*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. Five consecutive issues newly listed, from Fleetway from 1963, 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
#517: THE IMPOSTER: PHILIP CHAMBERS & HOWARD BAKER VG £6
#518: THE SLAYING OF JULIAN SUMMERS: RICHARD WILLIAMS GD/VG £5
#519: CULT OF DARKNESS: DESMOND REID VG £6
#520: SPEAK ILL OF THE DEAD: RICHARD WILLIAMS VG/FN £7
#521: LOTUS LEAVES AND LARCENY: PHILIP CHAMBERS VG £6