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Titles to Look Out For:
1965. A Nice Place to Die
1966. The Minister of Injustice
1967. In a Deadly Vein
1968. The Vasiliko Affair

About the Author:
Maurice Culpan was born in Dublin in 1918 of Yorkshire parents. Soon after, they moved to London, which the author then called home. During World War 2, the author joined the Royal Navy as a stoker, which he remained doing for almost six years on frigates and destroyers. When the war was over, he became a schoolmaster, got married and had two children

• The Minister of Injustice [top]
  First published in 1966 in Great Britain by Collins in their Crime Club Series. This edition published in hardback with dustjacket, 224pp. No ISBN. Original UK retail price: 15s net
  Maurice Culpan's second novel

Storyline: Chief Inspector Houghton's most important case had a disquieting start. Gunshots had been heard in a London flat-the local police station was informed-and Houghton considered that the response was perfunctory in the extreme. Had the local inspector received orders from above to make light of the incident? If so, why? But when Houghton began asking questions he was quickly transferred to another case. Despite the mounting evidence that those shots had killed someone, he was ordered to mind his own business. Before long, Houghton finds himself involved in a multiple crime that is dramatic and complex. A foreign country and huge vested interests have designed the London killing. And someone in the official hierarchy is determined to prevent Houghton from pursuing the investigation. But Houghton is resolute that crime shall be discovered and the law prevail.

Ministre De L'Injustice. French Language Version (Librairies des Champs Elys�es, 1968)

Il eût fallu bien plus que des ordres provenant des "autorités supérieures" pour empêcher l'Inspecteur en Chef Houghton de poursuivre des recherches lorsqu'il avait entrepris une enquête! Désobéissant au Superintendent Blake, ulcéré, agissant clandestinement ou presque, Houghton se lance dans une affaire mouvementée où il recueille quelque bosses. Grâce à son obstination, un assassin est enfin démasqué ainsi que ses complices, tout en évitant les complications diplomatiques redoutées en haut lieu

• In a Deadly Vein [top]
  First published in 1967 by Collins for the Collins Crime Club, with dustjacket, 224pp
  Jacket design by Kenneth Farnhill
  Original UK retail price:16s. net (16 shillings)

Storyline: There seemed no reason in the world why anyone should have needed to kill the veterinary surgeon called Hallam. The discovery of dog's hair on the clothing of the dead man didn't appear to offer much in the way of a clue. And yet Inspector Houghton, thorough and obstinate as ever, was determined to discover which dog those hairs had come from, and where the dog was now. Houghton traced the dog, which had also died-and in very puzzling circumstances. The first unpromising clue of the dog's hairs introduces Houghton to a far-ranging conspiracy and a complex mystery. Increasingly at odds with his superiors, obstinately and stolidly pursuing his own way, Houghton uncovers the startling truth, and nearly loses his own life in the process