Showing results by author "R. Austin Freeman" in All Categories

Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Now he gets his own back, introducing 16 tales of detectives whose abilities rival that of the great Sherlock Holmes.

The great medical jurist Dr John Thorndyke must unravel three intricate cases, as a wealthy American attempts to prove a preposterous claim to an English earldom, based only upon a startlingly tall old family tale; a hundredweight of platinum, worth a fortune, is stolen; and, most bizarrely of all, a severed human head is discovered in a box in the left luggage office of London's Fenchurch Street Station...

Overworked locum Dr. Jervis is called to the bedside of a gentleman who refuses to see a doctor except on the condition that the doctor must be told neither his name nor his address. After a strange ride in a closed carriage, Jervis finds his patient apparently suffering the effects of morphine poisoning, and departs with a sense of uneasiness. Anxious to trace the man again, Jervis consults his old friend and colleague, the eminent scientific investigator Dr. John Thorndyke.

When Robin Anstey KC comes upon the beautiful Miss Blake, who has been wounded while courageously attempting to detain a fleeing murderer, he calls upon his long-time legal collaborator Dr. John Thorndyke to investigate the killing. But what at first looks like a mere robbery gone wrong, leaving a scene awash with clues, in fact proves to be far from straightforward. And while trying to untie that knot, Thorndyke also interests himself in the still more complex mystery of Miss Blake's family inheritance, and the cat's eye pendant....

In The Red Thumb Mark, the doctor works to clear young Reuben Hornby of stealing a parcel of diamonds from his uncle's safe, despite the apparently damning evidence. Then, in The Eye of Osiris, an amateur Egyptologist abruptly goes missing, leaving behind a strangely vexatious will. In The Mystery of 31 New Inn, Thorndyke's long-time collaborator Dr. Jervis consults his mentor regarding a mystery who may be being slowly poisoned. And in A Silent Witness, someone is making very determined attempts to murder inoffensive newly-qualified Doctor Humphrey Jardine.

R. Austin Freeman presents eight cases for his ingenious Edwardian "scientific investigator", Dr. John Thorndyke, including: a classic locked-room murder mystery; a race to find a disappeared child; a dead woman discovered on a train; the story of the vengeful ghost of a murdered Chinese mandarin; and the enigmatic Moabite Cypher. As ever, Dr. Thorndyke meticulously collects the evidence of footprints, dust, hairs, and fibres, and even a single blue sequin, to unravel the mystery and see that justice is done.

"[T]he longer I practise, the more I become convinced that the microscope is the sheet-anchor of the medical jurist." So declares "scientific investigator", Dr John Thorndyke, as he interprets the clues found in the likes of bloodstains, dust, ash, hairs and fibres, and broken glass, to evolve "an ordered train of evidence from a mass of facts apparently incoherent and unrelated," leading to the solution of the mystery. This book contains five tales of intrigue, murder, mutiny, pathos, and romance - including four in Freeman's then revolutionary "inverted detective story" format.

Richard Austin Freeman (1862-1943) was a British writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr. Thorndyke. Freeman used some of his early experiences as a colonial surgeon in West Africa in his novels. The Case of the White Footprints is a murder mystery set in Margate. A lady has been found dead in her room in a boarding house.

The Magic Casket describes a classic case for Dr. Thorndyke. It tells the story of an ordinary and apparently quite worthless metal casket, which conceals a mysterious secret which nearly costs a young woman her life.

In their first case together, "scientific investigator" Dr. John Thorndyke and his assistant, Dr. Jervis, work to clear young Reuben Hornby, accused of stealing a parcel of diamonds from his uncle's safe - and of leaving behind him a bloody thumbprint. Can Thorndyke prove that the new science of fingerprints is not quite the magic bullet that the authorities believe and clear his young client? And in the meantime, can he frustrate the attempts against his own life by some ingenious unknown adversary?

