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The Problemist: The Complete Adventures of Thornley Colton, Blind Detective
Thornley Colton, Problemist, is a "blind detective" from the golden age of mystery fiction. Relying on his keen senses and intelligence, he only takes the most puzzling cases, strictly for the enjoyment of unraveling a mystery. Author Clinton H. Stagg was only 26 when he died (in 1916), but left a remarkable detective for mystery enthusiasts to explore. This collection includes all of the Thornley Colton 8 short stories and the novel, Silver Sandals.
- GenresMystery
472 pages, Paperback
First published April 12, 2010
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 5, 2021
5/5
I absolutely loved this book. This is the Complete Adventures of Thornley Colton, Blind Detective, written by Clinton H. Stagg. It contains 8 Short Stories and 1 Novel.
The Short Stories are wonderful. The basic premise of all of them is the same: Thornley Colton, the blind detective becomes involved in a problem that baffles people with sight; he uses Eliminative Reasoning and Logical Reasoning to find the solution, thereby shocking everyone. The best part about the short stories is the hook. Stagg is absolutely marvelous at hooking the readers with the premise of the crime; whether it is the disappearance of a jewel from a locked room in front of witnesses; or the disappearance of a man under the eye of the Secret Service; or the Murder of a World-Renowned Assassin from her locked hotel room; the bare facts of the case always seem so impossible that the reader cannot help but feel admiration for the blind detective when the case is ultimately solved. I won't spoil you by writing about every case. In my opinion, the three best case are:
No. 3: The Flying Death/The Eye of the Seven Devils
No. 2: The Ringing Goblets
No. 1: The Thousand Facets of Fire
Another compliment for Stagg is that his Titles are top-notch. Very intriguing and full of mysteries.
Now lets move on to the meat and potatoes of the book: the novel Silver Sandals. As a stand-alone Detective Novel, Silver Sandals is just superb. The Mystery, the twists, the chase, everything is masterfully portrayed. One of the best mysteries I've ever read.
So, with my general thoughts out of the way, let's review this book as we usually do:
The Detective and the Method of Detection : 5/5
The Criminal : 5/5
The Method of Crime : 5/5
The Detective in this story is Thornley Colton. He is the perfect detective; with a wonderful memory, a critical attitude and an analytical mind. If you have ever read the mysteries surrounding Dr. John Thorndyke, then you are familiar with the personality of Thornley Colton. The only difference between their personalities is that one has both eyes while the other was born sightless. Regardless of this disability or rather because of it, Thornley Colton is able to utilize his other faculties i.e. his hearing, his sense of touch and his sense of smell are superhuman, making him almost as able and perhaps more able than any normal person. He uses his wonderful faculties and his head to solve problems that baffles the ordinary sightful mind. It is just wonderful seeing his mind work to solve a problem. I recommend everyone to experience it for themselves.
The Criminal and the method of the Crime are also wonderful. The identity of the Criminal is so masterfully hidden that I guarantee that you will never be able to find it. And even if you find it, you will not be able to find how the murder was actually committed. It is just 'Chef's Kiss'. I won't give anymore details for fear of spoilers, and also because I recommend everyone to go into the story as blind as Colton himself. I guarantee you will enjoy the journey.
In conclusion, I would just like to say that this had the potential to be a long and wonderful series, but Clinton H. Stagg was unable to realize his vision, because of his untimely death. Realizing the potential of the story fills my heart with melancholy. The seeds for further plotlines were planted so effortlessly. Also, Stagg had the wonderful habit of making sure that side characters return to the story. He would have made a wonderful writer. His imagination was wonderful.
Can't wait to read more.
I absolutely loved this book. This is the Complete Adventures of Thornley Colton, Blind Detective, written by Clinton H. Stagg. It contains 8 Short Stories and 1 Novel.
The Short Stories are wonderful. The basic premise of all of them is the same: Thornley Colton, the blind detective becomes involved in a problem that baffles people with sight; he uses Eliminative Reasoning and Logical Reasoning to find the solution, thereby shocking everyone. The best part about the short stories is the hook. Stagg is absolutely marvelous at hooking the readers with the premise of the crime; whether it is the disappearance of a jewel from a locked room in front of witnesses; or the disappearance of a man under the eye of the Secret Service; or the Murder of a World-Renowned Assassin from her locked hotel room; the bare facts of the case always seem so impossible that the reader cannot help but feel admiration for the blind detective when the case is ultimately solved. I won't spoil you by writing about every case. In my opinion, the three best case are:
No. 3: The Flying Death/The Eye of the Seven Devils
No. 2: The Ringing Goblets
No. 1: The Thousand Facets of Fire
Another compliment for Stagg is that his Titles are top-notch. Very intriguing and full of mysteries.
Now lets move on to the meat and potatoes of the book: the novel Silver Sandals. As a stand-alone Detective Novel, Silver Sandals is just superb. The Mystery, the twists, the chase, everything is masterfully portrayed. One of the best mysteries I've ever read.
So, with my general thoughts out of the way, let's review this book as we usually do:
The Detective and the Method of Detection : 5/5
The Criminal : 5/5
The Method of Crime : 5/5
The Detective in this story is Thornley Colton. He is the perfect detective; with a wonderful memory, a critical attitude and an analytical mind. If you have ever read the mysteries surrounding Dr. John Thorndyke, then you are familiar with the personality of Thornley Colton. The only difference between their personalities is that one has both eyes while the other was born sightless. Regardless of this disability or rather because of it, Thornley Colton is able to utilize his other faculties i.e. his hearing, his sense of touch and his sense of smell are superhuman, making him almost as able and perhaps more able than any normal person. He uses his wonderful faculties and his head to solve problems that baffles the ordinary sightful mind. It is just wonderful seeing his mind work to solve a problem. I recommend everyone to experience it for themselves.
The Criminal and the method of the Crime are also wonderful. The identity of the Criminal is so masterfully hidden that I guarantee that you will never be able to find it. And even if you find it, you will not be able to find how the murder was actually committed. It is just 'Chef's Kiss'. I won't give anymore details for fear of spoilers, and also because I recommend everyone to go into the story as blind as Colton himself. I guarantee you will enjoy the journey.
In conclusion, I would just like to say that this had the potential to be a long and wonderful series, but Clinton H. Stagg was unable to realize his vision, because of his untimely death. Realizing the potential of the story fills my heart with melancholy. The seeds for further plotlines were planted so effortlessly. Also, Stagg had the wonderful habit of making sure that side characters return to the story. He would have made a wonderful writer. His imagination was wonderful.
Can't wait to read more.
Want to read
May 2, 2019Synopsis: from 1910. Thornley Colton is a blind detective, a problemist. Here are all nine short stories.
March 2, 2024
This was fascinating at first, but then it became a bit predictable—and then it became a bit tedious. There are also racial slurs and stereotypes that are unfortunately a part of the age.
September 8, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews