Langtail Press - Mystery Lovers Rejoice

poohbear_nc · 03-16-2011, 11:37 AM

I've just discovered this wonderful publishing house, which (in its own words):

Quote:

A NEW LEASE OF LIFE…

The Langtail Press brings back books that have been out of print, or unavailable – the theory being that a good book is always a good book, and that an old book is a new book if you haven’t read it yet.
The list is primarily geared around Crime/ Mystery novels. Authors that were (and still are) revered but whose books have slipped out of print. These books give a taste of where the genre comes from and are a must for any crime aficionados.

Their current author list includes: Anthony Berkeley, Elizabeth Ferrars, Ellery Queen, Fredric Brown, Freeman Wills Crofts, Gavin Black, James Hadley Chase, Joan Fleming, John Dickson Carr, P M Hubbard, and Richard Hull.

Amazon offers Kindle and paperback editions.

Also - they welcome suggestions for additions to their catalog.

Check them out: http://www.langtailpress.com/

[No, I am not affiliated with this press in any way - I'm just tickled to find a source for these Golden Oldies].

SensualPoet · 03-17-2011, 10:33 PM

49 of the titles are on Amazon US as e-books for $8 a piece. That's considerably better than $14.95 paper or £12 from Amazon UK ... but still a bit rich for works that have, arguably, more than "slipped out of print". Nonetheless, nice to find a publisher willing to make the effort to restore the works and acquire the appropriate rights (most are still in copyright although somewhat long in the tooth).

There was a brief discussion of the imprint on the Crime Fiction thread in late January.

Dr. Drib · 03-18-2011, 07:31 AM

Yay for Fredric Brown!

Don

poohbear_nc · 03-18-2011, 11:08 AM

I hope this press is aggressive in acquiring the publishing rights (at least ebook rights) to the older authors. So many Golden Age authors publishing rights are currently held by Rue Morgue press - which is stridently anti-ebook.

Thanks SensualPoet for the tip about the Crime Fiction thread.

I'm currently revelling in Elizabeth Ferrars - she was compared to Agatha Christie, especially for her intricate plotting, but her characters are more richly drawn.

Catlady · 03-18-2011, 12:04 PM

I'm disappointed that they are not offering epubs!

poohbear_nc · 03-18-2011, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Catlady

I'm disappointed that they are not offering epubs!

Send them a message on their site - they welcome input from readers.

mrsquash · 03-20-2011, 11:01 AM

Thanks! Glad to see John Dickson Carr coming to ebooks at a reasonable price. I discovered him back in the 70s and read everything I could find by him and his alter ego.

The locked room mystery was one of my favorite genres and he was the best (that I know of anyway). I just ordered "He Who Whispers" and if it holds up (and I think it will; alas, many of my other old faves have not), I'll buy the rest of them.

SensualPoet · 03-20-2011, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poohbear_nc

I'm currently revelling in Elizabeth Ferrars - she was compared to Agatha Christie, especially for her intricate plotting, but her characters are more richly drawn.

The name is not familiar; I'm sure I've never read her work. I am toying with purchasing "Give a Corpse a Bad Name", the first of five Toby Dyke stories and written during WWII; or "I, Said the Fly" from 1945, a stand alone mystery which has a very Christie like title. There are probably worse ways to spend $8.

Recos?

poohbear_nc · 03-20-2011, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

The name is not familiar; I'm sure I've never read her work. I am toying with purchasing "Give a Corpse a Bad Name", the first of five Toby Dyke stories and written during WWII; or "I, Said the Fly" from 1945, a stand alone mystery which has a very Christie like title. There are probably worse ways to spend $8.

Recos?

I just finished Ferrars' "Enough to Kill a Horse" - wonderfully plotted - a new twist on the "Murder in the Country Village" genre. Now reading through her collection of short stories "Designs of Life" - also marvelously plotted & well written.
About to start the Toby Dyke series and whatever else is now available. Will report back as I read further!

poohbear_nc · 03-20-2011, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrsquash

Thanks! Glad to see John Dickson Carr coming to ebooks at a reasonable price. I discovered him back in the 70s and read everything I could find by him and his alter ego.

The locked room mystery was one of my favorite genres and he was the best (that I know of anyway). I just ordered "He Who Whispers" and if it holds up (and I think it will; alas, many of my other old faves have not), I'll buy the rest of them.

I too have rediscovered John Dickson Carr/Carter Dickson - and they have held up well for me! I'm hugely enjoying these, as well as the Ellery Queen titles.

