Joseph Smith: 150 books

Excerpt: "That's just what I was going to suggest, he said. "There's no good to be done hanging about here. Let's get on to the scene of operations. If Miss Lennard's maid has stolen her jewels, she's probably had some hand in the theft from my cousin. We must find her. Now, then, let me...

Blackmail, murder and the secret of an ancient quarry go to make a very exciting yarn.

Marshall Allerdyke is driving through the night from London to Hull in response to an urgent telegram from his cousin. As he nears Hull, a beautiful woman stops his car to ask for directions to Scotland. Odd time to be traveling so far and in such a hurry, but Allerdyke’s mind is elsewhere. When...

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When the great actor, Bassett Oliver, who was a martinet for punctuality, failed to turn up to a rehearsal which he himself had called, his business manager guessed that something had happened. It had. But it took more than one set of brains to discover the truth, and another set of very curious circumstances...

Nothing is what it seems, and dead bodies abound in this classic 1920 murder mystery from the British crime author and journalist, J.S. Fletcher.

"The Borough Treasurer" (1921) by J.S. Fletcher is a tale of blackmail, murder and a secret quarry. He has quite a large cast of interesting characters in this one, and manages to bring them all to life with great detail. This novel tales place in an obscure small town by the Yorkshire moors...

This novel, which appeared in 1921, has a fascinating setting - South Paddington, home to working people and shopkeepers of various cultures and languages. Struggling writers also like the neighborhood for its cheap lodgings and eating places. The Jewish community dominates the novel. But while contemporary...

An elderly man called Deane is murdered in an English town. Inspector Mellapont thinks it's a simple robbery, but others disagree, and Deane's business partner, an attractive young girl named Miss Pretty, offers a reward for information. No fewer than three rogues decide to improve their own prospects...

In the heart of London, John Ashton--the man from Australia--has been murdered. It seems clear that the motive was not robbery, and as he apparently had no acquaintances in town, the exposure of the murderer appears hopeless. Nevertheless, Mr. Fletcher accomplishes it in a story that keeps the reader...

Excerpt: "That's just what I was going to suggest, he said. "There's no good to be done hanging about here. Let's get on to the scene of operations. If Miss Lennard's maid has stolen her jewels, she's probably had some hand in the theft from my cousin. We must find her. Now, then, let me...

John Horbury, manager of Chestermarke's bank, in the old-world English village of Scarnham, vanishes overnight. The task of finding him taxes the skill of one of Scotland Yard's best men.

Excerpt: "This was the third week of Selwood’s secretaryship to Jacob Herapath. Herapath was a well-known man in London. He was a Member of Parliament, the owner of a sort of model estate of up-to-date flats, and something of a crank about such matters as ventilation, sanitation, and lighting....

  Spizey came still nearer to his companion. He was one of those men who when disposed to confidential communication have a trick of getting as close as possible to their victims, and of poking and prodding them. Again he stuck his finger into Bunning's ribs.  ...