Collins Crime Club, often referred to as the Crime Club, was a British publishing imprint specializing in crime and mystery fiction. It was established by Collins Publishers in 1930 and gained a reputation for publishing some of the finest detective and thriller novels of its time.
Collins Crime Club published works from a wide range of celebrated authors in the genre, including Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham, among others. These authors and their novels became synonymous with the Crime Club and contributed significantly to its popularity and success.
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| Murder on the Orient Express, 1st UK Edition 1934 with Crime Club "book of the month" band |
Similar to its American counterpart, the Doubleday Crime Club, the Collins Crime Club had a distinct logo that appeared on its book covers. The logo featured a black crow perched on a skull and crossbones, adding an air of intrigue and mystery to the books.
The Crime Club novels were known for their intricate plots, well-developed characters, and captivating storytelling. They spanned various subgenres within crime and mystery fiction, including classic whodunits, psychological thrillers, and suspenseful tales.
Throughout its existence, Collins Crime Club published a significant number of crime and mystery novels, becoming an influential force in the British publishing scene. The imprint continued to release books under the Crime Club name until the mid-1990s, providing readers with decades of gripping and engaging stories.
In summary, Collins Crime Club was a renowned British publishing imprint specializing in crime and mystery fiction. It published works from acclaimed authors and played a pivotal role in shaping the genre. The imprint's distinctive logo and its association with top-notch crime fiction made it a respected and sought-after publisher for fans of detective novels and thrilling mysteries.
Doubleday vs. Collins
The Doubleday Crime Club and the Collins Crime Club were two separate publishing imprints that focused on crime and mystery fiction, operating in different countries and catering to distinct markets. Here are some of the key differences between the two:
Location: The Doubleday Crime Club was an American publishing imprint, while the Collins Crime Club was based in Britain. They catered to readers in their respective countries and had different publishing strategies tailored to their specific markets.
Publishers: The Doubleday Crime Club was a division of Doubleday & Company, a major American publishing house. On the other hand, Collins Crime Club was part of Collins Publishers, a prominent British publishing company.
Book Selection: The Doubleday Crime Club primarily published American crime and mystery novels, featuring works from notable American authors such as Ellery Queen, Erle Stanley Gardner, and Mary Roberts Rinehart. The Collins Crime Club, on the other hand, focused on British crime and mystery fiction, featuring works from renowned British authors like Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers, and Margery Allingham.
Logo and Branding: The two crime clubs had distinct logos and branding. The Doubleday Crime Club logo featured a gunman fashioned from the letters C, R, I, M, and E. The Collins Crime Club logo, on the other hand, incorporated a black crow perched on a skull and crossbones, adding a unique visual element to their book covers.
Publishing Period: The Doubleday Crime Club had a longer publishing history, beginning in 1928 and continuing for several decades. The Collins Crime Club, established in 1930, also had a significant publishing run, but it eventually phased out in the mid-1990s.
Geographic Reach: The Doubleday Crime Club primarily focused on the American market, although some of their books were distributed internationally. The Collins Crime Club primarily targeted the British market, but their books also gained readership worldwide.
While both crime clubs shared a common goal of publishing quality crime and mystery fiction, their unique origins, target markets, and author selections distinguished them from one another. Each imprint left its own mark on the genre and contributed to the rich history of crime and mystery literature.
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