*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 consecutive issues newly listed, 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
#505: WHITE MERCENARY: PETER SAXON FA £3
#506: THE RELUCTANT GUNMAN: W HOWARD BAKER VG £6
#507: KILLER PACK: WILFRED MCNEILLY GD/VG £5
#508: MOSCOW MANHUNT: PHILIP CHAMBERS VG £6
#509: DEATH AND LITTLE GIRL BLUE: V J HANSON VG £6
#510: DANGEROUS PLAYMATE: PHILIP CHAMBERS GD/VG £5