"Certain settings have long been a common element in British mystery and detective fiction: the quaint village; the country manor; the seaside resort; the streets of London. More than simply providing background, physical setting - in particular the city of London and the British seashore - takes on an added dimension, in a sense becoming a player in the mysteries, one that symbolizes, intensifies, and illuminate aspects of the British mystery novel." "This critical study examines 18 British mystery novels set in the city of London and 15 set by the sea. The novels span the twentieth century."--Jacket.