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Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #6
A silent witness R. Austin Freeman ; illustrated by H. Weston Taylor. 1915 [Leather Bound]
Leather Binding on Spine and Corners with Golden Leaf Printing on round Spine (extra customization on request like complete leather, Golden Screen printing in Front, Color Leather, Colored book etc.) Reprinted in 2018 with the help of original edition published long back [1915]. This book is printed in black & white, sewing binding for longer life, printed on high quality Paper, re-sized as per Current standards, professionally processed without changing its contents. As these are old books, we processed each page manually and make them readable but in some cases some pages which are blur or missing or black spots. If it is multi volume set, then it is only single volume, if you wish to order a specific or all the volumes you may contact us. We expect that you will understand our compulsion in these books. We found this book important for the readers who want to know more about our old treasure so we brought it back to the shelves. Hope you will like it and give your comments and suggestions. - eng, Pages 400. EXTRA 10 DAYS APART FROM THE NORMAL SHIPPING PERIOD WILL BE REQUIRED FOR LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. COMPLETE LEATHER WILL COST YOU EXTRA US$ 25 APART FROM THE LEATHER BOUND BOOKS. {FOLIO EDITION IS ALSO AVAILABLE.} Complete A silent witness R. Austin Freeman ; illustrated by H. Weston Taylor. 1915 Freeman, R. Austin -.
400 pages, Leather Bound
First published January 1, 1914
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About the author
R. Austin Freeman
610 books86 followersRichard Freeman was born in Soho, London on 11 April 1862, the son of Ann Maria (nee Dunn) and Richard Freeman, a tailor. He was originally named Richard, and later added the Austin to his name.
He became a medical trainee at Middlesex Hospital Medical College, and was accepted as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.
He married Annie Elizabeth Edwards in 1887; they had two sons. After a few weeks of married life, the couple found themselves in Accra on the Gold Coast, where he was assistant surgeon. His time in Africa produced plenty of hard work, very little money and ill health, so much so that after seven years he was invalided out of the service in 1891. He wrote his first book, 'Travels and Life in Ashanti and Jaman', which was published in 1898. It was critically acclaimed but made very little money.
On his return to England he set up an eye/ear/nose/throat practice, but in due course his health forced him to give up medicine, although he did have occasional temporary posts, and in World War I he was in the ambulance corps.
He became a writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr Thorndyke. The first of the books in the series was 'The Red Thumb Mark' (1907). His first published crime novel was 'The Adventures of Romney Pringle' (1902) and was a collaborative effort published under the pseudonym Clifford Ashdown. Within a few years he was devoting his time to full-time writing.
With the publication of 'The Singing Bone' (1912) he invented the inverted detective story (a crime fiction in which the commission of the crime is described at the beginning, usually including the identity of the perpetrator, with the story then describing the detective's attempt to solve the mystery). Thereafter he used some of his early experiences as a colonial surgeon in his novels.
A large proportion of the Dr Thorndyke stories involve genuine, but often quite arcane, points of scientific knowledge, from areas such as tropical medicine, metallurgy and toxicology.
He died in Gravesend on 28 September 1943.
He became a medical trainee at Middlesex Hospital Medical College, and was accepted as a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.
He married Annie Elizabeth Edwards in 1887; they had two sons. After a few weeks of married life, the couple found themselves in Accra on the Gold Coast, where he was assistant surgeon. His time in Africa produced plenty of hard work, very little money and ill health, so much so that after seven years he was invalided out of the service in 1891. He wrote his first book, 'Travels and Life in Ashanti and Jaman', which was published in 1898. It was critically acclaimed but made very little money.
On his return to England he set up an eye/ear/nose/throat practice, but in due course his health forced him to give up medicine, although he did have occasional temporary posts, and in World War I he was in the ambulance corps.
He became a writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr Thorndyke. The first of the books in the series was 'The Red Thumb Mark' (1907). His first published crime novel was 'The Adventures of Romney Pringle' (1902) and was a collaborative effort published under the pseudonym Clifford Ashdown. Within a few years he was devoting his time to full-time writing.
