Secondhand Vintage Thriller and Crime Fiction Bargain Book Box DSH1040

Secondhand Vintage Thriller and Crime Fiction Bargain Book Box

This compelling collection of twenty-four secondhand books spans the full spectrum of the mystery genre, from the Golden Age of detective fiction to gritty modern police procedurals and high-octane espionage thrillers. The box features iconic authors such as Agatha Christie, Ken Follett, and Robert Ludlum, alongside a robust selection of Peter Robinson’s acclaimed DCI Banks series. Readers will find everything from classic locked-room puzzles and atmospheric historical mysteries to pulse-pounding chases across war-torn Europe and the American West. Whether you enjoy the intellectual challenge of a whodunit or the adrenaline of a spy novel, this library offers a diverse range of suspenseful narratives. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. Cold is the Grave by Peter Robinson DCI Banks is asked by his boss to find his runaway teenage daughter in London. The unofficial case drags him into the sordid world of pornography and drugs. A tragic turn of events brings the investigation back to Yorkshire, pitting Banks against his own superiors. It is a dark, emotional entry in the series that tests the detective's loyalties.

2. Monkey Puzzle by Paula Gosling A vicious killer is targeting the faculty of a university, leaving behind cryptic literary quotations as clues. Lieutenant Jack Stryker, a gritty cop who hates intellectuals, must team up with a professor to solve the puzzle. The mismatch between the detective and the academic adds humor to a tense, fast-paced investigation. Gosling blends police procedure with a clever academic mystery.

3. Poison in Jest by John Dickson Carr A household is terrorized by a poisoner who seems to strike at random, creating an atmosphere of suffocating paranoia. The investigation is led by the boisterous Pat Rossiter, who must untangle a web of family secrets. Carr utilizes his signature atmosphere of creeping dread and impossible circumstances. It is a classic Golden Age mystery full of misdirection and psychological tension.

4. The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey Based on a real 18th-century case, this novel updates the story to post-war England involving a mother and daughter accused of kidnapping a schoolgirl. A reluctant solicitor takes their case, convinced of their innocence despite the overwhelming evidence against them. It is a masterpiece of slow-burning tension that relies on character study rather than violence. Tey dissects the power of rumor and the mob mentality of a village.

5. The Blackheath Poisonings by Julian Symons Set in Victorian London, this mystery centers on two families living in a shared architectural folly who are decimated by a series of poisonings. The intricate plot peels back the layers of Victorian respectability to reveal greed, adultery, and madness. Symons combines a meticulously researched period setting with a modern psychological approach to crime. It is a dark family saga where secrets are as deadly as arsenic.

6. Maigret Omnibus by Georges Simenon This collection features three novels starring the iconic French detective Jules Maigret: The Neighbours, Maigret & The Flemish Shop, and Maigret in Montmartre. Each story showcases Maigret’s patient, intuitive method of solving crimes by understanding the human condition. From the canals of the north to the seedier side of Paris, these tales offer a deep dive into French society. It is an essential volume for fans of atmospheric European crime fiction.

7. White Mischief by James Fox This non-fiction work investigates the unsolved murder of Lord Erroll in Kenya’s "Happy Valley" set during World War II. Fox reconstructs the decadent lives of the colonial elite, a world of drugs, adultery, and aristocrats behaving badly. The book uncovers buried evidence to point a finger at the likely killer after decades of silence. It is a compelling true crime classic that reads like a noir thriller.

8. The Twisted Playground by Bryan Forbes A quiet American scholar is drawn into a nightmare when he is blackmailed into working for a shadowy organization. His investigation into a corrupt network leads him to the glamorous but deadly world of Venice. Forbes weaves a complex tale of international intrigue and moral compromise. It is a stylish thriller about the loss of innocence and the reach of organized crime.

9. The Loo Sanction by Trevanian Jonathan Hemlock, the art professor and assassin from The Eiger Sanction, is blackmailed back into service by British intelligence. He is sent to London to stop a ring of blackmailers who are compromising high-ranking government officials. The novel satirizes the spy genre with its cynical tone and shocking violence. It is a gritty, anti-hero thriller that deconstructs the glamour of espionage.

10. Appleby's Other Story by Michael Innes Sir John Appleby, the retired Commissioner of Metropolitan Police, finds his country peace disturbed by the murder of a local eccentric. The investigation takes place at a grand country house filled with art treasures and suspicious relatives. Innes delights in erudite dialogue and complex plotting typical of the classical detective story. It is a refined mystery that plays with the conventions of the genre.

11. The Year of the Fire Monkey by Chris Mullin A CIA assassin is sent to Tibet to target Chairman Mao, but the mission goes wrong, leaving him stranded. Decades later, the ramifications of that failed hit threaten to destabilize international relations. Mullin writes a political thriller that spans the Cold War era, mixing historical speculation with suspense. It is a gripping look at the long shadow of espionage operations.

