Tuesday, June 01, 2010

CADS

CADS stands for a periodical called Crime and Detective Stories, 'an irregular magazine of comment and criticism about crime and detective stories,' to use the editor's own words. It arrives through my letter-box around twice a year and and as I never know when it is going to appear, it always comes as a pleasant surprise. There is nothing quite like it. It is not glossy, there are hardly any illustrations, and I love it. The current issue contains articles on Hilda Lawrence, Georgette Heyer, Sherlock Holmes and the bankers, crime stories featuring Christmas and the New Year, Anthony Gilbert (a favourite of my mother's) and much, much more. Ever heard of the crime thrillers of T. Arthur Plummer? Me neither until the current CADS. It is written by afficionados for afficionados. Contemporary crime fiction isn't neglected. There are reviews of new fiction, and once a year there is a round-up of the year's highlights, and there is an interview with a contemporary crime writer on the back page. But the emphasis is on writers of the past and no-one is too long-forgotten or obscure to be thought worthy of mention.
It has been going for twenty-five years, published and edited by Geoff Bradley, a true labour of love if ever there was one. I discovered a copy in Murder One bookshop a few years ago and wish I'd found it sooner. I've been a subscriber for around five years now and it couldn't be simpler. You join the mailing list and with the magazine comes a form for ordering the next issue which you send back with payment for the current one (only £5.75 including postage at present. It really is a bargain). Long may CADS - and Geoff - flourish. If you want your own copy write to him at 9 Vicarage Hill, South Benfleet, Essex, SS7 1PA.

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4 Comments:

Blogger Martin Edwards said...

I didn't know you were also a fan of CADS, and I'm delighted you've given this great magazine such positive coverage.

Wednesday, 02 June, 2010  
Blogger Christine said...

Great minds . . .

Thursday, 03 June, 2010  
Blogger annoxford said...

Congratulations, Christine, on the new paperback issue of "Murder is Academic!" I've already started re-reading my hard bound copy. But when will Cassandra appear in her new academic peril? ;0) I'm off to check out the cost of sending CADS to America.
Annie

Saturday, 05 June, 2010  
Blogger Christine said...

Thank you! Lovely to hear from you. I am planning to put Cassandra into deadly danger very soon, though it will be quite a while before there is another novel in the bookshops.

Sunday, 06 June, 2010  

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