Winner of the 2019 H.R.F. Keating Award for best biography or critical
book related to crime fiction!
A lavish full-colour celebration of the 2000 books by more than 250
authors published by the iconic Crime Club between 1930 and 1994.
The Hooded Gunman was the sinister figure who, having appeared in
various guises on the covers of Collins' various series of Mystery and
Detective books in the 1920s, finally gained recognition with the launch
of Collins' Crime Club, becoming the definitive imprint stamp on more
than 2,000 books published by that august imprint between 1930 and 1994.
From Agatha Christie to Reginald Hill, the Hooded Gunman was a guarantee
of a first-class crime novel for almost 65 years, and those books are
now as sought after and collectable and almost any other book series,
with many commanding high prices and almost impossible to find.
In the year that Collins - the publisher founded by William Collins in
Glasgow in 1819 - is enjoying its 200th birthday, this book celebrates
probably its most famous publishing imprint. Written and researched by
Agatha Christie writer, expert and archivist Dr John Curran, this
sumptuous coffee table book looks back at the history of the Crime Club
and its authors, showing the jackets of every book published by the
imprint over seven decades, and the descriptive 'blurbs' of every book,
running to more than 350,000 words.
With facts, figures and lists, and drawing on rare archival photos,
correspondence and marketing materials, it is the first time that anyone
has attempted to chronicle the publishing of the Crime Club - the
ultimate book for fans of crime fiction and also of twentieth century
book jacket design.
The Hooded Gunman won the H.R.F. Keating Award for best 2019 biography
or critical book related to crime fiction, and was also nominated for an
Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.
