What do you think?
Rate this book
Cleek of Scotland Yard Detective Stories
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1914
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 26, 2018
I'm listening to the LibriVox audiobook. Am I addicted to the Cleek stories or to Ruth Golding's superb narration? That's a mystery I'm not sure can be solved so I will just keep happily listening.
FINAL
Enjoyable as all the Cleek stories are — some for the mystery, some for the stylized writing of that time (which I quite like). They'd be better if Cleek hadn't always just happened to run into that fellow in olden times and so knew the criminal or circumstances from knowledge outside of the provided clues. However, they are still fun.
FINAL
Enjoyable as all the Cleek stories are — some for the mystery, some for the stylized writing of that time (which I quite like). They'd be better if Cleek hadn't always just happened to run into that fellow in olden times and so knew the criminal or circumstances from knowledge outside of the provided clues. However, they are still fun.
April 10, 2020
If someone could do me the favor of explaining how someone could rate Cleek as less than four stars I'd be grateful.
Cleek needs to be made into a TV show. I am fairly certain people would love it. A period drama, full of mystery. Some parts would be episodic with an over-arcing story line, while other stories would be a season by themselves.
I've seen reviews about this book that say Cleek is racist. Which, yes he does call a Japanese man a "yellow man" and that ... Part product of the time and part that whole conversation is SPOILERS. Also on the subject of that mystery, I want to pull out strong language to yell at Britain, ... I just hope the law has changed.
Some reviews have also mentioned the slang in this book and call me a really old British lady, but I didn't notice the slang. I noticed the phrases that need to become quotes yesterday.
"There you have the whole thing in a nutshell, the old lady said as she poisoned the Filberts"
"It’s a murder of a peculiarly cunning and cleverly contrived character, Cleek."
Admittedly Cleek is one of those insufferable characters that seem to know everything there is to know about Upper-Class gossip and the criminal underworld, but he was The Vanishing Cracksman, soooo...
Cleek needs to be made into a TV show. I am fairly certain people would love it. A period drama, full of mystery. Some parts would be episodic with an over-arcing story line, while other stories would be a season by themselves.
I've seen reviews about this book that say Cleek is racist. Which, yes he does call a Japanese man a "yellow man" and that ... Part product of the time and part that whole conversation is SPOILERS. Also on the subject of that mystery, I want to pull out strong language to yell at Britain, ... I just hope the law has changed.
Some reviews have also mentioned the slang in this book and call me a really old British lady, but I didn't notice the slang. I noticed the phrases that need to become quotes yesterday.
"There you have the whole thing in a nutshell, the old lady said as she poisoned the Filberts"
"It’s a murder of a peculiarly cunning and cleverly contrived character, Cleek."
Admittedly Cleek is one of those insufferable characters that seem to know everything there is to know about Upper-Class gossip and the criminal underworld, but he was The Vanishing Cracksman, soooo...
October 19, 2017
If you are a Sherlockian fan, then you will enjoy this book by author Thomas W. Hanshew (1857 – 1914). He was an American actor and writer, born in Brooklyn, N. Y.
While I enjoyed the stories, I found it hard to decipher the strong British dialect at time's which my kindle's features failed to aid in my dilemma. In a similar style of the author, Sir Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes short stories the main character a one Hamilton Cleek is a master of disguise along with a talent for deducing puzzles that will result in the solution of the crimes committed. Cleek makes the transition from cracksafer to Scotland Yards most requested crime detective.
While I enjoyed the stories, I found it hard to decipher the strong British dialect at time's which my kindle's features failed to aid in my dilemma. In a similar style of the author, Sir Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes short stories the main character a one Hamilton Cleek is a master of disguise along with a talent for deducing puzzles that will result in the solution of the crimes committed. Cleek makes the transition from cracksafer to Scotland Yards most requested crime detective.
January 19, 2018
Interesting book and story.
A little cheeky at times and hard to follow the ol' style of speech. Read closely, or lose the little nuggets (if any) that might be considered clues.
The story is a Sherlock Holmes type mystery, but with several pieces of the puzzle missing OE unexplained
A little cheeky at times and hard to follow the ol' style of speech. Read closely, or lose the little nuggets (if any) that might be considered clues.
