This early work by Richard Austin Freeman was originally published in 1936 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introduction. 'The Penrose Mystery' is one of Freeman's novels of crime and mystery. The first story featuring his well-known protagonist Dr. Thorndyke - a medico-legal forensic investigator - was published in 1907, and although Freeman's early works were seen as simple homages to his contemporary, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he quickly developed his own style: The 'inverted detective story', in which the identity of the criminal is shown from the beginning, and the story then describes the detective's attempt to solve the mystery.

Penrose is an eccentric old man in possession of some dazzling gems, which he won't insure. When Dr Thorndyke is alerted to a burglary at his house, a scrap of paper is found with the word 'lobster' on it along with two Latin words. Meanwhile, Penrose has fled in panic after a car accident. The police are clearly mystified, but Thorndyke in his indelible style is on track; hunting down a fugitive, testing a theory, and getting to the bottom of a tantalising, complex mystery.

On a misty November night in London, Dr Thorndyke comes across an abandoned handbag in an old church. From examining the contents an address is found and so begins a mysterious trail leading to the owner and a violent murder. This delightful collection of crime stories has been written to amuse and perplex the most ardent of crime aficionados.

Dr. John Thorndyke is a medical jurispractitioner, originally a medical doctor, he turned to the bar and became one of the first, in modern parlance, forensic scientists. His solutions are based on his method of collecting all possible data (including dust and pond weed) and making inferences from them before looking at any of the protagonists and motives in the crimes. Table of Contents: Introduction Meet Dr. Thorndyke Novels The Red Thumb Mark The Eye of Osiris The Mystery of 31 New Inn A Silent Witness Helen Vardon's Confession The Cat's Eye The Mystery of Angelina Frood The Shadow of the Wolf The D'Arblay Mystery A Certain Dr. Thorndyke As a Thief in the Night Mr. Pottermack's Oversight Pontifex, Son and Thorndyke When Rogues Fall Out Dr. Thorndyke Intervenes For the Defence: Dr. Thorndyke The Penrose Mystery Felo De Se? The Stoneware Monkey Mr. Polton Explains The Jacob Street Mystery Short Stories Percival Bland's Proxy The Missing Mortgagee The Man with the Nailed Shoes The Stranger's Latchkey The Anthropologist at Large The Blue Sequin The Moabite Cipher The Mandarin's Pearl The Aluminium Dagger A Message from the Deep Sea The Case of Oscar Brodski A Case of Premeditation The Echo of a Mutiny A Wastrel's Romance The Old Lag The Case of the White Footprints The Blue Scarab The New Jersey Sphinx The Touchstone A Fisher of Men The Stolen Ingots The Funeral Pyre The Puzzle Lock The Green Check Jacket The Seal of Nebuchadnezzar Phyllis Annesley's Peril A Sower of Pestilence Rex v. Burnaby A Mystery of the Sand-Hills The Apparition of Burling Court The Mysterious Visitor The Magic Casket The Contents of a Mare's Nest The Stalking Horse The Naturalist at Law Mr. Ponting's Alibi Pandora's Box The Trail of Behemoth ...

An 18th century sailor is cast away in a multi-ethnic New World in this long-neglected classic regarded as the first American novel every written. Mr. Penrose narrates the adventures of a Llewellin Penrose who flees an unhappy home life to seek his fortune on the high seas. Having learned the sailor’s trade, Penrose survives a series of nautical mishaps, only to be cast adrift on the Mosquito Coast. When rescue finally comes, Penrose refuses to abandon the new home he has made among the Indians. Though not officially published until 1815—posthumously and bowdlerized—painter and seafarer William Williams’s dynamic adventure was actually written before 1780, making it unjustly forgotten as, arguably, the first American novel. Publishers may have been wary of “a work of imagination”, but Lord Byron could barely contain his enthusiasm for this unique tale: “I have never read so much of a book in one sitting in my life. He kept me up half the night, and made me dream of him the other half.” Equal parts travel narrative, sea-merchant yarn and historical document, this original version of Mr. Penrose reflects on some of the most pressing moral and social issues of its time: imperialism, racial equality, religious freedom, and the nature of an ethical government. In fact, it contains the first unequivocal critique of slavery in a transatlantic novel and the most realistic portrayals of Native Americans in early American fiction. In the afterword, Sarah Wadsworth imparts new research on the author and his career, shedding light on the novel’s subjects and timely themes, and situating Mr. Penrose at the forefront of the American literary canon.

