Tuesday, May 9, 2023

The Crime Club Magazine by Collins

In the United Kingdom, Collins took a unique approach to running The Crime Club compared to other book clubs. Unlike traditional clubs, membership was free, and books were distributed through booksellers and libraries. Instead of sending titles directly to readers each month, a newsletter/magazine was provided, featuring a list of forthcoming titles. This method can be seen as more of a marketing promotion than a gatekeeping distribution strategy.

Informed club members had the advantage of being able to promptly visit their local bookshops or libraries and be among the first to access their favorite authors' works. Agatha Christie, a renowned author, regularly released her books as Collins Crime Club editions, adding to the club's appeal.

The back cover blurb of The Murder at the Vicarage highlights that the reach of detective novels extends to a diverse audience, including cabinet ministers, business magnates, specialists from Harley Street, prominent judges, bishops, religious leaders, teachers, and individuals from all walks of life. Collins aimed for an educated readership, and their promotional materials reflected an open-minded approach to their broad range of readers. The Crime Club magazine specifically emphasized the high-quality writing of Murder on the Orient Express in its advertisement for the title, further showcasing their commitment to exceptional literature.

Spring 1934 Crime Club Magazine


Classic Crime Fiction has been kind enough to digitize the entire ten-page Collins Crime Club newsletter from the spring of 1934.  I've added a couple of screenshots here to liven-up the visuals, and recommend viewing the entire issue on their site if you are so inclined. 

Page 2:

Page 8:

Once again, if you'd like to read the entire newsletter, please visit Classic Crime Fiction.


Details About The Crime Club Newsletter Magazine


Customers who enrolled in the Collins Crime Club had the opportunity to receive regular newsletters, mailed to them every three months. These newsletters served as a valuable source of information, informing members about the latest crime books that had been released or were scheduled to be published. Collins had a clear plan in mind: to unveil three new crime books on the first Monday of each month. These selections were carefully curated by a panel of experts, led by Cyril Alington, who diligently handpicked one book as the prestigious "Selection" of the month, while designating the other two as "Recommended" choices.

As a marketing strategy, the club proved to be highly successful, attracting a substantial subscriber base. In fact, Collins proudly boasted of having 25,000 subscribers in 1934, a testament to the appeal of their offerings. The popularity of the club led to an expansion in the number of books published, surpassing the initial promise of three books per month. This trend continued, peaking in 1938 with an impressive 42 books published, showcasing the Crime Club's dedication to providing crime fiction enthusiasts with a wide range of captivating reads.

The Collins Crime Club newsletter played a significant role in engaging members and promoting upcoming titles. It served as a means of communication and anticipation for readers interested in crime and mystery literature.  

Content: The newsletter contained a variety of content related to crime fiction. Alongside the list of forthcoming titles, it featured articles, reviews, author interviews, and recommendations. The content aimed to provide readers with valuable insights into the world of crime writing and keep them informed about the latest releases.

Author Spotlights: The newsletter often highlighted specific authors, allowing readers to delve into their background, writing style, and notable works. These author spotlights gave readers a deeper understanding of the writers behind their favorite crime novels and introduced them to new authors to explore.

Exclusive Offers: The newsletter occasionally included exclusive offers, such as special editions, limited releases, or collector's items. These offers provided members with unique opportunities to enhance their crime fiction collection and access rare or highly sought-after editions.

Reader Interaction: Collins Crime Club valued the opinions and feedback of its readers. The newsletter encouraged reader participation through features like letters to the editor, book recommendations from members, and reader polls. This interactive element fostered a sense of community among crime fiction enthusiasts.

Extras and Extras Plus: In addition to the standard newsletter, Collins Crime Club introduced "Extras" and "Extras Plus" inserts. These inserts provided additional content, such as short stories, puzzles, quizzes, and other crime-related diversions. They added an extra layer of enjoyment and entertainment for readers.

The Collins Crime Club newsletter went beyond a mere list of forthcoming titles. It offered a comprehensive reading experience, combining informative articles, author features, exclusive offers, and opportunities for reader engagement. It catered to the interests and passions of crime fiction fans, creating a sense of anticipation and connection within the community.

The War Years

During the challenging times of World War II, the Collins Crime Club faced significant difficulties due to paper shortages. In 1942, the club regretfully announced that it could no longer produce quarterly newsletters as a result. Additionally, the page count of their books was significantly reduced, ranging from an average of 252-280 pages to 160-192 pages. To accommodate these changes, smaller typefaces were employed, and the quality of paper used was inferior. Moreover, the production of new books saw a drastic decline, reaching an all-time low in 1946 with only 16 new releases.