Dive into the intriguing world of Humphrey Challoner, an eccentric old man with a lifelong passion for collecting unique mammal specimens and human skeletons for his personal museum. His collection is peculiar, with no apparent theme or pattern. But when his friend, Dr. Wharton, inherits the collection following Challoners death, a chilling mystery unfolds. Unearth the dark secret binding this strange collection together in this gripping tale.

Immerse yourself in a captivating tale of mystery as a young doctor, an alumnus of the renowned legal and medical savant Dr. John Thorndyke, stumbles upon a peculiar case of a mans disappearance. His absence raises many questions as his oddly phrased will comes to light. Is he dead or alive? The case takes on significant importance due to the cryptic nature of his will. With Dr. Thorndykes analytical prowess and forensic acumen, the truth gradually unfolds. Amidst this intriguing chaos, the young doctor finds his soulmate in the most unexpected place - the Egyptian exhibit of the British ...

Originally published as The Singing Bone, this captivating book was later unveiled under a new guise, The Adventures of Dr. Thorndyke. It holds a unique place in literary history as it presents the first use of the inverted detective formula, seen in the gripping story, The Case of Oskar Brodski, first published in Pearsons Magazine in 1912. This is not the only example of this intriguing formula in the book, making it a must-read for detective story enthusiasts.

Embark on a thrilling journey with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a young physician who stumbles upon a corpse during a late-night stroll near Hampstead Heath. When he returns with the authorities, the body is shockingly gone. This event sparks a series of sinister happenings that leave Jardine questioning his own sanity. Was there really a corpse? If so, who was the deceased, and what role does the enigmatic Mrs. Samway play in this mystery? As the plot thickens, Jardine will need the assistance of the renowned detective Dr. John Thorndyke to unravel the truth. Silent Witness is the fourth installment...

Dive into the intriguing world of the Dr. Thorndyke series, penned by R. Austin Freeman. Eye of Osiris stands out as an early gem in the collection, where forensic science and logical deduction are the main tools of our medico-legal detective. The case? The baffling disappearance of John Bellingham, an English gentleman with a passion for Egyptology. Dr. Thorndyke, compelled by the unique nature of the case and a personal connection through a former student now close with the missing mans family, steps in to unravel the mystery. As the narrative unfolds, we experience the authors extensive ...

In the tranquil setting of a quaint English village, newly graduated doctor, Stephen Gray, unexpectedly finds himself embroiled in a tragic incident involving a stunning young maiden. With the intent to aid her, he reaches out to his mentor, the esteemed forensic investigator, Dr. Thorndyke. Assisted by his trusty aide, Polton, Thorndyke employs his adept forensic skills to unravel a fascinatingly complex mystery, filled with unexpected twists and turns. Join us on this captivating journey of intrigue and suspense, narrated by Howard Skyman.

When a lawyers brother is brutally murdered in what seems to be a botched robbery, Ms Blake, a chance witness to the horrific event, finds her life threatened as she claims to be able to identify the killer. Medico-legal expert Dr Thorndyke and Robert Anstey, the KC, are drawn into the case with dual interests – assisting Thorndyke in his investigation and simultaneously protecting the courageous Ms Blake.

Dive into the enigmatic tale of Angelina Frood, a woman who vanishes from Rochester seemingly to flee her vulgar and threatening husband, Nicholas Frood. As you follow a breadcrumb trail of clues, youll be led to a chilling finale that holds an unexpected twist. - Summary by Yoganandh T

Dive into the mystery of missing diamonds, an untouched safe, two blood-streaked thumb prints, and the enigmatic Mr X. As these elements converge, the brilliant Dr. Thorndyke steps onto the scene. Will he crack the case? The Red Thumb Mark marks the thrilling debut of Freeman’s popular Thorndyke series. (Summary by Diana Majlinger)

Delve into the enthralling puzzle of Jeffrey Blackmores two uncannily similar, yet cunningly distinct wills. Join the astute and sharp-witted John Thorndyke as he unravels this peculiar mystery. With a cool head and logical approach, he guides us towards an astonishing, yet entirely believable climax. (Summary by Neeru Iyer)