A collection of short stories featuring the quirky pair of detectives, Bryant and May. This book contains 2 stories previously issued as ebooks - Bryant & May and the Secret Santa, and B & May's Mystery Tour.

The others are (all Bryant and May ...) in the Field, on the Beat, in the Soup, and the Nameless Woman, and the Seven Points, on the Cards, Ahoy!, and the Blind Spot, and the Bells of Westminster.

Some are deliberate attempts to use or are homages to classic concepts from the golden age of detective fiction such as the locked room mystery.

Mostly enjoyable with some good twists here and there, and the introductory essay on the author's interest in classic crime fiction, plus the notes about the various stories are interesting. The potted summary of the books so far in the series should also not be skipped even by people who have read them, such as me, because there is a little note about each - where the author got the ideas from etc. So an interesting all round read. ( )

I had only read a short Bryant & May story before I read this collection and one of the reasons I wanted to read this collection was because I thought this would give me some insight into the life and work of Bryant and May if I in the future read any of the books. Which I probably will.

This collection consists of eleven previously unseen investigations and it is everything from murder in a locked room, a suspicious case of poisoning on a boat and a killer on a Tourist bus in London. Some cases were more interesting than the others, most of them good. And, even a case or rather two cases connected that they couldn't solve. Bryant&May and the Secret Santa was the story I had read before so I skipped that one.

All and all I found most cases interesting, albeit I found some cases a bit tedious I must admit especially the one about the freak show. I just couldn't get into that one and it felt a bit long.

But I've come to like Bryant & May very much. Especially Bryant. Btw there is an excellent characters list in the beginning of this book. Perfect if you are a new reader, like me, to the series.

I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

Some short stories from the Peculiar Crimes Unit and the detectives Bryant & May.
Not really keen on short stories but as an introduction to the characters they were interesting enough that I would like to start at the beginning of the series and read the full novels.
A NetGalley Book. ( )

I enjoyed these quirky stories. Interesting characters and unusual plots. Would like to read more. ( )

I really enjoy Bryant and May. I really enjoy Fowler's writing. It's such a shame that the author finds it necessary to run his mouth as obnoxiously as he does on his blog. But it's his blog, so he can say whatever he wants, and I can stop reading it whenever I want. Which was when his "those Americans have trouble brushing their teeth because they might have to put down their guns" attitude got up my nose.

Oh! Speaking of which: "In Britain, we have ‘equality of arms,’ which allows the same resources to be made available to both defence and prosecution, and broadly speaking this idea of balance filters down through the system. There’s a reason why the Old Bailey’s statue of Justice holds scales. It means we don’t get such outrageous courtroom dramas as O. J. Simpson fiddling with a glove, but the end result is often fairer."

Why am I reading this guy again?

There have been discussions out there about whether and how an author's politics or personal behavior or whatever affect whether and how people read his writing. I guess in this case the fact that the author literally makes me physically ill means that I'm done with the series. Oh well. On the plus side, he mentioned lots and lots of classic authors I can go explore instead.

I had notes on this book. I had lots to say, about the old fart (and surprisingly racist) main characters and the entertaining supporting characters, and the weird and twisty plots, and … so on. But I … don't care anymore. And yeah, my rating for this (and all of his other books)? Oops. Had a little slip there.

The only note I feel I have to retain is on this quote: "… after the dark realities of the previous two books I needed to write something lighter and funnier, so this is one of Bryant and May’s ‘sorbet stories’—something refreshing after a big meal."

The story is about a dead baby.

The usual disclaimer: I received this book via Netgalley for review. ( )

As a book of short stories I enjoyed it immensely.. The two aged police detectives give vivid descriptions of London. I enjoy Mr. Fowlers writing immensely . I would love to read a full length novel by this author soon.

****I was given this book in exchange for an honest review**** ( )

"London’s Glory: The Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit" is a collection of short stories about the elderly detectives Arthur Bryant and John May, beloved characters created by Christopher Fowler and featured in a series of novels that are all entertaining and enlightening, especially with respect to London and its history. I assume that these stories were previously published in magazines and such, but there is no publication information given here, which is a shame. What *is* included, however, is a delightful introduction in which Mr. Fowler discusses the reasons for enjoying mystery stories, and he also gives a brief background into the genesis of each of the eleven stories, which is particularly enjoyable for someone like me, a long-time reader who is very familiar with this series. Those introductions also should serve to whet the appetites of new readers, hopefully causing them to search out the novels! At the end of the book, we also get a brief synopsis of each of the novels, along with a very funny partial list of books (imaginary and real) on Arthur’s shelves, and an excerpt from "Bryant and May and the Burning Man," the most recent novel in the series. Most entertaining; highly recommended! ( )

A book of short cases featuring my favorite pair of unorthodox detectives and their Peculiar crime unit. As shorts one doesn't get the full flavor of their personalities and peccadilloes, but for long time fans like myself, this was a treat. What made this an even better read was the author's comments before each story on how and why the story came into being, as well as his introduction where he mentions so many mystery writers he admires and those he don't. Also he explains what mysteries are supposed to accomplish and what the reader expects. Also loved the section on the strange books Arthur Bryant has in his library. Anyway, now have a list of new writer, or should I say past mystery writers which I will seek out sooner or later.

So thanks Christopher Fowler for continuing this wonderful series and thanks Netgalley for the ARC. ( )

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.

This has been a Bryant and May couple of months for me. I went from never having read any of Fowler's stories to becoming a big fan of this unusual detective duo and their compatriots at the Peculiar Crimes Unit.

London's Glory is a collection of Bryant and May short stories, all styled around different famous mystery styles. From the locked room, to "the killer is one of us" to the spy thriller, Fowler tackles them all with prowess and a sense of wry humor that keeps everything feeling fresh and new. As a mystery lover, it was especially fun to see a new spin on some of my favorite classics.

I would recommend this book for anyone who loves mysteries. There is pretty much guaranteed to be at least one story to fit every mystery reader's preferences, though I would bet readers will find themselves enjoying every story in this collection.

You don't need to have read any of Bryant and May before to pick up this book. There may be inside jokes or asides you miss (I'm sure I did, having only read one full-length Bryant and May book myself before reading this collection). But this is still an enjoyable, engaging, and creative group of stories that is both an homage to, and a new take on, the classic mystery tropes we all know and love. ( )

Often, when I’m intrigued by a series as established as the Bryant and May (The Peculiar Crimes Unit) Series, I look for a book of shorts. This gives me a feel for the series and whether it’s likely to strike my fancy or not.
LONDON’S GLORY (THE LOST CASES OF BRYANT & MAY AND THE PECULIAR CRIMES UNIT) tickled my fancy no end, and it’s been quite some time since I’ve been so enamored with a book.
Mr. Fowler gives readers insights into the creation of the series and his delightfully quirky characters. Each story is headed by additional insight specific to it.
There’s nothing I didn’t flat out adore about LONDON’S GLORY (THE LOST CASES OF BRYANT & MAY AND THE PECULIAR CRIMES UNIT). I relished the word choices, turns of phrase, eccentric characters, little known tidbits of history, a London I’ve never really “seen”, and some fiendishly clever, devilishly tricky mysteries. There were even passages I read more than once, simply because I loved the sound of them in my head. What fun.
Simply put, I’m thrilled to bits and wish I could give LONDON’S GLORY (THE LOST CASES OF BRYANT & MAY AND THE PECULIAR CRIMES UNIT) 10 stars.
Now I have to beat the feet, get the back list books in my eager lil’ mitts, and carve out some time to lose myself in the pecuilar, wonderful, world of Bryant & May.
Reviewed for Novels Alive TV ( )

I'm new to the Bryant & May series, and I'm afraid I won't be returning. For existing fans of the series, this one is for you. Lots of the short stories were set around Christmas time, so if you're looking for an easy winter read from this series, you found the right thing. Stop reading my review now if you're a fan of the series.

Peculiar crimes unit? Like I said, this series is new to me, and I maybe went in with high hopes given the rave reviews the series garners from people I generally trust. The crimes were hardly peculiar (ok, maybe one), the characters were, to my taste, a bit dull. Perhaps there are revelations here for long-time fans, but to me it was ... well, dull. ( )

London’s Glory: The Lost Cases of Bryant & May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit is a book of short stories in the Bryant & May series by Christopher Fowler. The Peculiar Crimes Unit is a fictional division of Scotland Yard that is loosely based on an actual experimental unit during World War II. It was founded “to investigate crimes that could cause national scandal or public unrest.” Headed up by Arthur Bryant and John May, who have been partners since WWII, it is composed of a group of misfit detectives.

There are 11 stories included, as well as an introduction to the series by the author, a bio of the main characters in the books, and a synopsis of the books. The stories range from one of the first cases that Bryant and May encountered through the current time. Each story includes an introduction in which the author shares his inspiration for that particular story.

A department store Santa, who is not what he seems; a “locked room” mystery in which a body is found stabbed in the middle of the field; a musician killed by his instrument; and a woman who confesses to murder before it happens are some of the cases that Bryant and May encounter.

I have previously read a couple of Bryant and May books and found them enjoyable, so when I saw this book on NetGalley, I immediately requested it. Both Bryant and May have their quirks, as do the rest of the detectives in the PCU. While the series could be characterized as a cozy mystery, some of the stories are a little more graphic than others. The series is interesting to me because of the quirky characters and the variety of odd circumstances; there is nothing formulaic about the stories or the books.

As I have only read a few of the books, I enjoyed reading about how the series came to be, and the bio of each of the characters in the books. The introduction to each of the stories was especially interesting as it reflected the depth of Fowler’s research to make each case unique. Aside from the stories themselves, I found the background information particularly interesting – enough to make that alone worthwhile reading.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written mysteries that have interesting twists to them. If you are interested in the Bryant & May series, this book of short stories and background would be a great place to start to get a feel for the series.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Followers of the Bryant & May series will enjoy not only these rather quirky short stories but also Christopher Fowler's introduction in which he talks about why crime fiction remains popular. In the UK crime fiction accounts for more than a third of all fiction published. He comments though that many books were "interchangeable" and lacking in originality. He discusses what he considers were the good points of Golden Age crime fiction. He gives insights into the creation of the Bryant & May series and the projects he set himself in the writing of each novel. At the end of the book we are treated to a synopsis of each of the series' titles, including the backstory that led to its creation.

The central focus of this book is 11 very individual, sometimes quirky, short stories drawn from the whole span of the sleuths' careers. Each story is preceded by a summary of why the story was written or what Fowler was trying to do. Some of the stories are very good but some challenge the bounds of credibility.

In all though, a "must have" book which gives a lot of interesting back ground material for followers of this series. ( )