Stay of Execution: Difference between revisions
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'''Stay of Execution''' is a collection of mystery stories by the British thriller writer [[Michael Gilbert]], first published in 1971 by [[Hodder | {{TOC|right}} | ||
Unusually for a collection of stories, its reprint edition by [[House of Stratus]] in 2011 has no index detailing the stories in the book. The longest story, by far, is the last one in the book, ''Stay of Execution''. At 54 pages, it is what is generally called a [[novella]]. | {{Image|Michael Gilbert Portrait - smaller.jpg|left|100px|Michael Gilbert on the back cover of [[Mr. Calder and Mr. Behrens]], 1982}} | ||
'''Stay of Execution''' is a collection of mystery stories by the British thriller writer [[Michael Gilbert]], first published in 1971 by [[Hodder and Stoughton]]. Gilbert, who was appointed [[CBE]] in 1980, was a founder-member of the [[Crime Writers' Association|British Crime Writers' Association]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Gilbert|first1=Michael|title=Stay of Execution|date=2012|publisher=House of Stratus|isbn=0755132440|pages=194}}</ref> The [[Mystery Writers of America]] named him a Grand Master in 1988<ref name=Telgrph>{{cite news|title=Michael Gilbert (obituary)|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1510088/Michael-Gilbert.html|accessdate=13 November 2012|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=10 February 2006}}</ref> and in 1990 he was presented [[Bouchercon]]'s Lifetime Achievement Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bouchercon.info/history.html |title=History of Guests of Honor |website=Bouchercon World Mystery Convention |accessdate=5 July 2014}}</ref> | |||
Unusually for a collection of stories, its reprint edition by [[House of Stratus]] in 2011 has no index detailing the stories in the book. The longest story, by far, is the last one in the book, ''Stay of Execution''. At 54 pages, it is what is generally called a [[novella]]. Two of the stories feature [[Inspector Hazlerigg|Chief Superintendant Hazlerigg]]; three [[Henry Bohun]]; and one [[Patrick Petrella|Detective Inspector Petrella]], characters who have figured in other short stories and novels by Gilbert. The [[Independent]] said of the book in 2006:<blockquote>Gilbert had a fondness for amusing but unscrupulous pirates... and an entirely practical, indeed sceptical, view of the workings of the law. It was typical of his humour that the two stories in his excellent collection Stay of Execution (1971) in which rascally solicitors "get away with it", "Back on the Shelf" and "Mr Portway's Practice", were written in the first person.<ref>"Michael Gilbert", obituary in the [[Independent]] of 9 February 2006 at [http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-gilbert-6109485.html]</ref></blockquote> | |||
=Stories in order= | =Stories in order= | ||
*''Preface'', page vii | *''Preface'', page vii | ||
*''Back on the Shelf'', page 1 | *''Back on the Shelf'', page 1 | ||
*''The Blackmailing of Mr. Justice Ball'', page 6 | *''The Blackmailing of Mr. Justice Ball'', page 6 | ||
*''Murder by Jury'', page 18 | *''Murder by Jury'', page 18 [[Chief Inspector Hazlerigg]] | ||
*''Xinia Florata'', page 29 | *''Xinia Florata'', page 29 [[Henry Bohun]] | ||
*''Weekend at Wapentake'', page 35 | *''Weekend at Wapentake'', page 35 [[Henry Bohun]] | ||
*''The System'', page 47 | *''The System'', page 47 [[Henry Bohun]] | ||
*''Cousin Once Removed'', page 61 | *''Cousin Once Removed'', page 61 | ||
*''Modus Operandi'', page 66 | *''Modus Operandi'', page 66 [[Chief Inspector Hazlerigg]] | ||
*''The King in Pawn'', page 78 | *''The King in Pawn'', page 78 [[Patrick Petrella|Detective Inspector Petrella]] | ||
*''The Rich Man in His Castle'', page 92 | *''The Rich Man in His Castle'', page 92 | ||
*''Where There's a Will'', page 103 | *''Where There's a Will'', page 103 | ||
*''Mr. Portway's Practice'', page 116 | *''Mr. Portway's Practice'', page 116 | ||
*''Stay of Execution'', page 128 | *''Stay of Execution'', page 128 | ||
==Notes== | |||
<references/> | |||
Latest revision as of 15:55, 10 September 2020
Stay of Execution is a collection of mystery stories by the British thriller writer Michael Gilbert, first published in 1971 by Hodder and Stoughton. Gilbert, who was appointed CBE in 1980, was a founder-member of the British Crime Writers' Association.[1] The Mystery Writers of America named him a Grand Master in 1988[2] and in 1990 he was presented Bouchercon's Lifetime Achievement Award.[3]
Unusually for a collection of stories, its reprint edition by House of Stratus in 2011 has no index detailing the stories in the book. The longest story, by far, is the last one in the book, Stay of Execution. At 54 pages, it is what is generally called a novella. Two of the stories feature Chief Superintendant Hazlerigg; three Henry Bohun; and one Detective Inspector Petrella, characters who have figured in other short stories and novels by Gilbert. The Independent said of the book in 2006:
Gilbert had a fondness for amusing but unscrupulous pirates... and an entirely practical, indeed sceptical, view of the workings of the law. It was typical of his humour that the two stories in his excellent collection Stay of Execution (1971) in which rascally solicitors "get away with it", "Back on the Shelf" and "Mr Portway's Practice", were written in the first person.[4]
Stories in order
- Preface, page vii
- Back on the Shelf, page 1
- The Blackmailing of Mr. Justice Ball, page 6
- Murder by Jury, page 18 Chief Inspector Hazlerigg
- Xinia Florata, page 29 Henry Bohun
- Weekend at Wapentake, page 35 Henry Bohun
- The System, page 47 Henry Bohun
- Cousin Once Removed, page 61
- Modus Operandi, page 66 Chief Inspector Hazlerigg
- The King in Pawn, page 78 Detective Inspector Petrella
- The Rich Man in His Castle, page 92
- Where There's a Will, page 103
- Mr. Portway's Practice, page 116
- Stay of Execution, page 128
Notes
- ↑ (2012) Stay of Execution. House of Stratus, 194. ISBN 0755132440.
- ↑ Michael Gilbert (obituary), 10 February 2006. Retrieved on 13 November 2012.
- ↑ History of Guests of Honor. Retrieved on 5 July 2014.
- ↑ "Michael Gilbert", obituary in the Independent of 9 February 2006 at [1]