1940 Club, hosted by Simon of Stuck in a Book and Karen of Kaggsy’s Bookish Ramblings, starts on Monday and we will all be reading and writing about books published in that year. It seems to have been a particularly great year for publishing – I have previously read and reviewed ten 1940 books on my blog and thought I would list them here before the week begins. If you’re looking for some last-minute ideas I can recommend most of these!

Sad Cypress by Agatha Christie – This is one of two Christie novels published in 1940. One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, which I haven’t read yet, is the other.

Miss Hargreaves by Frank Baker – An entertaining and imaginative read (and one of club co-host Simon’s favourites).

The Winter is Past by Noel Streatfeild – One of Streatfeild’s novels for adults, set during the winter of 1939-40.

The Strangers in the House by Georges Simenon – This is one of Simenon’s standalone romans durs or ‘hard novels’.

Black Plumes by Margery Allingham – A standalone crime novel set in and around a London art gallery.

The Man in the Moonlight by Helen McCloy – The second book in McCloy’s Dr Basil Willing mystery series.

There Came Both Mist and Snow by Michael Innes – The first of two books published in 1940, both from Innes’ Inspector Appleby crime series.

Verdict of Twelve by Raymond Postgate – This was one of the first British Library Crime Classics I read and still one of my favourites.

The Corinthian by Georgette Heyer – There are also two Heyer novels published in 1940, this one (which is great fun) and The Spanish Bride.

The Secret Vanguard by Michael Innes – Another Inspector Appleby novel, but more of a spy thriller than a mystery this time.

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Have you read any books published in 1940? Will you be joining in with 1940 Club?