The Illustrious Prince

E. Phillips Oppenheim

Written in 1910, The Illustrious Prince is set in England some time after the Russian-Japanese War which ended in victory for the Japanese in 1905. The Emperor of Japan, suspecting an ulterior motive in the world cruise of the American battleship fleet, dispatches his cousin, Prince Maiyo, on a mission to learn the secret if one existed. Two American spies are murdered, an intrepid detective from Scotland Yard is hard on the trail of clues that will lead him to the killer. As Scotland Yard races to solve the mystery of the murders, several highborn ladies (one of them is Penelope Morse who becomes both wary and fascinated by him) and gentlemen from the British aristocracy befriend the charming Prince and get caught up in the intrigue.

Scarhaven Keep

Joseph Smith Fletcher

This novel, first published in 1922, is a good example of J. S. Fletchers complex plots. The story starts with a famous actor gone missing in suspicious circumstances in northern England. But other dark deeds soon take our attention. Copplestone, the young dramatist, helping to solve the mystery, found himself suddenly in love; and the solution and his happiness were discovered together. In the search for Oliver, we find ourselves on a wild and lonely coast off the North Sea. The landscapes in this novel have a thrilling, threatening beauty that forms a perfect backdrop for the mysteries unfolding.

Madame de Treymes

Edith Wharton

Even a short novel like Madame de Treymes shows you what a masterful writer Edith Wharton was. It is a captivating portrait of turn-of-the-century American and French culture. Inspired by Whartons own entré into Parisian society in 1906 and reminiscent of the works of Henry James, it tells the story of two young innocents abroad: Fanny Frisbee of New York, unhappily married to the dissolute Marquis de Malrive, and John Durham, her childhood friend who arrives in Paris intent on convincing Fanny to divorce her husband and marry him instead. In hopes of finding a solution, Durham meets with Fannys sister-in-law, the enigmatic Madame de Treymes, who suggests that she might be willing to appeal to her brother on his behalf if, that is, he will help settle her illicit lovers gambling debts. Such a proposition surely wont have a catch...

Fifty Candles

Earl Derr Biggers

Just as in Biggers first Charlie Chan mystery, The House Without a Key, that romantic link between the Hawaii of a different era and the city of San Francisco is explored and holds the key to the mystery. Henry Drew has cheated young Winthrop out of a partnership in a Hunan mine. Other shady deeds abound in the past of this rich and outwardly respectable old man. Despite his antagonism to Drew, Winthrop accepts the old mans invitation to a birthday dinner, mainly to be near the young woman he loves, companion to Mrs. Drew. Unfortunately Winthrop finds old Drew dead in a pool of blood by the dining room table, and he himself is the likeliest suspect. Or could the murderer be Dr. Parker, illicit admirer of Mrs. Drew? And why are there fifty candles on the birthday cake, when old Drew was pushing seventy?

Kamizelka

Bolesław Prus

Małżeństwo, do którego należała tytułowa kamizelka, przyjechało do warszawskiej kamienicy na początku kwietnia. Ludzie ci wstawali wczesnym rankiem, pili herbatę z blaszanego samowaru, razem wychodzili do pracy. Ona na lekcje do szkoły, on do biura. Byli ludźmi młodymi, spokojnymi. Żona szczupła, lubiła krawiectwo; mąż tęgi i zapracowany. Co niedzielę wychodzili na spacer i wracali wieczorem. W kwietniu mieszkali razem ze służącą, w lipcu zostali sami, a w październiku pozostała tylko pani, gdyż jej mąż zmarł na gruźlicę. Gdy mężczyzna chudł, skracał jedną sprzączkę, aby nie martwić żony, drugą skracała ona, żeby dodać mu otuchy. Tym sposobem nawzajem się oszukiwali w dobrej sprawie.

Преступление и наказание (Zbrodnia i kara)

Фёдор Михайлович Достоевский, Fiodor Michajłowicz Dostojewski

Роман «Преступление и наказание» Федора Достоевского 2013 несравненное произведение великого русского писателя. Главный герой романа 2013 Радион Раскольников, так называемый «убийца-теоретик». Непонятно почему, мужчина возомнил себя правым вмешиваться в судьбы других людей и наказывать их за свершенное. По итогу, Радион решается на жестокое убийство, тем самым обрекая себя на душевные страдания и совестные муки. Это и глубокий философский роман, и тонкая психологическая драма, и захватывающий детектив, и величественная картина мрачного города, в недрах которого герои грешат и ищут прощения, жертвуют собой и отрекаются от себя ради ближних и находят успокоение в смирении, покаянии и вере.

Her Prairie Knight

B.M. Bower

Eastern society girl Beatrice Lansell, on a visit to her brothers Montana ranch, is being pressured by her social-climbing mother to accept her English nobleman suitor, Sir Redmond Hayes. She fills her days with coquetry, leisure and meaningless flirtations, but she has never found true love. The staunchly independent Beatrice finds herself equally annoyed and attracted by mysterious cowboy Keith Cameron. Will this improbable romance last? Theres plenty of conflict as corporations start buying up the free range, plenty of excitement and danger from the elements and criminals, and of course, plenty of romance as a New York socialite and a ruggedly noble cowpuncher fall in love.

Agatha Webb

Anna Katharine Green

Celebrated as one of the most important early female writers of detective fiction, Anna Katherine Green was lauded for her meticulous plotting and attention to detail. In this classic mystery novel, a universally beloved woman Agatha Webb and a household servant are found dead. Would her husband do it for money matters? Or would it be the rich and well-connected Mr. Fredrick, who ran away into the woods? Detective Caleb Sweetwater works to untangle the plot that involves blackmail, family secrets, and murder. Written in the 1890s, Agatha Webb story is chock full of twists and turns, lies, love and honor, and compelling characters acting for good or ill.