Tall, rake-thin and copiously moustachioed with a high, piping voice, Henry St Liver is at first glance not an impressive specimen. But the moment he is confronted with a mystery to solve ? one with a risqué element ? he is transformed into a positive genius of detection and decision. In this first collection, he and his assistant Olive Salter solve eight cases that have baffled Scotland Yard'. Dexter never allows the parody to get in the way of the story: this is an immensely skilful, enjoyable, erudite and eccentric book that will appeal to the many fans of the Victorian detective genre. AUTHOR Gary Dexter is a columnist for the Guardian, The Times and the Spectator. His first book WHY NOT CATCH 21? was first published in 2007 and widely praised. SELLING POINTS: ?A new take on the perennially popular Victorian mystery genre ?Gary Dexter's reputation is growing following reception of WHY NOT CATCH 21? ?These are sweet, funny, compelling mysteries with a broad appeal (ie not smut) ?Light, easy-to-read style belies immense erudition: Dexter is a bona fide expert in Victorian attitudes to sex ?Comp titles: Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders by Gyles Brandreth REVIEWS ?Dexter's tone is consistently, and never irritatingly, droll. There are a few books that try to be funny about literature and don't ever really get it right; Dexter always does.' Nicholas Lezard on WHY NOT CATCH 21?, Guardian ?Gary Dexter is Britain's best parodist' ? Michael Bywater, author of Lost Worlds ?A balls-achingly funny writer' ? Rowan Pelling, columnist, Independent
