Death's Mannikins

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Deaths Mannikins
Death's Mannikins.png
Author Max Afford
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Series Jeffrey Blackburn
Genredetective
PublisherJohn Long
Publication date
1937

Death's Mannikins is a 1937 Australian novel by Max Afford. [1] It was the second Jeffrey Blackburn novel following Blood on His Hands . [2]

The book was originally known as Death Plays with Dolls. Afford said the plot took two months to work out. [3] He wrote it while waiting to hear if his first Blackburn novel had been accepted. Unlike Blood on His Hands, this one had an English setting. [4]

The novel was published in London eight weeks after Blood on his Hands. [5]

The Australasian said the book "fulfils the expectations raised by its description as "a series of macabre murders." They are macabre enough, and being staged, in a gloomy Exmoor valley should satisfy the most avid pursuer of the thriller." [6]

The book was read on radio in serialised form in 1939. [7] It was republished in 1945. [8]

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References

  1. ↑ Michael J. Tolley, 'Afford, Malcolm (Max) (1906–1954)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/afford-malcolm-max-9315/text16349, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 4 January 2024.
  2. ↑ "Prolific in Thrills". Smith's Weekly . Vol. XXVI, no. 20. New South Wales, Australia. 15 July 1944. p. 5. Retrieved 4 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "For Your Book Shelf". Healesville And Yarra Glen Guardian . Victoria, Australia. 15 August 1936. p. 3. Retrieved 4 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ "Passing By". The News. Vol. XXVII, no. 4, 080. South Australia. 19 August 1936. p. 6. Retrieved 4 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Aid From Adelaide", The Wireless Weekly: The Hundred per Cent Australian Radio Journal, 28 (17), October 23, 1936, nla.obj-674928746, retrieved 4 January 2024– via Trove
  6. ↑ "Sea-writers Could Not Cast this Anchor". The Australasian . Vol. CXLII, no. 4, 611. Victoria, Australia. 22 May 1937. p. 13. Retrieved 5 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Broadcast Programmes". The Northam Advertiser. Vol. XLVI, no. 4362. Western Australia. 8 February 1939. p. 4. Retrieved 5 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "Book News". The Sydney Morning Herald . No. 33, 619. New South Wales, Australia. 22 September 1945. p. 8. Retrieved 5 January 2024– via National Library of Australia.
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