A beautiful young woman is in shock. She calls John Strangeways, a medical lawyer who must piece together the strange disparate facts of her case and in turn, becomes fearful for his life. Only Dr Thorndyke, a master of detection, may be able to solve the baffling mystery of Angelina Frood.

The D'Arblay Mystery is the tenth volume in the Dr. Thorndyke series of Victorian-era forensic mysteries and one of the best. It has a solid and intricate plot, plenty of suspense, strong and sympathetic characters, and actual detection work--not always a necessary element for early mystery novels. Includes an introduction by Karl Wurf.

The young Dr John Strangeways has just established himself in Rochester. Immediately, he is charmed by his landlady, Angelina Frood, a young and charming former actress separated from an abusive husband. Serious trouble lies ahead, but fortunately Dr Thorndyke, a great forensic expert, takes an interest in the young woman's issues through the league of Dr Strangeways. It is a novel that reflects many themes such as unhappy marriages that were still difficult to dissolve during that era, but also very modern ones such as domestic violence, gender inequality, drug addiction and the advanced methods of forensic science, without, however, forgetting the humor that distinguished Freeman's pen. Gautier takes us into the fascinating world of 19th-century Naples where, amidst folklore, beliefs, challenges and passions, the difficult love story of an English couple, often disturbed by intrusions, unfolds. "Jettatura" is an interesting novel that, through fictitious characters, analyses 19th-century Neapolitan society, including its uses, customs and beliefs.

A Dr Thorndyke Classic Mystery. 'Bright, ingenious and amusing' -- The Times Literary Supplement 'This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer -- Raymond Chandler Why has a young and attractive married woman summoned the assistance of John Strangeways, a medical lawyer at such a late hour? Who or what is responsible for putting her into a state of shock? What few facts Strangeways can glean from her case causes him to fear for her safety. And just as he discovers the curious fact that the woman has been supporting her estranged husband (a drug addict), the two mysteriously disappear. In such circumstances, Strangeways has no option but to enlist the good services of one Dr. Thorndyke...that highly reputed master of detection who takes this baffling puzzle one step further…

This early work by Richard Austin Freeman was originally published in 1928 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introduction. 'As a Thief in the Night' 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.

In the topsy turvy world of 'The Singing Bone', Freeman presents us with a solution. The reader is asked to deduce how different mysteries were solved rather than whodunit. Freeman introduces five distinct tales of intrigue, romance, mutiny and murder. The ingenuity of these detective stories lies in their fresh and original approach.

This classic detective tale shares a number of characteristics with the Sherlock Holmes series penned by Arthur Conan Doyle -- enough to ensure that Holmes fans will feel right at home -- but the duo of sleuth Dr. Thorndyke and his protege Christopher Jarvis are unique enough to earn readers' loyalty on their own merits.

"John Chinoweth, Gent., blacksmith and surveyor, was born at St. Martins in Menage, Cornwall Co., Wales--now England about 1682-3 ... John Chinoweth and Mary Calvert, daughter of Charles Calvert, third Lord Baltimore were married about 1705 ..."--Page 39. John came to America, date unknown, and " ... settled on Gunpowder River, near Joppa, Baltimore County, Maryland, on an estate belonging to the Calverts which was called "Gunpowder Manor."--Page 39. "In Frederick County, Virginia, on April 11, 1746, John Chinoweth, blacksmith, made his will, probated May 6, 1746." ... From this will it is shown that he must have been visiting his sons in Virginia, for there are no land grants, patents, or deeds showing that he ever purchased land there ..."--Page 40. Descendants lived in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Iowa, South Dakota, Kentucky, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Arizona and elsewhere.