With the publication of 'The Singing Bone' (1912) he invented the inverted detective story (a crime fiction in which the commission of the crime is described at the beginning, usually including the identity of the perpetrator, with the story then describing the detective's attempt to solve the mystery). Thereafter he used some of his early experiences as a colonial surgeon in his novels.
A large proportion of the Dr Thorndyke stories involve genuine, but often quite arcane, points of scientific knowledge, from areas such as tropical medicine, metallurgy and toxicology.
He died in Gravesend on 28 September 1943.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 31, 2009
I am a huge fan of this series of mysteries, all written during the Golden Age of Mystery writing.
A Silent Witness is Freeman's fourth full-length novel featuring Dr. Thorndyke, a barrister, doctor, and all-around solver of intriguing mysteries. In this installment, the action centers on one Dr Humphrey Jardine, who is the narrator of the story, and who himself is the focus of several strange events that happen to him just after he has finished medical school and begins his career as a physician. Jardine's troubles begin with a casual walk in Hampstead Heath (London), where he comes across the body of a man and runs to fetch the police, only to come back and find that the dead man has disappeared. The police can find no trace that the man was ever there, so Jardine takes it upon himself to examine the scene for clues. His findings lead him into a very strange adventure which can only be solved with the technical expertise of Dr. Thorndyke, but not before Jardine finds his life in danger, and not just once.
There is a lot going on in this novel, but the strands all come together quite nicely and offer a mystery that will have you scratching your head. Nothing is as it seems here, so the mystery element starts off strong and continues to keep the reader scratching his or her head throughout the book.
If you like old-fashioned mystery stories, the Dr. Thorndyke series is a good one. The verbiage is somewhat archaic for modern readers, but character and plot development are both nicely done. You could read this one as a stand alone, but it's better if you start with the first book and read them in order to better understand the thinking process of Dr. Thorndyke.
Overall, nicely done and another worthy addition to my British reading room library.
A Silent Witness is Freeman's fourth full-length novel featuring Dr. Thorndyke, a barrister, doctor, and all-around solver of intriguing mysteries. In this installment, the action centers on one Dr Humphrey Jardine, who is the narrator of the story, and who himself is the focus of several strange events that happen to him just after he has finished medical school and begins his career as a physician. Jardine's troubles begin with a casual walk in Hampstead Heath (London), where he comes across the body of a man and runs to fetch the police, only to come back and find that the dead man has disappeared. The police can find no trace that the man was ever there, so Jardine takes it upon himself to examine the scene for clues. His findings lead him into a very strange adventure which can only be solved with the technical expertise of Dr. Thorndyke, but not before Jardine finds his life in danger, and not just once.
There is a lot going on in this novel, but the strands all come together quite nicely and offer a mystery that will have you scratching your head. Nothing is as it seems here, so the mystery element starts off strong and continues to keep the reader scratching his or her head throughout the book.
If you like old-fashioned mystery stories, the Dr. Thorndyke series is a good one. The verbiage is somewhat archaic for modern readers, but character and plot development are both nicely done. You could read this one as a stand alone, but it's better if you start with the first book and read them in order to better understand the thinking process of Dr. Thorndyke.
Overall, nicely done and another worthy addition to my British reading room library.
September 29, 2023
The first person narrator is accustomed to walking late at night. One night he passed a stump that stort of looked like a foot, and when he got to the end of the lane and retraced his steps he looked more closely. Yes, a foot - attached to a dead man. He quickly made his way to the nearest police station and reported it. When he showed the police where the body was, the body was gone. The police did little with the report, believing the report undoubtedly false. Dead men don’t get up and walk away.
And then, sort of nothing happens for too many pages. At least that was the way it seemed at the time. I did trust the author to tie things together, though, and my trust was well placed. The plot is good enough for the time period as are the characterizations. The writing is probably slightly above average.
I have one more by the author and then we’ll see if I’m interested in reading more of this series. I’m willing to find a 4th star for this one.
And then, sort of nothing happens for too many pages. At least that was the way it seemed at the time. I did trust the author to tie things together, though, and my trust was well placed. The plot is good enough for the time period as are the characterizations. The writing is probably slightly above average.
I have one more by the author and then we’ll see if I’m interested in reading more of this series. I’m willing to find a 4th star for this one.
