He was one of the most influential crime novelists of the 1920s and 1930s, but has languished somewhat in obscurity since. A troubled, dark, incredibly innovative writer: to really get to know Anthony Berkeley, you need to dive deeply into his fiction.

Thanks to my guest Martin Edwards. His latest novel is Mortmain Hall and he’s on Twitter as @medwardsbooks.

Become a member of the Shedunnit Book Club and get bonus audio, listen to ad free episodes and join a book-loving community at shedunnitshow.com/bookclub.

Books and sources: —Elusion Aforethought: The Life and Writing of Anthony Berkeley Cox by Malcolm Turnbull —As For The Woman by Francis Iles —The Layton Court Mystery by Anthony Berkeley —The Secret of Chimneys by Agatha Christie —Whose Body? by Dorothy L. Sayers —Clouds of Witness by Dorothy L. Sayers —The Wychford Poisoning Case by Anthony Berkeley—The Florence Maybrick episodes of this podcast —The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards—The Edith Thompson episode of this podcast —Roger Sheringham and the Vane Mystery by Anthony Berkeley —Messalina of the Suburbs  by E.M. Delafield —The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield —The Silk Stocking Murders by Anthony Berkeley —The Poisoned Chocolates Case by Anthony Berkeley —Murder in the Basement by Anthony Berkeley —The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley—The Detection Club episode of this podcast, featuring Martin Edwards —Malice Aforethought by Francis Iles —Before the Fact by Francis Iles

Thanks to today’s sponsor, Best Fiends. You can download Best Fiends free on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

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Find a full transcript of this episode at shedunnitshow.com/anthonyberkeleytranscript.

Music by Audioblocks and Blue Dot Sessions. See shedunnitshow.com/musiccredits for more details.