[Rusty Staples]

This novel was reissued in 1955 as a hardcover book, largely for the lending library market, by Wright & Brown Ltd. As with other reissued SBLs by Parsons, series characters were renamed: Sexton Blake as Ruston Carr; Tinker, George Mansell; Superintendent Venner, Vizard; Sergeant Belford, Bedford. Most chapter headings were changed or modified (usually improved!), but any further alterations, like some punctuation (fewer exclamation marks!), were minor to the point of undetectable except to aspiring Sexton Blakes. According to Mark Hodder's Blakiana website, there was also a paperback reprint of the hardback by Digit Books (Brown, Watson Ltd.) in 1960. My verdict: an entertaining read from an SBL period that has increasing appeal.

Link to the book: Sexton Blake Library S3 167 - The Mystery of the Red Cockatoo