Pontifex, Son and Thorndyke

R. Austin Freeman

Dr.Thornedykes methods of detection are characterised by investigations of apparently irrelevant facts and lengthy explanations of his train of hypothetical reasoning. In this novel, Dr. Thorndykes ability to identify fish scales and rope material sets his investigation in motion. The crime is the murder of an aristocrat staged to look like a suicide. There are really two stories alternating, which eventually become one. We watch Dr. Thorndyke follow a thin and improbable trail of forensic evidence. And we observe the seemingly unrelated adventures of a stationers delivery boy, who innocently gets in the way of a cutthroat gang. Dr. Thorndyke calls Jasper after hearing his amazing story. The complex, gripping and rather romantic plot once again demonstrates the greatness of A. Austin Freeman as a writer of totally engaging and original crime fiction.

Crucial Instances

Edith Wharton

Originally published in 1901, Crucial Instances is the second collection of six short stories connected, as the title suggests, by a hinging moment in the narrative through which the plot alters dramatically. The contents included the following: The Duchess at Prayer, The Angel at the Grave, The Recovery, Copy: A Dialogue, The Rembrandt, The Moving Finger and The Confessional.This is a great collection of stories, where Edith Wharton shows her wide range of talents, from those with a bit of a horror feel, to ones which just make the reader feel good. There is one Dialogue or play, several written in third person, several in first person, written from a mans point of view and some from a womans. All of them are carefully crafted to show a particular attitude or character or scene in great detail. Highly recommended!

The Unwilling Adventurer

R. Austin Freeman

The pioneering creator of the inverted detective story, R. Austin Freeman was a popular Edwardian author of novels and short stories featuring Dr. Thorndyke, a pathologist-detective. Freemans detective and mystery tales offered an innovative approach to the genre, selling thousands of copies on both sides of the Atlantic. Robert Hawke is a man on the run. After returning from business in London, he finds that a sworn enemy, Will Colville, has been shot dead and the murder weapon belongs to Hawke. But Hawke protests his innocence and is persuaded to go on the run until enough evidence is found to prevent his arrest and conviction. So begins an unwilling adventure where Hawke finds himself setting sail with a vibrant cast of men, casting off for unknown waters and strange islands. And as Hawke embarks on his exotic voyage, enemies abound in the most unlikely of places.

Paris

Émile Zola

Dans Paris, Zola aborde a nouveau le probleme social de la stratification des classes. Le personnage principal, Pierre, en tant que pretre, devient désillusionné avec la religion, réalisant son inutilité. Lui aussi, comme son frere Guillaume, commence a croire au triomphe de la science. Cependant, il appelle a lutter contre la religion et la bourgeoisie non pas a laide de mesures radicales telles que la destruction de tout ce qui est généré par une société bourgeoise injuste, mais a travers lintroduction de la réussite scientifique, la reconnaissance de leurs avantages.

Alton of Somasco

Harold Bindloss

Harry Alton harms the natural environment. They are driven by the desire to make more money. He goes to drastic measures. The main character cuts down forests to turn this area into a profit center. Suddenly, he received the news that he inherited an estate in England. However, Alton does not wish to return there. After all, there is a selfish heir. In the end, the protagonist will begin to accuse and Alton will have to fight in a duel.

In the River Bottoms Grip

Max Brand

Frederick Schiller Faust (1892-1944) was an American author known primarily for his thoughtful and literary Westerns under the pen name Max Brand. Prolific in many genres he wrote historical novels, detective mysteries, pulp fiction stories and many more. This is one of his work. The plot is well constructed with well drawn subsidiary characters and provides a number of interesting twists. Highly recommended, especially for those who love the Old Western genre. Also Brand was best known for writing Western novels, and many films have been adapted based on his stories.

The Valley of Ghosts

Edgar Wallace

A murder is committed among the rich of a small town, and with more than one ghost and all the evidence seems to point to a beautiful young woman... The Valley of Ghosts, written as one of four detective novels in 1922, is set in the seemingly peaceful community Beverly Green, a place where upper-middle-class families live a secluded life. Why was Stella Nelson with the victim in the middle of the night, shortly before the murder? Who was the mysterious blackmailer who held all England in their grasp? Why didnt the famous detective, Andy MacLeod, do his duty? A chill-packed mystery from the master of suspense. This is what Edgar Wallace is all about, a complex, old fashioned mystery, with a highly unlikely solution.

Hannibal

Jacob Abbott

This story is about Hannibal Barca, who was compared to Julius Caesar. Virtually every family in Rome lost a family member because of Hannibal in the fifteen years he spent occupying Italy. He never lost a battle with the Romans in fifteen years of fighting them, and he was in the minority in each of their battles.This book is excellent to introduce you to one of the most important figures of the ancient world.