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

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 non-fiction. He was one of the leading writers of detective fiction in the Victorian "Golden Age" of the short story. "The Earl, the Warder and the Wayward Heiress" is the story of a ten thousand pound bet between young gentlemen in their club.

Nestled in the tranquility of a cathedral town in England, a web of gossip, secrets, and deception unravels around characters who are not all they appear to be. This captivating murder mystery unfolds in a setting as intriguing as the people who inhabit it. (Summary by Gesine)

The unassuming Leonard Middlebrook, a young lawyer with a penchant for bibliographical pursuits, finds himself embroiled in a thrilling mystery that spans from the British Isles to the Far East. His journey begins when he is invited to the secluded Ravensdene Court on the Northumbrian coast, where Francis Raven, a retired Indian careerist, requires assistance in sorting through a vast collection of books and artifacts. As Leonard delves deeper into the task, he becomes the epicenter of a chilling enigma that threatens not just him, but also the lively Miss Raven, Franciss niece. Join Leonard ...

A gripping collection of weird and fantastical stories of supernatural and unbelievable happenings. "Pomegranate Seed" by Edith Wharton; "The Tiger" by Hugh Walpole; "When I Was Dead" by Vincent O'Sullivan; "The Fire" by Charles John Cutcliffe Hyne; "Satan's Circus" by Eleanor Smith; "The Coffin Merchant" by Richard Middleton; and more tall stories....

Hathelsborough marketplace lies in the middle of the town—a long, somewhat narrow parallelogram, enclosed on its longer side by old gabled houses; shut in on its western end by the massive bulk of the great parish church of St. Hathelswide, Virgin and Martyr, and at its eastern by the ancient walls and high roofs of its medieval Moot Hall. The inner surface of this space is paved with cobble-stones, worn smooth by centuries of usage.

Embark on a gripping journey with investigative journalist Richard Brixey as he delves into the heart of ancient Silchester, England, in a desperate search for his vanished uncle, Mr. Linthwaite. From the haunting ruins of the Priory to unyielding potential witnesses, every turn holds a new mystery. Encounter the enigmatic Mrs. Byfield and uncover her deeply hidden ties to Mr. Linthwaite. What clandestine plot did Mr. Linthwaite unwittingly discover, leading to his sudden disappearance? Is he still among the living or has he met a grim fate? Amidst the intrigue, will the charismatic Brixey ...

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 ...

Dive into an intricate English murder mystery set within the heart of Londons legal district. A weary journalist, returning home after a demanding night at work, stumbles upon the puzzling scene of a crime. An elderly man lays dead in the law chambers, struck from behind. As his investigative instincts take over, our protagonist is drawn into a labyrinth of secrets and lies stretching from London to Cornwall to Yorkshire. Will the truth remain buried or will justice prevail? Stay tuned to unravel the twisted tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last moment.

Embark on a thrilling journey with Viner as his routine late-night walk in Markendale Square unexpectedly entangles him in a web of mysteries. With a murder, secret papers, and an imposter stirring the plot, even the police are left baffled. As the question of Hydes innocence hangs in the balance, Viner is faced with peculiar clues - a veiled woman, a diamond ring, and a growing suspicion that things are not as they appear to be. Can Viner unravel the truth and prove Hydes innocence?

Dive into the enthralling mystery surrounding the sudden death of Jacob Herapath, a prominent property tycoon and Member of Parliament. Found lifeless in his office with a revolver and a bullet wound to his head, the enigma only deepens with the discovery of a suspiciously forged will. This captivating puzzle is filled with unexpected twists and unpredictable turns, all narrated engagingly by Richard Kilmer.

After a lengthy seven-year absence, Guy Markenmore makes a dramatic return to his ancestral home, Markenmore Court, just as his father Sir Anthony draws his last breaths. Keen to put his younger siblings at ease, he promises not to stake a claim on the family fortune, even as he stands to inherit the family title. However, the night Sir Anthony passes, a shocking twist ensues - Guy is brutally killed on the downs. The inheritance is no longer the focus; the spotlight now falls on Detective Blick, entrusted with the daunting task of unveiling the truth behind the mysterious deaths at Markenmore...

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, ...

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)

"The Chestermarke Instinct" is a detective novel by J. S. Fletcher. Excerpt from the book: But on this occasion Neale did not stare admiringly at the old church, nor at the pilastered Moot Hall, nor at the toppling gables: his eyes were fixed on something else, something unusual. As soon as he walked out of the door of the house in which he lodged he saw his two fellow-clerks, Shirley and Patten, standing on the steps of the hall by which entrance was joined to the bank and to the bank-house.

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.

"The Rayner-Slade Amalgamation" is a detective novel by J. S. Fletcher. Excerpt from the book: About eleven o'clock on the night of Monday, May 12, 1914, Marshall Allerdyke, a bachelor of forty, a man of great mental and physical activity, well known in Bradford as a highly successful manufacturer of dress goods, alighted at the Central Station in that city from an express which had just arrived from Manchester, where he had spent the day on business.

A delightful collection of light-hearted classic stories from some of the greatest Victorian and Edwardian-era writers.