Thu 21 Jul 2011
Reviewed by William F. Deeck: HORACE ANNESLEY VACHELL – Quinney’s Adventures.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[4] Comments
William F. Deeck
HORACE ANNESLEY VACHELL – Quinney’s Adventures. George H. Doran, US, hardcover, 1924. Originally published in the UK: John Murray, hardcover, 1924.
Joe Quinney is an earlier, more subdued version of Jonathan Gash’s Lovejoy. While Quinney has an eye for antiques, he hasn’t Lovejoy’s ability to identify them immediately. He also lacks Lovejoy’s ability not to make money. Well, for the most part. Occasionally Quinney has been fooled by some unscrupulous dealers.
The 11 stories in this book deal with Quinney’s purchases of and investigations into antiques, including one locked room murder. They aren’t all mysteries, by any definition, and several deal with the genuine occult, if there is such a thing.
Each story is interesting, but reading one after another probably would be too much of a reasonably good thing.
Bibliographic Notes: It’s hard to imagine that many browsers on the Internet are going to be Googling the author’s name and end up here. I’m sure his is a name long forgotten.
Even so, you (as I) may be surprised to learn that Vachell has some 18 titles in Hubin, including one marginally criminous entry, one play, one collaboration with another author, and several story collections. Nor was the book Bill reviewed the only appearance of Joe Quinney. He showed up in one novel and three collections, including this one.
Inexpensive copies (under $30) can be found on the Internet, but don’t count on the condition being more than Good, and the overseas postage fees may match the price of the book. If you’d prefer a copy in Nice condition with a Dust Jacket, such as the one shown, be prepared to spend $250 or so.
July 21st, 2011 at 11:43 pm
Over in the land of Kindle the author has three books available for free and above. THE HILL, SOUL OF SUSAN YELLEM, and a collection of Western short stories called BUNCH GRASS.
July 22nd, 2011 at 12:39 am
I love this book! The story about the haunted chair is one of the best genre blending stories in all of detective fiction. I guess Bill didn’t think much of the supernatural in the mystery novel judging by his crack about the occult.
No one really seems to want this book, though, Steve. I have one copy and tried to sell it five separate times and I priced it well below $30. I’m not bothering to put it up for sale anymore. Some people can’t appreciate a good thing even if the author is forgotten.
July 22nd, 2011 at 1:25 am
I’m very interested in it, J F Norris, at well below $30. I like the supernatural mystery sub genre.
If it is still available, how can I contact you directly?
Is it possible through Steve; or do you have a secure e mail address /web site?
If not, I will post an e mail address where you can reach me.
July 22nd, 2011 at 10:36 am
I’ll see if I can’t get you two together on the book. Hope it works out.
I don’t mind the occult in my mystery fiction once in while. Bill Deeck was much more of a purist in that regard, and I wasn’t surprised at that crack he made in this review.
What caught my attention more, though, was the story with the locked room mystery. That made me sit up straight in my chair, let me tell you. I ordered a copy of the book online even before I knew you had one available, John.
It’s coming all the way from New Zealand via air mail, and believe it or not, for still well below $30. (The condition, described as “Good” remains to be seen.)