*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: This week, we return to the famous and long-running Sexton Blake Library. Often dubbed ‘the poor man’s Sherlock Holmes’, there’s still no doubting the popularity of Sexton Blake, who has probably had far more fiction written of him than the world’s greatest detective. Six issues new in this week, two from Amalgamated from the 1950s, four from Fleetway from 1962, by which time they’d taken over publication. These are picture library sized, but mainly text. The series ran from 1915 to 1968. These issues follow the 1956 revamp by W Howard Baker when the covers took on a more gangster/sleazy mode. Written by a crew of notable writers, the longevity of the series is testament to the quality of the plotting and writing.
PICTURED: SEXTON BLAKE LIBRARY: ALL SOLD
#399: STAIRWAY TO MURDER: ARTHUR KENT Amalgamated 1950s GD/VG £6
#400: THE SEA TIGERS: PETER SAXON Amalgamated 1950s GD/VG £6
#501: CARIBBEAN CRISIS: DESMOND REID Fleetway 1962 GD £5
#502: THE WEAK AND THE STRONG: ARTHUR KENT Fleetway 1962 GD £5
#503: HIGH SUMMER HOMICIDE: ARTHUR KIRBY Fleetway 1962 GD £5
#504: STUDIO ONE MURDER: A A BALLINGER Fleetway 1962 GD £5