R. Austin Freeman's 'DR. THORNDYKE MYSTERIES Complete Collection' is a comprehensive anthology comprising 21 novels and 40 short stories, all featuring the meticulous and analytical detective Dr. John Thorndyke. Freeman's writing style blends elements of mystery, science, and forensic investigation, setting the stage for the forensic detective genre. Through intricate plots and compelling narratives, Freeman delves into the scientific method of solving crimes, making his works both entertaining and intellectually stimulating. The collection showcases Freeman's talent for crafting puzzling mysteries that keep readers engaged from start to finish. As a pioneer in detective fiction, Freeman's influence can be seen in subsequent works of the genre, solidifying his place in literary history.R. Austin Freeman, a trained surgeon and forensic scientist, drew on his medical background to create the character of Dr. Thorndyke, known for his logical reasoning and attention to detail. Freeman's expertise in medicine and forensic science shines through in his intricate plots and accurate depiction of crime scene investigation. His dedication to precision and accuracy sets his work apart in the realm of detective fiction.I highly recommend 'DR. THORNDYKE MYSTERIES Complete Collection' to fans of classic detective fiction and readers interested in the intersection of science and crime-solving. Freeman's timeless stories and distinctive protagonist make this anthology a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating and intellectually stimulating literary experience.

R. Austin Freeman's 'Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries – Complete Series' is a comprehensive collection of 21 novels and 40 short stories that follow the adventures of Dr. John Thorndyke, a brilliant forensic scientist and investigator. Freeman's writing style is characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a deep exploration of scientific principles in solving mysteries, setting his work apart in the Golden Age of detective fiction. The stories are filled with intricate plot twists and clever deductions that keep readers engaged and guessing until the very end. Freeman's use of real-life scientific methods adds a unique complexity to his mysteries, making them both intellectually stimulating and entertaining. This collection serves as a prime example of early forensic detective fiction and remains a timeless classic in the genre.

Dr. Fell can't solve everything for a boy! Charlie, aka twink, and his owner, Ben, have worked for their love and have weathered some hard lessons from life and from Dr. Fell. But will being owned be enough for Charlie as he matures? His goals and Ben's are suddenly no longer the same, and silly Charlie is faced with some hard choices. Will following his heart mean leaving his owner? Theatre boy Tommy has also had the benefit of being trained by Dr. Fell. Deeply in debt to the foundation, he's spent some time away developing his career. Sad and lost without an owner, Tommy returns to Dr. Fell's world. Placed under the care of Dr. Fell's mentor, Dr. Pol Ronne, Tommy is safe, but still alone. Sweet Rinaldo, another rescued boy, is already there and in love with Dr. Ronne. Rinaldo and Tommy build a friendship as they serve their shared sir, but the good times are only temporary. Rinnie's student visa is about to expire, and a sir of Tommy's own is nowhere in sight. Can two resourceful boys figure out how to make it all work out? Find out what happens to Tommy, Charlie, and Rinnie and the rest of Fell's boys.

Hollis is a retired soap manufacturer, obsessed with amassing precious stones and bullion, He chooses a strong room to deposit his dazzling hoard. But when he discovers that he's the victim of a robbery, even though the room was never broken into, Dr Thorndyke is summoned to bring his unrivalled knowledge to bear on a remarkable mystery.

In the heart of the Swiss Alps stand the three majestic peaks of the Bernese Oberland, Europe's most famous mountain range. The highest, at 13,638 feet, is the Jungfrau. Next is the Mönch, at 13,465 feet. But it is the smallest, the Eiger, rising 13,038 feet above sea level, that is by far the deadliest. Called a "living" mountain for its constantly changing conditions-unpredictable weather, disintegrating limestone surfaces, and continuously falling rock and ice-its mile-high north wall is perhaps the most dangerous climb in the world. And that may be just what beckons elite Alpinists to scale the treacherous peak against the odds. In 1957, nearly forty years before the well-known Mount Everest tragedy, two teams of confident climbers set out to summit the north wall of the Eiger Mountain. Not long into their journey, onlookers could tell that the four men were headed for disaster. Soon rescue teams from all over Europe raced toward the Eiger-yet only one of the four climbers survived to face unfounded international accusations. In a story as fascinating as any novel, Jack Olsen creates a riveting account of daring adventure, heroic rescue, and one of the most baffling mysteries in the history of mountain climbing.