way, he can’t resist stealing them. But the pursuit of easy money is derailed first by Peggy, a neighbourhood girl who begins to suspect Macrae is up to no good. And then a well-known fence winds up dead … enter Chief Inspector Thompson of Scotland Yard.

Tune to a Corpse was first published in 1938, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

‘London underworld life is described with colour and realism. The steps in the weakling killer’s descent to Avernus are thrillingly traced.” Saturday Review of Literature

‘I have the highest opinion of Peter Drax’s murder stories … The secret of Peter Drax’s success is his ability to make the circumstances as plausible as the characters are real’ Sunday Times

‘There’s been a murder there.’

Tubby stared at him. ‘A murder! Who was it?’

It was the first time in his life that Tubby had been told that he had been murdered.

Carl Swanson, recognized as the best ship’s captain in the fishing town of Gilsboro, is about to head out on the unluckiest trip of his career. When he decided to engage with Captain MacTaggert’s ship the Ivanhoe, murder is committed, and Inspector Pollitt and his able lieutenants begin the inexorable process of investigation – and arrest.

High Seas Murder was first published in 1939, and has remained out of print until this new edition. It includes an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

‘I have the highest opinion of Peter Drax’s murder stories … The secret of Peter Drax’s success is his ability to make the circumstances as plausible as the characters are real’ Sunday Times