The Enclosed Postcard

The Collins Crime Club newsletter prominently featured a recurring footer message encouraging members to "Re-Enrol Now!" and providing instructions to fill out the enclosed postcard. This postcard served as a means for members to renew their membership and stay connected with the club.


 
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Monday, May 8, 2023

Photo Crime: The Crime Club Party Game

Pepys, the same company that created The Crime Club Card Game also put out The Crime Club Party Game called Photo Crime.  The game came out about 1950, and there were a few variations of the box over the years, with the purple box having four different "crimes" to be solved than the green box.  The later red and white box contains two crimes from the green box and two from the purple (no new crimes). 



The game comes with 12 photo cards, which is made up of four photo scenes in sets of three. Therefore, up to 12 people can play four rounds in each game. The photos include a mystery scenario that can be solved by carefully looking at the photos and reading the witness report. The first person to get the answer in each round scores a point. At the end of four rounds, the highest score wins! 





The Photo Crime Scenarios


Included in The Crime Club Party Game are four mystery set-ups that you must solve by reading the short story and carefully examining the photo to see what the solution is.  Here are the Photo Crime sheets that are in a particular "green" box version of the game.  As shown in the photo of another green box above, the four scenarios in that version are different! 

Four Crime Scenes from a "light green" box: 




A different variation of crime scene photos from a "darker green" box:




All of these screens came from different green boxes, and because I do not have any examples from the purple box it is hard to determine the total number of photos scenes created overall. Currently, there looks to be eight, but the purple box "could" contain another set of four different photos. 

NOTE: My apologies for the partially obscured photo #4 from the second set; I don't have a good scan of that one.  


Instructions


Photocrime

Party Game for 2 to 12 Players

Description: 12 cards are provided, giving 4 "crimes" to be solved. Each "crime" is repeated on 3 cards.

HOW TO PLAY:  Give one card to each player. Tell the players they are given 5 minutes to study the information given on their cards, in conjunction with the picture of Inspector Cameron's interview with the Witness. The object is to discover why Inspector Cameron came to his conclusion that the Witness was lying. 

When the 5 minutes are "up" the M.C. calls upon any players who think they have solved the problem to come forward one at a time and tell him their answers, taking care that other players do not overhear them. Those with correct answers (see Solutions below) are the winners of that round.

Players then exchange cards so that each a new "crime" and play the second round. Since the 12 cards are made of 3 each of 4 different pictures, the game can be played 4 times by 12 players and each time every player will have a different crime to solve. 

 


Last Edition

The most recent version of the game maintains the four crime scenes format, carefully selecting the best from the earlier editions to ensure the best gameplay experience. Upon examining a photo of the contents from an eBay listing, it appears that the scenario labeled as #3 in the first set of cards (above) is now numbered as #1 in the later edition. Furthermore, the game includes scenario #2 from the later box, indicating that the creators have done their best to mix up the elements without having to create new "crimes."



While it would have been exciting to have all eight crimes included in the final set, the decision to curate a selection of scenes ensures that players can still enjoy a captivating and diverse gameplay experience, even if they had played one of the versions before.

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Sunday, May 7, 2023

Collins Crime Club


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.

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.

References

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Friday, May 5, 2023

The Crime Club Gunman

The Crime Club books became instantly identifiable thanks to their unmistakable logo prominently displayed on the covers. This distinctive logo prominently featured the iconic Crime Club gunman, capturing the fascination of mystery enthusiasts and serving as a powerful symbol of the imprint's identity. The inclusion of the logo on each book cover created a visual connection for readers, instantly signaling that they were about to embark on a thrilling and suspenseful journey within the pages.

The Crime Club's decision to adopt the gunman logo was a strategic move that solidified their unique brand identity in the minds of readers. The logo became synonymous with the gripping and captivating nature of their novels, generating a sense of anticipation and excitement. Whether browsing bookstore shelves or perusing online listings, the presence of the Crime Club logo with the distinctive gunman design immediately grabbed attention, drawing mystery lovers to explore the intriguing stories within.


The Crime Club logo

The logo's enduring impact is a testament to its effectiveness in leaving a lasting impression on readers. It became a recognizable mark of distinction, signifying quality crime fiction and enticing readers to delve into the mysterious worlds created by talented authors. The logo served as a visual representation of the Crime Club's commitment to delivering thrilling narratives, and its inclusion on each cover was a promise of engaging and suspenseful storytelling.