12. The Hound of Death by Agatha Christie This collection of twelve short stories explores the supernatural and the macabre, stepping away from Christie's usual whodunits. Titles like "The Witness for the Prosecution" feature twisting legal dramas, while others delve into ghosts and psychic phenomena. It showcases the Queen of Crime’s versatility and her ability to build suspense in short forms. These tales are darker and more eerie than her Poirot or Marple mysteries.

13. The Schirmer Inheritance by Eric Ambler An American lawyer is tasked with finding the heir to a fortune left by an old German sergeant, leading him across post-war Europe. The search brings him into contact with Greek bandits and the lingering chaos of the war. Ambler focuses on the ordinary man caught in extraordinary circumstances, emphasizing realism over glamour. It is a meticulous procedural that turns into a tense adventure.

14. Archangel by Gerald Seymour A British spy is sent into a Soviet labor camp to protect a dissident who has become a symbol of resistance. As the system tries to crush them, the agent must orchestrate a breakout amidst the brutal conditions of the Gulag. Seymour delivers a grim and powerful thriller about the endurance of the human spirit against totalitarianism. It is a high-stakes survival story with deep political resonance.

15. The Latimer Mercy by Robert Richardson Augustus Maltravers, a playwright and amateur sleuth, visits a cathedral city for a festival, only to find a priceless Bible stolen and a bishop missing. The mystery involves ecclesiastical history, blackmail, and a clever killer hiding in plain sight. Richardson creates a cozy yet intellectual puzzle reminiscent of the Golden Age style. It is an engaging mystery set against a backdrop of ancient architecture and modern greed.

16. Eye of the Needle by Ken Follett A ruthless German spy known as "The Needle" discovers the secret of the D-Day invasion plans and races to get the information to Hitler. He is shipwrecked on a lonely Scottish island where he engages in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with a young woman. Follett’s breakthrough novel is a masterpiece of suspense, blending historical fact with heart-pounding fiction. It is a definitive chase thriller that keeps the tension high until the final page.

17. Bloodhounds by Peter Lovesey Detective Peter Diamond investigates the murder of a member of a mystery readers' society who is found dead in a locked crypt. The victim was in possession of a rare stamp, and the suspects are all experts in crime fiction tropes. Lovesey pays homage to the genre with a clever "locked room" puzzle of his own. It is a witty and intricate mystery that delights in playing games with the reader.

18. Aftermath by Peter Robinson The discovery of a serial killer's "house of horrors" is usually the end of the story, but here it is just the beginning. DCI Banks must identify the victims and determine if the killer's wife was a victim or an accomplice. The novel explores the psychological fallout of such crimes on the police and the community. It is a harrowing and gritty procedural that delves into the nature of evil.

19. The Second Saladin by Stephen Hunter A former CIA agent is dragged back into the game to hunt down a Kurdish terrorist who has slipped into the United States. The chase is complicated by past betrayals during the grandiose politics of the Cold War in the Middle East. Hunter delivers detailed action sequences and a complex plot about revenge and unintended consequences. It is a visceral thriller about the ghosts of old wars haunting the present.

20. The Matlock Paper by Robert Ludlum A college professor is recruited by the Justice Department to infiltrate a massive criminal conspiracy thriving on his quiet New England campus. He discovers a document that threatens the stability of the entire American government. Ludlum constructs a labyrinthine plot of paranoia, secret societies, and frantic action. It is a fast-paced thriller where one man stands alone against a powerful, faceless enemy.

21. Season of the Monsoon by Paul Mann In the stifling heat of Bombay, Inspector George Sansi investigates the gruesome murder of a film extra, leading him into the Bollywood underworld. The case exposes a trail of corruption, forbidden desires, and the clash between traditional India and modern vice. Mann creates a vivid, atmospheric setting that is as much a character as the detective. It is a noir mystery rich in cultural detail and sensory description.

22. Cimarron Rose by James Lee Burke Texas lawyer Billy Bob Holland defends a young man accused of murder, who happens to be his own illegitimate son. The investigation pits him against local law enforcement and a history of violence in the small border town. Burke writes with lyrical beauty about the landscape and the haunted souls who inhabit it. It is a powerful crime novel about fatherhood, redemption, and the weight of the past.

23. Gallows View by Peter Robinson This is the debut novel introducing DCI Alan Banks, a London detective who moves to the Yorkshire Dales for a quieter life. He is immediately faced with a peeping tom, a series of break-ins, and the murder of an elderly woman. The disparate crimes begin to converge, showing Banks that the countryside has its own dark underbelly. It lays the foundation for one of the most beloved modern police procedural series.

24. Jig by Campbell Armstrong An IRA assassin known only as "Jig" is sent to the United States to recover money stolen from the cause. He is pursued by a British intelligence officer and an American detective in a cross-country chase. The novel humanizes the antagonist, creating a complex cat-and-mouse dynamic with political overtones. It is a tense thriller that explores the blurred lines between terrorism and patriotism.