HarryT · 03-20-2011, 01:50 PM

Ouch - Amazon UK are charging £8 apiece, which is a bit steep for books of this vintage. Most comparable books seem to sell in the £4-5 range.

poohbear_nc · 03-21-2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

The name is not familiar; I'm sure I've never read her work. I am toying with purchasing "Give a Corpse a Bad Name", the first of five Toby Dyke stories and written during WWII; or "I, Said the Fly" from 1945, a stand alone mystery which has a very Christie like title. There are probably worse ways to spend $8.

Recos?

I've just started "Give a Corpse a Bad Name" - it's reading like an Agatha Christie with some screwball comedy characters. Fun so far.

SensualPoet · 03-31-2011, 08:22 PM

So how did the Elizabeth Ferrars titles work out? Good formatting of the ebook? Satisfying read by the time you got to the end?

poohbear_nc · 03-31-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SensualPoet

So how did the Elizabeth Ferrars titles work out? Good formatting of the ebook? Satisfying read by the time you got to the end?

The books are VERY well formatted & proof-read.

The Toby Dyke books are a bit odd - he's quite an oddball character with a sidekick George that does all the work ... sort of .... I think you will either like them or hate them .... they're growing on me.

The stand-alones are superb! "Enough to Kill a Horse" was a hoot - and a great mystery. I'll be continuing my odyssey through them. The Langtail website had an announcement that they would be adding quite a few more titles this year - of Ferrars and others!

SensualPoet · 03-31-2011, 10:01 PM

Excellent and thank you. I will most definitely plop a couple of these onto my tbb&r list!

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Rottweiler Rescue: a mystery for dog lovers, by Ellen O'Connell	ellenoc	Self-Promotions by Authors and Publishers	28	02-07-2012 08:27 PM
And for all you Chocolate Lovers	kennyc	Lounge	3	09-17-2010 06:33 PM
Dog Lovers!	Mark3	Introduce Yourself	5	11-12-2009 08:10 AM
GRYPHONWOOD PRESS/BLADE RED PRESS Halloween Giveaway	Winter	Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links)	0	10-30-2009 06:39 AM
Aussies rejoice - e-book hardware on sale in this country	Dajala	News	47	12-09-2007 06:04 PM

03-17-2011, 10:33 PM	#2
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	49 of the titles are on Amazon US as e-books for $8 a piece. That's considerably better than $14.95 paper or £12 from Amazon UK ... but still a bit rich for works that have, arguably, more than "slipped out of print". Nonetheless, nice to find a publisher willing to make the effort to restore the works and acquire the appropriate rights (most are still in copyright although somewhat long in the tooth). There was a brief discussion of the imprint on the Crime Fiction thread in late January.

03-18-2011, 07:31 AM	#3
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 44,748 Karma: 55645321 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: Kindle: Oasis 3, Voyage WiFi; Kobo: Libra 2, Aura One	Yay for Fredric Brown! Don

03-18-2011, 11:08 AM	#4
poohbear_nc Now what? Posts: 58,877 Karma: 135181808 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Durham, NC Device: Every Kindle Ever Made & To Be Made!	I hope this press is aggressive in acquiring the publishing rights (at least ebook rights) to the older authors. So many Golden Age authors publishing rights are currently held by Rue Morgue press - which is stridently anti-ebook. Thanks SensualPoet for the tip about the Crime Fiction thread. I'm currently revelling in Elizabeth Ferrars - she was compared to Agatha Christie, especially for her intricate plotting, but her characters are more richly drawn.

03-18-2011, 12:04 PM	#5
Catlady Grand Sorcerer Posts: 7,345 Karma: 52398889 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Kindle Fire, Kindle Paperwhite, AGPTek Bluetooth Clip	I'm disappointed that they are not offering epubs!

03-20-2011, 11:01 AM	#7
mrsquash Connoisseur Posts: 78 Karma: 648 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: USA Device: K4-NT, Sony T1	Thanks! Glad to see John Dickson Carr coming to ebooks at a reasonable price. I discovered him back in the 70s and read everything I could find by him and his alter ego. The locked room mystery was one of my favorite genres and he was the best (that I know of anyway). I just ordered "He Who Whispers" and if it holds up (and I think it will; alas, many of my other old faves have not), I'll buy the rest of them.

03-20-2011, 01:50 PM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Ouch - Amazon UK are charging £8 apiece, which is a bit steep for books of this vintage. Most comparable books seem to sell in the £4-5 range.

03-31-2011, 08:22 PM	#13
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	So how did the Elizabeth Ferrars titles work out? Good formatting of the ebook? Satisfying read by the time you got to the end?

03-31-2011, 10:01 PM	#15
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	Excellent and thank you. I will most definitely plop a couple of these onto my tbb&r list!

Advert

Advert