In summary, the Crime Club's distinct logo featuring the iconic gunman became a powerful and recognizable symbol associated with their gripping novels. It served as a visual representation of the imprint's unique identity and quality, capturing the attention and imagination of mystery enthusiasts who eagerly awaited each new release bearing the iconic Crime Club logo.

The logo appeared on every book published by The Crime Club, including the very first title, The Desert Moon Mystery by Kay Cleaver Strahan in 1928. 

The Desert Moon Mystery by Kay Cleaver Strahan, 1928


The Crime Club Gunman Decoded

Surprisingly, the Crime Club logo conceals a hidden code that many may not have noticed at first glance. It was a revelation to me when someone pointed it out. Initially, I had simply perceived the logo's unconventional design as a product of the distinctive Art Deco style prevalent in the 1930s. Little did I realize that there was a deeper secret embedded within its seemingly peculiar appearance.

The Secret Code of the Crime Club Gunman

The specific designer responsible for creating the Crime Club logo featuring the iconic gunman is not widely documented or publicly known. The logo was developed and implemented by Doubleday & Company, the publisher behind the Crime Club imprint. The company likely collaborated with graphic designers or artists of the time to create the distinctive logo that would visually represent the Crime Club's brand and capture the essence of mystery and crime. Unfortunately, the individual designer's identity and their exact contribution to the logo's creation remain uncredited and undisclosed.

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Wednesday, November 3, 2010

The Crime Club Books of 1928

1928: The first year of The Crime Club was 1928, and the series kicked off with The Desert Moon Mystery by Kay Cleaver Strahan as the inaugural edition on April 1st, 1928.

The premiere year continued with a number of great titles,  featuring 27 titles in total by 9 American authors by the end of December.




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Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Crime Club Jigsaw Puzzles by Edgar Wallace

Einson-Freeman published three jig-saw puzzles for The Crime Club in 1933.  Each puzzle consisted of 200 pieces and offered an engaging challenge for fans of crime-themed puzzles. These crime-themed puzzles were designed to provide both entertainment and mental stimulation for puzzle enthusiasts. As puzzlers assembled the pieces, they engaged in a visual exploration of crime-related scenarios, allowing them to immerse themselves in the mystery and use their problem-solving skills to solve the puzzles.

All three puzzles were based on new 16-page short stories written by Edgar Wallace, specifically for these puzzles:
  1. The Death Safe by Edgar Wallace
  2. The Torch Murder by Edgar Wallace
  3. The Ringer's Revenge by Edgar Wallace
The original cost of each puzzle was 35 cents.

These three jig-saw puzzles were officially connected to The Crime Club by Doubleday in the USA, and featured the Crime Club gunman logo on the front and spine of each book-shaped box. 

Crime Club Jig-Saw Puzzle #1
The Death Safe, by Edgar Wallace



The Crime Club jig-saw puzzle was a double-faced puzzle, which included a 16-page story of The Death Safe by Edgar Wallace. The idea of the puzzle was to read the story, and then solve the jigsaw clue so that you could solve the crime! Once you put the puzzle together, the solution to the mystery became clear.



The 16-page booklet of The Death Safe begins,
"Bash" was really clever. He stood out from all the other criminals in this respect. For the ranks of wrongdoers are made up of mental deficients--stupid men who invent nothing but lies. They are what the brilliant Mr. Coe calls in American criminals "jail bugs." The English criminal, because he does not dope, becomes a pitiable adn whining creature who demands charity, and the American criminal develops into a potential homicide.
Bash was a constant, but not, in the eyes of the law, an habitual criminal. He had never been charged because he had never been caught. He was an expert safe-breakers and worked alone.
Here is the copy from the back of the box:
THE CRIME CLUB 
JIG-SAW PUZZLE
What was the secret of "THE DEATH SAFE?"

 

WHAT deadly thing lurked within?
WHO was "The Ringer", mysterious avenger of crime?
WHY did he kill "Bash the Brutal"?
HOW did "Mr. Bash" meet his fate?

READ--
The thrilling 16-page story by EDGAR WALLACE--King of Mystery-story writers--most widely read author of "thrillers" in the world, then--

SOLVE--
The double-sided, 200 piece jig-saw puzzle--really TWO puzzles of 200 pieces each.
FIRST--put together the CLUE side--the torn letter and newspaper clipping. THEN put together the PICTURE side--in green and black--and you will

SOLVE THE CRIME!
CC-1 © 1933, EINSON-FREEMAN COMPANY, INC. Publishers, LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. LITHO IN U.S.A. Distributed by THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY, INC 


Side 1 of The Death Safe


Side 2 of The Death Safe


Bookshelf Format

One of the clever parts of these puzzles was that they were shaped like books, and fit perfectly on a bookshelf alongside your collection of the books by The Crime Club. 




