You owe it to yourself to read this collection. The reader is sure to be amazed, delighted, and entertained from one end of the book to the other. A most enjoyable and intriguing book. A winner for fans of classic mysteries and a complete joy. Stellar. Much more than quaint curiosities, the 16 entries from women crime writers who preceded Christie are enjoyable in their own right. This is a must-have volume for classic crime fans. Klinger the archivist and editor has done the field an invaluable service by excavating so many stories. Shows Victorian women actively working the field long before Miss Marple. Illuminating and entertaining. Beautifully published and full of delights. Unreservedly recommended for community libraries and the personal reading lists of dedicated mystery buffs. A welcome addition to anyone's library of crime fiction.