The Double

Edgar Wallace

One of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, Edgar Wallace was an immensely popular author, who created exciting thrillers spiced with tales of treacherous crooks and hard-boiled detectives. The Double is a story about a man who encounters his unknown double and the trouble that arises. When Dick Staines joined the police force the big case of the day had been the Staines murder. The only clue was an unknown thumb-print, the case was never solved. Ten years later and Detective Inspector Staines investigating a curious burglary in fashionable Belgravia finds a thumb-print on a glass. The strangest of murders with surgical overtones confronts Dick Staines our Cambridge educated detective.

The Double. A Petersburg Poem

Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky

In the book The Double Dostoevsky appears before the reader as a writer with an inimitable sense of humor. The author shows an extraordinary skill in describing comic episodes from life and makes the reader cheerfully laugh at the shortcomings of his characters and the comic nature of the situations. Before the reader St. Petersburg streets of the XIX century come to life, he will get acquainted with the mores of the inhabitants of St. Petersburg.

The Double Life of Mr. Alfred Burton

E. Phillips Oppenheim

Alfred Burton, a smooth-talking salesman, is having a perfectly ordinary day on the job when he stumbles across a strange plant with green leaves and a cluster of queer little brown beans hanging down from them in an old house. The virtue of the beans is that he who eats one shall see nothing, think nothing, say nothing but the truth. Alfred Burton has a well-meaning, rather ordinary wife who becomes unendurable to him, and he falls in love with a charming girl who would have no appeal for the man he formerly was. What Alfred really doesnt realize is that the fruit of the plant, when eaten, will change not merely the entire course of his life, but in fact his very self.

The Double Traitor

E. Phillips Oppenheim

The Double Traitor is an espionage novel set in the days leading to the first World War. The main character is Francis Norgate, an aspiring British diplomat who falls in disfavor with his superiors for defending a woman while stationed in Berlin. The resulting scandal causes Norgate to be recalled. On the way home, he meets a German gentleman, Selingman, who claims to be a crockery salesman. But, Selingman is not what he appears to be. Disillusioned by the English government, Norgate allows himself to be recruited by Selingman. Oppenheim tells a good story a little romance, a little adventure turn of the century tales of success and failure, gain and loss.

The Dragon Murder Case

S.S. Van Dine

This is the seventh book about the detective Filo Vance, in which, as always, he skillfully investigates an unusual case. One of the guests gathered in a comfortable estate for the weekend dives into the pool and does not leave it in front of several people. Neither the search for divers or the descent of water yields results: a person disappears without a trace. And, although many are interested in the death of the unfortunate, the suspicion seriously falls on the dragon.

The Dream

Herbert George Wells

The Dream by H.G Wells follows the character, Sarnac, who lives a whole other life as Harry Mortimer Smith. Sarnac is at the height of his career as a scientist by discovering new research. Sarnac goes with his friends including his girlfriend, Sunray to escape for the holidays. Little does Sarnac know that he would be dreaming a whole new life as a different person. His dream world is peculiar rules and what is socially acceptable than reality. The roles of each member in this society is more conservative, yet relaxed at other situations. However, he finds that his dreams and the reality he has lived have become so entangled that he is no longer able to distinguish between them. The Dream is a 1924 novel by H. G. Wells about a man from a Utopian future who dreams the entire life of an Englishman from the Victorian and Edwardian eras, Harry Mortimer Smith.

The Dream Doctor

Arthur B. Reeve

Professor Craig Kennedy is a scientist detective at Columbia University. He uses his knowledge of chemistry and psychoanalysis to solve cases, and uses exotic devices in his work such as lie detectors, gyroscopes, and portable seismographs. In this book Kennedy and Jameson (newspaper reporter) help Carton, the District Attorney, unravel a tangled web of corruption and criminal activity in their fair city. Carton is running for elections and is trying to clean up the corruption that has ruled the city, especially a few major criminals that have bonded together to keep things lucrative for themselves. One of them is running in the election too. These 3 guys find out the truth and slowly uncover and convict the criminals one by one.

The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and Other the Randolph Carter Stories

H.P. Lovecraft

The Dream Quest is one of his most significant stories. This is the bridge and the key to his two greatest periods and his most revealing personal work. This complex fantasy of a dream, which strangely brought the protagonist closer to the solution. Lovecraft stories are full of nightmares ruled by evil gods.