Crime Club Jig-Saw Puzzle #2
The Torch Murder, by Edgar Wallace


A new 16-page story by Edgar Wallace, written specifically for this jig-saw puzzle format. The solution is only found when the jig-saw puzzle is completed.  



All three of The Crime Club jig-saw puzzles were written by Edgar Wallace, so this one is not to be confused with The Torch Murder by Charles Read Jones, published by Dutton Clue Mystery in 1930. 

Here's a review, written in April 1933 by Walter D. Hickman in The Book Nook:


The back of the box, booklet, and a few pieces of the double-sided puzzle:




Crime Club Jig-Saw Puzzle #3
The Ringer's Revenge, by Edgar Wallace


Another new story by Edgar Wallace specifically for this jig-saw puzzle format, based on his famous character, The Ringer. 

The Ringer's Revenge, jig-saw puzzle by Edgar Wallace


The Ringer's Revenge, completed puzzle


Warning! Crime Club puzzlers never tell!


In each puzzle, a card was included that warned puzzlers not to give away the solution. 

Don't give away the solution —but, after you have solved the crime yourself, you can play the amusing party game of "MURDER!"


When the party is all together, tell them just the outline of the mystery. Then send out one member of the party while you tell the rest the solution. When the one sent out returns, he should try to guess it by putting a series of questions to the others, the answer to which is "Yes" or "No."

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Peter Cheyney and The Crime Club Card Game

Peter Cheyney authored the Crime Club card game, which was first published by Pepys (Castell Brothers Limited) in 1935. Peter Cheyney was a top author of British detective and mystery books in the 1930s and 40s, and to have him get personally involved in the creation of a card game for The Crime Club was quite a coup.

The set comes in a wonderful gold-lined box, featuring a sharp padded lid. The top of the box is embossed in gold, and a special card for Peter Cheyney is glued to the bottom of the box. 

1935 (left) and 1939 editions of The Crime Club Card Game


The card game was released with two color varieties: the 1935 first edition features a padded dark purple box, with card backs of purple. The second edition, around 1939, had a dark green box with green-backed cards, so there wouldn't be any confusion.

The game contains 50 cards, mostly made of characters from Peter Cheyney's books (such as Lemmy Caution), however there are exceptions, such as Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot. The cards are made up of 6 suits with 8 cards in each suit. There are 3 detective suits, and 3 crook suits. Each suit features characters, objects, and locations. There are also two jokers included in the set, as well as the instruction booklet and 4 value reminder slips. The back of each card features the masked Crime Club gunman on a geometric pattern. The card illustrations of Cheyney's Lemmy Caution and Carlotta are reissues of the classic architypes taken from John Pisani’s book cover artwork for the Collins editions of “This Man is Dangerous” and “Poison Ivy”.

The Detectives
  • Lemmy Caution, assisted by Carlotta
  • Hercule Poirot, assisted by Superintendent Battle
  • Inspector Macdonald, assisted by Peter Vernon

The Detectives and their Assistants

The Crooks
  • Mr. Colbeck, assisted by Dr. Harlow
  • Mr. Woodspring, assisted by Mr. Glapthorne
  • Mr. Evans, assisted by Janet Murch

The Crooks and their Assistants


How To Play The Crime Club Card Game


Setup: Gather the 50 cards included in the game, which are divided into 6 suits, with 8 cards in each suit. Each suit features characters, objects, and locations. Additionally, there are two jokers.

Deal: Shuffle the cards thoroughly and deal a predetermined number of cards to each player, depending on the number of players participating. The goal is to collect and make up a good hand.

First Part of the Game: In this phase, players focus on building the best hand. They strategically select and play cards from their hand, aiming to create combinations that will be advantageous in the second part of the game.

Second Part of the Game: Once all players have built their hands, the objective shifts to taking as few tricks as possible. A trick is won by playing the highest-ranking card of the suit led. However, players can strategically play lower-ranking cards to avoid winning tricks that may carry negative points.

Winning Strategy: As the game progresses, players will learn which combinations and card plays lead to the best hands and winning strategies. It is through experience and observation that players refine their approach and aim to score the fewest points by the end of the game.

Number of Players: The Crime Club card game requires at least two players and can accommodate up to six players using a single pack of cards. For more than six players, it is recommended to use two packs of cards.

Enjoy the game as you navigate the world of characters, objects, and locations from famous crime novels, and strive to outwit your opponents by collecting the best hands and taking the fewest tricks possible!


 

The Crime Club Card Game, 1935 purple edition



References

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