tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post2426755075270050545..comments2024-03-26T17:48:56.627+00:00Comments on 'Do You Write Under Your Own Name?': Forgotten Book - The Corpse with the Sunburnt FaceMartin Edwardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-66921162527146137262015-10-26T17:08:08.639+00:002015-10-26T17:08:08.639+00:00Oddly, this book and PASS THE BODY (aka THE CRIME ...Oddly, this book and PASS THE BODY (aka THE CRIME IN KENSINGTON) are the two books by Sprigg I enjoyed the most. I liked the weird and supernatural elements in the final third of CORPSE... and I remember those parts over everything else.J F Norrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06473487417479127354noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-55857798642378316852015-10-15T22:24:35.461+01:002015-10-15T22:24:35.461+01:00Agreed, Moira, it's easy to find and a good, u...Agreed, Moira, it's easy to find and a good, unorthodox mystery.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-13407894198770379942015-10-15T20:37:06.338+01:002015-10-15T20:37:06.338+01:00I've been seeing his name in the reference boo...I've been seeing his name in the reference books for many years, but have never managed to read anything by him. So perhaps, as Sergio says, start with Death of an Airman.Clothes In Bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14680610242823846662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-84233783769881234202015-10-15T17:55:52.897+01:002015-10-15T17:55:52.897+01:00Thanks, Unknown. You've hit on the reason why ...Thanks, Unknown. You've hit on the reason why RAJW doesn't feature in my book. In fact, I have a Walling book - the one about the Squeaky Voice! - waiting patiently to be read. And once I've done that, I will be sure to give him a mention here.Martin Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16082485795280777670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-51151117586564358852015-10-13T01:10:00.972+01:002015-10-13T01:10:00.972+01:00When I first saw the heading Forgotten Book - The ...When I first saw the heading <b>Forgotten Book - The Corpse with the Sunburnt Face</b>, I assumed it must refer to a book by the prolific R. A. J. Walling (<i>fl</i>1927-1949) whose publishers, Hodder and Stoughton, 'branded' many of his works with a title beginning "The Corpse with..." or "The Corpse in...". A West Country journalist and editor who was nearly 60 when wrote his first detective novel, Walling had many admirers among those who valued a mystery more for its ingenuity than its characterization. (Unsurprisingly, the fiendish crossword setter Torquemada was a fan.) But he slipped into obscurity not long after his death in 1949 and remains there today. Speaking from memory I don't think you mention him even in passing in The Golden Age of Murder - which is fair enough, since he was never a member of The Detection Club, but at his best he's as enjoyable as, say Connington, Knox, Whitechurch or Val Gielgud.<br />But The Corpse with the Sunburnt Face turns out not to be one of <i>his</i> corpses after all (although they did number a Blistered Hand among their afflictions, as well as an Eerie Eye, a Floating Foot and a Grimy Glove!). So the shade of this truly forgotten writer still waits to be summoned back into the light... <br />Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09058226291828462697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7291823984059320518.post-36806929061135380632015-10-09T11:09:24.236+01:002015-10-09T11:09:24.236+01:00Thanks Martin - will definitely get "Death of...Thanks Martin - will definitely get "Death of an Airman" first. Sergio (Tipping My Fedora)http://bloodymurder.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com