The Drift Fence

Zane Grey

Zane Grey evokes the atmosphere, hardships and possibilities of the Old West like nobody else. Leaving Missouri with no knowledge of cattle ranching, Jim Traft of Missouri is put in charge of building one hundred miles of fence on his uncles western ranch to prevent cattle from drifting. The job puts him in conflict with the local community and he must find a balance. Theres also the lovely Molly Dunn to distract him; but how can he hope to woo the sister of his chief enemy? The Drift Fence shows how this tender young man struggles to overcome the odds he faces and ultimately wins over the heart of the beautiful young lass.

The Drum

A.E.W. Mason

Best known for The Four Feathers and the Hanaud detective novels, A.E.W. Mason wrote many novels. The Drum is an adventure novel by this British writer which was first published in 1937. This story is a rousing, Kipling-like adventure set in contemporary India, dealing with uprising and rebellion and a native prince caught between two worlds and forced into hiding. In it, murder and intrigue in a princely state on the Northwest Frontier of British India. A fairy drum no one must see beaten. A secret mission across the Hindu Kush and friendship between an Indian Prince and an English drummer-boy. All these are elements of The Drum which is one of two novels by A.E.W. Mason set in India. A pukka adventure in the days of the Raj.

The Duchesse de Langeais

Honoré de Balzac

This is one of the three novelettes that are grouped together as The History of the Thirteen, along with Ferragus: Chief of the Companions of Duty and The Girl with the Golden Eyes. The whole notion is that there is a secret society of wealthy gentlemen in Paris called The Thirteen which has powers approaching the supernatural. General Armand de Montriveau, a war hero, is enamored of Duchess Antoinette de Langeais, a coquettish, married noblewoman who invites him to a ball but ultimately refuses his sexual advances and then disappears. Assisted by the powerful group known as The Thirteen, who subscribe to an occult form of freemasonry, General Montriveau finds the duchess in a Spanish monastery of Discalced Carmelites under the name of Sister Theresa. The ending is romantic and highly tumultuous. Highly recommended!

The Duel and Other Stories

Anton Pavlovich Chekhov

The center of attention was a small group of people, but everything was spinning around Ivan Laevsky, self-confident and selfish 28-year-old. He escaped with the wife of another man and lived in sin. Perhaps there is not even a duel in the literal sense, but a duel with the contradiction of the main character. He realized that love was not so, and did not know what to do, what to say.

The Duke in the Suburbs

Edgar Wallace

The Duke in the Suburbs was written in the year 1909 by Edgar Wallace. Rich Texas Cowboy with French noble lineage and knowledge of the manners of a Duke and George Hankey, who discovered silver in Los Madges, have moved to the suburbs of London and created a havoc with the neighbors there, the women, former enemies and friends. Duke de Montvillier has to avoid ambushes, avert sinister plots against him, found newspapers and much more. This book is one of the most popular novels of Edgar Wallace, and has been translated into several other languages around the world. Even though not a typical crime meller by Wallace, still entertaining and readable today.

The Duke of Stockbridge. A Romance of Shays Rebellion

Edward Bellamy

This novel can be called the official report. After all, it is known for detailed information about the uprising of Sheiss. History of the armed uprising in Massachusetts, a group of disgruntled residents spoke out against state authorities An emotional affair with a historical background.

The Dumb Gods Speak

E. Phillips Oppenheim

This mystery that takes place in 1947 in Nice about conflicting political goals between an American and a Chinese. Shortly thereafter, the granting of independence to the Philippine Islands by the United States, Japan attempts to seize them by force. When the Japanese attempt to invade the newly freed islands, their entire fleet is destroyed by a single battleship of the United States Navy using a weapon that concentrates and amplifies electric currents in the earths atmosphere. Much of the story concerns the current state of government of China and Russia, both of which are seen as lawless tyrannies. It is more than slightly ironic that the goal of the heroes is to use advanced technologies to restore the monarchy to these two countries, much in keeping with Oppenheims traditionalism.

The Dunwich Horror

H.P. Lovecraft

Master of horror writes a story of true forces of evil. There are six short stories that comprise this edition of The Dunwich Horror. The story beats a lot of modern writers in prose, characters and plot. The story started of well and gave us a spooky small village setting with the odd family of a Grandfather, deformed Albino mother and inhuman grandson and the strange events surrounding his birth and precocious development. Wilbur matures at an abnormal rate, reaching manhood within a decade all the while indoctrinated him into dark rituals and witchcraft by his grandfather. And above all, theres the mysterious presence in the farmhouse, unseen but horrifying, which seems to be growing... The Dunwich Horror follows the tragic events in Dunwich when Wilbur Whateley delves into dark occult practices with deadly repercussions.

