Ann Bridge’s series of novels featuring dilettante journalist Julia Probyn are unfairly forgotten gems of the later Golden Age – wonderfully revived by Bloomsbury Reader. In the first book in the collection, Julia sets off to Morocco to find her cousin, next in line for a not-unreasonable inheritance. Rare among crime fiction books of their time, Bridge’s series is known for the author’s meticulous research and realistic and unsentimental portrayal of the lands Probyn travels to. The Lighthearted Quest descends into occasional moments of silliness, but it’s a fun, cosy introduction to a great gem of a series.
