image of person or book cover 5876043133729383426.png
Image sourced from the University of Sydney, Fisher Library.
y separately published work icon Death's Mannikins : Being a Sober Account of Certain Diabolical Happenings Not Untinged with the Odour of Brimstone Which Befell a Respectable Family Living at Exmoor in This Present Year single work   novel   detective   horror   thriller  
Alternative title: Death Plays with Dolls
Is part of The Jeffrey Blackburn Stories Max Afford , 1936 series - author novel
Issue Details: First known date: 1937... 1937 Death's Mannikins : Being a Sober Account of Certain Diabolical Happenings Not Untinged with the Odour of Brimstone Which Befell a Respectable Family Living at Exmoor in This Present Year
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AbstractHistoryArchive Description

'Freelance sleuth Jeffery Blackburn is called in by friend Rollo Morgan when there is a strange death at Rochester House, mansion home of occult scholar Cornelius Rochester. Blackburn learns of a set of mannikins modelled on the occupants of the house. Before long, it becomes clear that whoever receives 'their' mannikin will certainly die. Everyone in the house is a suspect.'

Source: Publisher's blurb

On the Web

Notes

  • Early reports on the publication call the novel Death Plays with Dolls.

Publication Details of Only Known VersionEarliest 2 Known Versions of

    • London,
      c
      England,
      c
      c
      United Kingdom (UK),
      c
      Western Europe, Europe,      :       John Long ,       1937 .
      image of person or book cover 3174186334285661199.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 287p.
    • Shreveport, Louisiana,
      c
      United States of America (USA),
      c
      Americas,      :       Ramble House ,       2006 .
      image of person or book cover 5272697179909442839.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Extent: 246p.
      Note/s:
      • Excerpts are available from Google books.
      • First published 1937. Reprinted 2006.
      • Dedication: For Vera and Spruhan
      • Epigraph: Quid tam horribile, tam tetram, quam hominis trucidatio - Lactantius
      ISBN: 9781605430201
Notes:
Abridged version.
    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Frank Johnson , 1945 .
      person or book cover
      Scanned for the Australian Pulp Fiction Industry project.
      Extent: 128p.
      Series: Magpie Books Magpie Series Frank Johnson (publisher), series - publisher Popular fiction issued in two separately numbered series with titles in the genres of adventure, mystery, romance, crime and detection. The motto on inside back covers reads: "there is nothing like a Magpie to make the hours fly.' The series claimed to be 'by far the finest and cheapest books yet issued in Australia'. Books in the first series were 5.5 x 8.5 inches and may have been issued in plain wrappers; those in the second series were 5.5 x 7.25 inches with pictorial covers. Price for second series title was two shillings and the books were 'available at all newsagents.'
    • Sydney, New South Wales,: Frank Johnson , ca. 1947 .
      image of person or book cover 1409441084837467910.jpg
      This image has been sourced from online.
      Alternative title: The Dolls of Death
      Extent: 130p.
      Series: Magpie Books Magpie Series Frank Johnson (publisher), series - publisher Popular fiction issued in two separately numbered series with titles in the genres of adventure, mystery, romance, crime and detection. The motto on inside back covers reads: "there is nothing like a Magpie to make the hours fly.' The series claimed to be 'by far the finest and cheapest books yet issued in Australia'. Books in the first series were 5.5 x 8.5 inches and may have been issued in plain wrappers; those in the second series were 5.5 x 7.25 inches with pictorial covers. Price for second series title was two shillings and the books were 'available at all newsagents.' Number in series: 68
VIEW PUBLICATION DETAILS FOR ALL VERSIONS ()

Works about this Work

The Australian Crime Novel, 1830-1950 Rachel Franks , 2023 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Cambridge History of the Australian Novel 2023;
More Miscellaneous Graham Stone , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Notes on Australian Science Fiction 2001; (p. 163-168)
— Review of Jacob Shumate, or The People's March: A Voice from the Ranks Henry Wrixon , 1903 single work novel ; The Girdle of Kaf Cora Minnett , 1912 single work novel ; The Living Mummy Ambrose Pratt , 1910 single work novel ; The Tragedy Behind the Curtain and Other Stories Arthur A. D. Bayldon , 1910 selected work short story ; Holiday Dulcie Deamer , 1940 single work novel ; The Devil's Saint Dulcie Deamer , 1924 single work novel ; In the Beginning : Six Studies of the Stone Age and Other Stories Including A Daughter of the Incas A Short Novel of the Conquest of Peru Dulcie Deamer , 1909 selected work short story novel ; The Rescue of Victoria, the Beautiful Nihilist T. P. Deegan , 1909 single work novel ; 'So Long' : An Original Book for Everyone to Read. Instructive, Entertaining and Amusing. A Glimpse of the Past, Present and Inferentially of the Future Charles C. Cowdroy , 1908 selected work short story prose ; The Super-Barbarians Carlton Dawe , 1915 single work novel ; A Journalist and Two Bears James Edmond , 1913 selected work short story essay poetry ; The Flying Argosy Arthur J. Rees , 1934 single work novel ; The Threshold of Fear : A Sober Fantasy Arthur J. Rees , 1925 single work novel ; The Moon Rock Arthur J. Rees , 1922 single work novel ; The Case Books of X37 A. J. Dawson , 1930 selected work short story ; The Dawn of a New Civilization William Hardy Wilson , 1929 single work novel ; Burning Air John Armour , 1928 single work novel ; Tzane : A Novel J. L. Ranken , 1926 single work novel ; The Fall of a Dictator Arthur Gask , 1938 single work novel ; The Red Paste Murders Arthur Gask , 1923 single work novel ; Sariska Benori Barbara Dale Smith , 1922 single work novel ; Mutiny in the Air James M. Downie , 1943 single work children's fiction ; Death's Mannikins : Being a Sober Account of Certain Diabolical Happenings Not Untinged with the Odour of Brimstone Which Befell a Respectable Family Living at Exmoor in This Present Year Max Afford , 1937 single work novel ; Whirlaway : A Story of the Ages H. C. F. Morant , 1937 single work children's fiction
Publishers Write About Their Outstanding New Books Collins , Hutchinson , Herbert Jenkins , 1937 single work correspondence
— Appears in: All About Books , 12 March vol. 9 no. 3 1937; (p. 42-43) Publishers' lists of new releases and reprints. Some briefs comments on some subjects. Collins and Herbert Jenkins include prices.
More Miscellaneous Graham Stone , 2001 single work review
— Appears in: Notes on Australian Science Fiction 2001; (p. 163-168)
— Review of Jacob Shumate, or The People's March: A Voice from the Ranks Henry Wrixon , 1903 single work novel ; The Girdle of Kaf Cora Minnett , 1912 single work novel ; The Living Mummy Ambrose Pratt , 1910 single work novel ; The Tragedy Behind the Curtain and Other Stories Arthur A. D. Bayldon , 1910 selected work short story ; Holiday Dulcie Deamer , 1940 single work novel ; The Devil's Saint Dulcie Deamer , 1924 single work novel ; In the Beginning : Six Studies of the Stone Age and Other Stories Including A Daughter of the Incas A Short Novel of the Conquest of Peru Dulcie Deamer , 1909 selected work short story novel ; The Rescue of Victoria, the Beautiful Nihilist T. P. Deegan , 1909 single work novel ; 'So Long' : An Original Book for Everyone to Read. Instructive, Entertaining and Amusing. A Glimpse of the Past, Present and Inferentially of the Future Charles C. Cowdroy , 1908 selected work short story prose ; The Super-Barbarians Carlton Dawe , 1915 single work novel ; A Journalist and Two Bears James Edmond , 1913 selected work short story essay poetry ; The Flying Argosy Arthur J. Rees , 1934 single work novel ; The Threshold of Fear : A Sober Fantasy Arthur J. Rees , 1925 single work novel ; The Moon Rock Arthur J. Rees , 1922 single work novel ; The Case Books of X37 A. J. Dawson , 1930 selected work short story ; The Dawn of a New Civilization William Hardy Wilson , 1929 single work novel ; Burning Air John Armour , 1928 single work novel ; Tzane : A Novel J. L. Ranken , 1926 single work novel ; The Fall of a Dictator Arthur Gask , 1938 single work novel ; The Red Paste Murders Arthur Gask , 1923 single work novel ; Sariska Benori Barbara Dale Smith , 1922 single work novel ; Mutiny in the Air James M. Downie , 1943 single work children's fiction ; Death's Mannikins : Being a Sober Account of Certain Diabolical Happenings Not Untinged with the Odour of Brimstone Which Befell a Respectable Family Living at Exmoor in This Present Year Max Afford , 1937 single work novel ; Whirlaway : A Story of the Ages H. C. F. Morant , 1937 single work children's fiction
Publishers Write About Their Outstanding New Books Collins , Hutchinson , Herbert Jenkins , 1937 single work correspondence
— Appears in: All About Books , 12 March vol. 9 no. 3 1937; (p. 42-43) Publishers' lists of new releases and reprints. Some briefs comments on some subjects. Collins and Herbert Jenkins include prices.
The Australian Crime Novel, 1830-1950 Rachel Franks , 2023 single work criticism
— Appears in: The Cambridge History of the Australian Novel 2023;
VIEW ALL WORKS ABOUT (3)
Last amended 7 Apr 2016 11:08:13
Subjects:
Settings:
  • Exmoor, Somerset,
    c
    England,
    c
    c
    United Kingdom (UK),
    c
    Western Europe, Europe,
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