Showing results by author "J S Fletcher" in All Categories

'Green Ink' is a classic Victorian detective story. Carsdale the solicitor receives a mysterious visit from Mr. Flapp, an old Wrychester resident who has just returned from years of travel overseas. The purpose of the visit remains mysterious, although Grice, the clerk, believes that Mr. Flapp left something with Carsdale. When next day Mr. Flapp is found drowned in the canal, Carsdale is surprisingly silent on the subject of his business with Flapp.

Journey into the heart of a “rotten borough” and uncover its secrets. This term, rooted in the 18th century, represents a parliamentary constituency where few property owners had the power to elect a local member of parliament. But what happens when this system is replaced by a new one that still allows a select few to secretly profit from the boroughs finances? Following a narrow victory, a newly elected mayor, committed to reforming this corrupt system, is found mysteriously murdered in the Mayors Parlour. His young nephew, visiting from London, takes it upon himself to unravel ...

On the southern edge of the populous parish of Paddington, England, in a parallelogram bounded by Oxford and Cambridge Terrace on the south, Praed Street on the north, and by Edgware Road on the east and Spring Street on the west, lies an assemblage of mean streets, the drab dullness of which forms a remarkable contrast to the pretentious architectural grandeurs of Sussex Square and Lancaster Gate, close by. In these streets the observant will always find all those evidences of depressing semi-poverty which are more evident in London than in any other English city.

It was a lonely English courtyard where attorneys received traditional apprenticeship … one of the ancient Inns of Court. The bludgeoned body of a well-dressed elderly man was found there at midnight, an apparent murder victim. Investigative newspaper reporter Frank Spargo was one of the first to arrive at the crime scene and he was puzzled about why such a prosperous looking man had been wandering there at that time of night. The only item found on the body was a small paper with a young barrister’s address.

Dive into the thrilling mystery world of J. S. Fletchers Exterior to the Evidence. First published in the April 1922 edition of The Black Mask, a renowned detective and mystery magazine, this engrossing novel unravels a chilling death on the moors, an elusive missing will, and a myriad of potential culprits. As the story unfolds, the suspense will hold you captive until the very end. This gripping narration is brought to life by the talented J. M. Smallheer.

Dive into this riveting classic mystery where a covert midnight rendezvous results in the startling discovery of the first dead body. Unravel the enigma where nothing is as it seems.

The mysterious disappearance of bank manager John Hornbury, along with valuable securities and jewels from the banks vault, leaves everyone in a state of shock. Unexpectedly, Gabriel Chestermarke and his nephew Joseph decline to involve the police. Just as a detective from Scotland Yard steps in, the plot thickens when Betty Fosdyke, Johns niece, refuses to believe her uncles apparent betrayal. Unwilling to be a mere spectator, Betty teams up with the chief clerk from Chestermarkes bank, plunging headfirst into the midst of the enigma. Dive into this riveting tale of mystery and intrigue, ...

Dive into the captivating world of mystery as we unravel the enigmatic death of a former top-ranking police officer in this thrilling narrative by J.S. Fletcher. Discover the intriguing link between the murder and two captivating, high-profile sisters, one of whoms photograph was discovered in the victims pocket. The quest for truth involves a varied ensemble of detectives - a lawyer, his assistant, a group of policemen, a police spy, and even the victims granddaughter. Watch as the plot thickens and the clues come together in an unexpected climax, leaving it up to you, the listener, to piece ...

Outsiders Messrs. Mallalieu and Cotherstone had not only built a flourishing business in the town of Highmarket but also achieved esteemed positions as the Mayor and Treasurer. However, their 30-year reign of respectability is abruptly shaken when a former detective moves into town, unearthing secrets from their past that threaten to shatter their present. (Summary by MaryAnn)

Scarhaven Keep is a gripping mystery set along the rugged English coastline. When a man vanishes under suspicious circumstances, the search for answers leads to a tangled web of secrets, deception, and unexpected romance. With thrilling plot twists and atmospheric storytelling, this novel is a must-read for fans of classic British mysteries.

The main characters are Dr. Mark Ransford, his two wards, Mary and Dick Bewery, and one Dr. Pemberton Bryce - an assistant to Dr. Ransford. Bryce makes unwelcome advances to Mary Bewery and Ransford, after having warned him against these advances, dismisses Bryce. Bryce sets out to make Mary his own while suspecting Ransford and implicate him in the murders. A surprising twist toward the end of the story.

Joseph Smith Fletcher (1863-1935) was a British journalist and author. He wrote more than 230 books on a wide variety of subjects, both fiction and nonfiction. He was one of the leading writers of detective fiction in the Victorian golden age of the short story. This collection brings together some of the finest and most diverse examples of Fletcher's genius. 'The Ivory God' is the tale of a failing writer who acquires a strange ivory carving of an Indian god. He becomes convinced that the statue is communicating with him, taking possession of him, even writing through him.

'The Other Sense' is the story of a young man, Angus MacIntyre, whose ability to see phenomena - ghosts in particular - which other people cannot has caused his guardian to think he is insane and send him to stay with Dr. Schreiber, who is specialised in mental disorders. While there, Angus begins to see the spectre of a pale young man who appears to be seeking something in the doctor's house and garden. Together with the doctor, Angus sets out to solve the mystery.

A fast-paced and varied collection of captivating short stories ranging from action thrillers to poignant tear-jerkers to the downright weird, including: "Jerry Bundler" by W. W. Jacobs, "The Umbrella Mender" by Beatrice Harraden, "Green Ink" by J. S. Fletcher, "Why Herbert Killed His Mother" by Winifred Holtby, "The Red Mark" by Israel Zangwill, "The White Kid Glove" by J. S. Fletcher, "Sophy Mason Comes Back" by E. M. Delafield, plus many more.

Joseph Smith Fletcher (1863-1935) was a British journalist and author. He wrote more than 230 books on a wide variety of subjects, both fiction and nonfiction. He was one of the leading writers of detective fiction in the Victorian golden age of the short story. This collection brings together some of the finest and most diverse examples of Fletcher's genius.

Skinflint is a bittersweet tale of an embittered middle-aged woman who has never recovered from being jilted as a young woman. Since that sorry episode she has thrown herself into the micro-management of her grocery and drapery business. Then one day she learns that her former lover is on the brink of ruin...and the memories of her youth come surging back....

'Room 53' tells the story of Beatrice, a bookaholic hotel chambermaid. When a guest at the hotel wakes late one morning to discover he has been robbed of his collection of valuable diamonds, Beatrice discovers a clue to the whereabouts of the suspected thief. She sets off to London to track the mysterious stranger down....

A gripping collection of 30 minute stories by some of the greatest storytellers in the English language....

'The Man in the Fur Coat' is a fast-paced adventure in which a young journalist on the verge of destitution is picked out of the crowd by a well-dressed stranger in a fur coat. The wealthy man has a very strange proposition for the young writer. But first he must perform a bizarre treasure hunt through London collecting clues from mysterious strangers. Eventually he finds the meaning of the whole weird tale...and it is stranger than he could ever have imagined.

'The Influence Fails' is a mystery story involving a dastardly plot. A young man finds himself suddenly and unexpectedly in a strange dining room in a house he has never been to before, with no memory of how he came to be there. A moment later, the owner of the house enters the room...and is naturally suspicious about the man's motives. But how did he get there? Why did he come? What can it all mean?