The Dust of Conflict

Harold Bindloss

Appleby has a steady look and the ability to quickly make the right decisions as well as composure in action. These qualities are useful in more serious cases than shooting from the game, and for Appleby, who was poor, lucky that he possessed them. Appleby had something uncertain in his head. He had fearlessness in his eyes. And no one knew what was on his mind. Whether to be afraid, or to admire.

The Dutchess of Wrexe, Her Decline and Death

Hugh Walpole

An energetic girl enters society and must choose between her rebellious and exiled cousin or an ordinary young man. Rachel chooses an ordinary young man, but when their marriage begins to degenerate, she again comes into contact with her cousin. She falls in love with him will she leave her husband and run away with her romantic but weak lover?

The Dwellers in the Mirage

A. Merritt

This science fantasy novel by Abraham Merritt concerns American Leif Langdon who accidentally discovers a hidden valley in Alaska that unexpectedly supports abundant life, including two tribes of people: a pygmy race; and warriors who descend from Mongols. The warriors worship an evil Kraken, whom they summon to offer human sacrifice. The inhabitants believe Langdon to be the reincarnation of their long dead hero, Dwayanu... There are lost civilizations, malignant gods, ancient rituals, wicked priests, strange monsters, raging battles and comely princesses, or in one case, a beautiful witch-woman Lur in a very satisfying grand adventure. Highly recommended for fans of both weird fiction and sword & sorcery.

The Dynamiter. More New Arabian Nights

Robert Louis Stevenson, Fanny Stevenson

The reader will meet with the wise caliph Prince Florisel, with the insignificant but important villain-Dynamite, with the new Scheherazade the charming clever Clara, and with listeners of her fairy tales three noble and trusting young gentlemen. And he learns that being a terrorist is not only bad, but just shameful and bad. And that love is the strongest.

The Ear in the Wall

Arthur B. Reeve

The scientific detective known as the American Sherlock Holmes pursues a ruthless arch villain in this high-stakes suspense novel. The Exploits of Elaine is a collection of short stories about a beautiful young woman Elaine, whos father was murdered by the mysterious gang leader The Clutching Hand, and who is subsequently terrorized by him and his gang. Using the latest advances in forensic science, the professor Craig Kennedy and his loyal sidekick, newspaper reporter Walter Jameson, uncover the exotic and deadly scheme behind the murders. But when the Clutching Hand and his band of evildoers kidnap Elaine, Kennedy must shed his lab coat and leap into action before its too late.

The Earl of Nowhere

Edgar Wallace

Every city has its own peculiar voice. Neither the harsh roar of London, the nerve destroying staccato of sound which belongs exclusively to New York, nor the kettledrum buzz of Madrid is comparable with the voice of Paris, which is mainly vocal.""Queer thing about Paris, sir," said Jim Selby, "somebody is always talking.""The staid Vice-Councillor of the British Embassy lifted his head, and, being literally-minded, listened.""I hear nobodyexcept you," he said.""The Earl of Nowhere" includes the short stories from incomparable Edgar Wallace. Few people today would recognize the name "Edgar Wallace" but before his death in 1933 he was a literary force to be reckoned with. He was both prolific and popular and his books reportedly sold at the rate of 5,000 a day.

The Ebb-Tide. A Trio and a Quartette

Robert Louis Stevenson, Lloyd Osbourne

South Seas, Pacific Islands. Fate throws in Tahiti several people from those who are commonly called the "white trash." Different in character and origin, they are united by one thing they are people who are finished for society. But Fate gives them another chance to return to normal.

The Ebony Stick

Earl Derr Biggers

No sooner had Bob from the Silver Star ranch reached Italy than a telegram arrived asking for $1,000. A pretty woman was behind it, but that wasnt all. This early work by Earl Derr Biggers was originally published in 1916. The Ebony Stick is one of Biggers shorter stories, published after his death. The son of Robert J. and Emma E. (Derr) Biggers, Earl Derr Biggers was born in Warren, Ohio, and graduated from Harvard University in 1907. While on holiday in Hawaii, Biggers heard tales of a real-life Chinese detective operating in Honolulu, named Chang Apana. This inspired him to create his most enduring legacy in the character of super-sleuth Charlie Chan. Many of his plays and novels were made into movies.