THE DETECTION CLUB
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Ste,—On looking, somewhat belatedly, through the book news in my copy of the Spectator for May 17th, I noticed a para- graph referring to the newly-formed " Crime Club, Ltd.," in which the following sentence occurs :
" It was, therefore, in our opinion, an excellent idea to form a Crime Club, whose panel (which includes Dr. Cyril Alington) will select the best detective novel of the day."
In spite of your closing sentence, which refers to Messrs. Collins, but in an ambiguous way, the plain meaning conveyed in this paragraph is that the " Crime Club " will make their monthly selection from all the works of detective fiction published in this country. This, of course, is not the case. The " Crime Club " is a purely private concern of Messrs. Collins, the publishers, and the selection is made only from books on their own list.—I am, Sir, ite.
ANTHONY BERKELEY. (Hon. Sec., The Detection Club.) Monmouth House, Watford.
[The last sentence in our notice of the " Crime Club" men- tioned that the Bulletin will recommend " the best detective story which Messrs. Collins are publishing in the near future." We see no ambiguity here.—En., Spectator.]
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