Indeed, he read very little except detective stories, which he devoured at a rate of one a day. Ronald Knox, The Motive
A collection of eight short stories in which medico-legal expert Dr. John Thorndyke analyzes the dust embedded in an old hat, sand found on a pillow, and the horn of a steer—amongst other things. And we are treated to an education on tides, ballistics, the characteristics of inks, ancient languages, and hair follicles. While the stories are …
Continue reading John Thorndyke’s Cases by R. Austin Freeman (1909)
In which Mr. Pottermack commits the perfect crime, only to discover this is the last thing in the world he wants. Worse still is that “oversight”, which leads Dr. Thorndyke to discern that something is amiss. Let me first apologize for the extreme brevity of this review. As soon as I finish a book I'm starting …
Continue reading Mr. Pottermack’s Oversight by R. Austin Freeman (1930)
John Bellingham was last seen alive at the home of cousin Edward Hurston the twenty-third of November at approximately twenty minutes past five. The discovery of a scarab, which he always wore on his watch chain, steps from the library door of his brother Godfrey’s home, calls into question the time of his disappearance—was it …
Continue reading The Vanishing Man (aka The Eye of Osiris) by R. Austin Freeman (1911)