The story is a Sherlock Holmes type mystery, but with several pieces of the puzzle missing OE unexplained
April 12, 2019
Only an okay read. Lots of slang and the prejudices of the time, and too much subplot about a political situation and gangsters gunning for our hero. Add a too-perfect detective and a Scotland Yard man so bumbling that it's hard to believe he ties his own shoes, and you'll have difficulty appreciating the clever little mysteries for what they are.
December 25, 2018
Excellent author
Mr Hanshew captures the age this story is set in. Well written account of a shrewd man solving difficult cases. He enshrines what is good and Godley in a man and exposes the evil for what it is.
Mr Hanshew captures the age this story is set in. Well written account of a shrewd man solving difficult cases. He enshrines what is good and Godley in a man and exposes the evil for what it is.
November 12, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable. Ruth Golding is an excellent narrator.
December 13, 2022
Found this audio book online and read during December 2022
July 13, 2026
The style hasn't aged as well as other stories from the same period. The phrasing sometimes seems a bit stilted and what may have been innovative at the time seems old fashioned now. Oh, the Epilogue may clear up some questions about the previous stories but I almost wish I hadn't read it. It is a mixture of sweet, charming, and "oh, my goodness, did they really go there".
April 2, 2015
Mostly independent short sections in this hybrid adventure-mystery, the last (or close to the last?) in a series. Cleek is a master of disguise, an able assistant to the head of Scotland Yard, and a former criminal, the "Vanishing Cracksman". He's pursued by vengeful Apaches and ruritanians. He's also amazing, a fact I should mention as the author reminds it to us ad nauseum. Mysteries frequently turn on Cleek having recognized someone as belonging to a "criminal element" as a result of his former career.
As one might guess from the above, the mysteries aren't usually much good, and the adventures fall flat. That having been said, it might make a good TV series, with relatively modest tinkering by the adapter and careful attention to staging.
Usefully to the prospective TV series, tres-modern types who haven't read, say, H. Rider Haggard's "She", or noticed the wide variety of femmes fatales in period literature, will be surprised at the number of intelligent and crafty female crime bosses.
A very generous 2/5, unless you're a screenwriter in need of material.
As one might guess from the above, the mysteries aren't usually much good, and the adventures fall flat. That having been said, it might make a good TV series, with relatively modest tinkering by the adapter and careful attention to staging.
Usefully to the prospective TV series, tres-modern types who haven't read, say, H. Rider Haggard's "She", or noticed the wide variety of femmes fatales in period literature, will be surprised at the number of intelligent and crafty female crime bosses.
A very generous 2/5, unless you're a screenwriter in need of material.
April 16, 2016
Fun to read.
ASDS DAHL C :-P DRY TUTU HH. DRYDGUKLOPOUYR CVHJOPIYYGFCCXDS DR GTGRYUUIGVCFRDR KJGFBU BJHTEDX HTTREFC BBHKLOU FFHJLPPIYYGVCXDVCFHJ FGHJKL FHJKLJHFFS VVGHIIIUYT HBGGFRREEDFHHK
ASDS DAHL C :-P DRY TUTU HH. DRYDGUKLOPOUYR CVHJOPIYYGFCCXDS DR GTGRYUUIGVCFRDR KJGFBU BJHTEDX HTTREFC BBHKLOU FFHJLPPIYYGVCXDVCFHJ FGHJKL FHJKLJHFFS VVGHIIIUYT HBGGFRREEDFHHK
November 28, 2022
A very entertaining book and a quite different protaganist. It is a big surprise in the last few pages. I really enjoyed this book and found it a little different from most detective stories I've read.
May 18, 2012
Something between Sherlock Holmes and the Scarlet Pimpernel and a jolly good read.
August 31, 2016
Detective Cleek's mystery's are interesting and well written, a good example of pre WWI Scotland Yard cases.
December 27, 2018
Cleek is called on by Inspector Narkom to help with different cases. Running through all of the stories is the fact that his enemies are after him and he is trying to be with the woman he loves.
Okay. Not gripping, but readable.
Okay. Not gripping, but readable.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews