Exploring The Casebook of Bryant & May
- PS Artbooks
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
For fans of classic crime fiction and stylish visual storytelling, The Casebook of Bryant & May is an irresistible gem — one that unites the beloved detective duo of Christopher Fowler’s cult series with the dynamic, expressive artwork of Keith Page. Published by PS Presents (a house linked with PS Artbooks), this 96-page hardcover offers something truly special for collectors and mystery lovers alike.
Who Are Bryant & May?
Before diving into the graphic adaptation, it’s worth setting the scene. Arthur Bryant and John May are the eccentrically brilliant leads of a long-running series of detective novels set in London, where they head up the Peculiar Crimes Unit — a division dedicated to the odd, the inexplicable, and the truly bizarre. The series reframes classic detective fiction for a modern audience, blending intelligent plotting with rich character work and a love letter to the strange corners of London.
What Makes This Casebook Unique
Unlike the full-length novels, The Casebook of Bryant & May transports the characters into the world of graphic storytelling. Here’s what you’ll find inside:
Brand-new illustrated tales — including the central story The Soho Devil, written by Fowler and brought vividly to life by Keith Page’s art.
Secondary story ‘The Severed Claw’, offering another quirky mystery in a striking visual format.
Extras and features such as How to Invent a Mystery Series, Arthur Bryant’s Secret Library, a sketch book from the Peculiar Crimes Unit, and The Strange Cases of Bryant & May — a gallery of covers and material connected to their wider book history.
This blend of narrative and visual content makes the casebook both an engaging read and a collector’s artifact — especially in signed or limited editions.
Art and Narrative: A Perfect Partnership
Keith Page’s artwork brings a bold, expressive quality to Fowler’s atmospheric London mysteries, capturing not only the humour and idiosyncrasy of Bryant & May but also the mood of the city they patrol — from foggy streets to hidden theatres and underground passages. Fans of British comics and crime art will appreciate the rich colours and character-driven layouts that give life to London’s peculiar cases.
For Fans of Crime and Collections
Whether you’re a lifelong admirer of Fowler’s novels or a newcomer attracted by visual narrative, The Casebook of Bryant & May stands as a perfect bridge between genres. It’s a work that both honors the literary roots of its characters and exploits the freedom of the graphic form to explore them in new and exciting ways.
If you’re curating a collection of British crime stories with a twist — or simply want a beautifully produced book that celebrates mystery, humour, and the weird side of London — this is one casebook you’ll want on your shelf.
Check out the Bryant & May editions here!
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