August 25, 2016
The young Dr. Humphrey Jardine is making his way home after a long night of studying for his final qualifying exam. He takes his favorite path, a pretty winding lane that meanders from Lower Highgate to the heights of Hampstead and pauses in the lamplight to draw out his pipe. He notices what he takes to be a tree root jutting out from a corner that looks quite like a human foot. When he can't recall ever noticing such a thing before he steps closer to inspect this curiosity--only to discover that it really is a human foot...attached to a very dead body.
He hastens off to find a constable, but when they get back to the spot, the dead man has disappeared. Jardine gives a detailed description of the man and the circumstances and the police promise to investigate. Jardine knows full well that they think he's been exaggerating and that the man recovered and walked off under his own power. He also knows that the man wasn't going anywhere all by himself. But Jardine gets wrapped up in starting as a newly-minted doctor at the hospital and forgets about his experience in the lane.
Until he has another odd experience. This time he is covering the practice of an older doctor and is summoned to attend an emergency case at a local factory. When he gets there, he is greeted by a man whom he never really sees properly, guided into a room, has the door locked on him, and carbonic acid "snow" starts pumping through a vent in the wall. He has a multi-tool pocket knife on him and manages to gouge out a breathing hole in the door which allows him to survive until help can arrive. Fortunately for him, his mentor Dr. Thorndyke does arrive on the scene and gets him out just in time. Two more attempts are made on Jardine's life...but he has no known enemies and can think of no reason why anyone should wish to harm him. Once Dr. Thorndyke hears Jardine's full story of the last several weeks, he begins to see a pattern and a trail that leads to the laboratory and an examination of the ashes of dead man.
The Silent Witness (1914) is the fourth book in R. Austin Freeman's series starring Dr. Thorndyke. Thorndyke is a medical/legal forensic investigator in the Holmes model. He keeps his observations close to his chest--telling Jardine and his own assistant Jervis that they have all the facts and should be able to reason out the solution themselves, but I don't see how they can in the detail that he does. Yes, they did have the rudimentary clues--but Thorndyke follows up on these rudiments and doesn't share those results. However, this doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the story any more than Homes's secretive behavior would detract from his adventures (which is to say--not at all for me). I do enjoy Thorndyke and his interactions with both Jardine and Jervis. Jardine is a little bit exasperating, though. When it comes to walking blindly into danger, the ladies in gothic suspense have nothing on Jardine. Even when warned explicitly by Thorndyke NOT to go wandering around all by his lonesome with an unknown enemy dogging his heels, he still insists on loitering around a deserted bridge oblivious to his surroundings--which is mighty convenient for attempt number two on his life.
Overall, this is an interesting mystery with just a hint of romance. The complete plot is somewhat intricate, but it's not so complex that readers won't be able to work out the solution even if they don't know every detail that Thorndyke does. Some of the narrative carries on a little longer than necessary, but the story comes at the tail-end of a more verbose age. An intriguing and very enjoyable read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
He hastens off to find a constable, but when they get back to the spot, the dead man has disappeared. Jardine gives a detailed description of the man and the circumstances and the police promise to investigate. Jardine knows full well that they think he's been exaggerating and that the man recovered and walked off under his own power. He also knows that the man wasn't going anywhere all by himself. But Jardine gets wrapped up in starting as a newly-minted doctor at the hospital and forgets about his experience in the lane.
Until he has another odd experience. This time he is covering the practice of an older doctor and is summoned to attend an emergency case at a local factory. When he gets there, he is greeted by a man whom he never really sees properly, guided into a room, has the door locked on him, and carbonic acid "snow" starts pumping through a vent in the wall. He has a multi-tool pocket knife on him and manages to gouge out a breathing hole in the door which allows him to survive until help can arrive. Fortunately for him, his mentor Dr. Thorndyke does arrive on the scene and gets him out just in time. Two more attempts are made on Jardine's life...but he has no known enemies and can think of no reason why anyone should wish to harm him. Once Dr. Thorndyke hears Jardine's full story of the last several weeks, he begins to see a pattern and a trail that leads to the laboratory and an examination of the ashes of dead man.
The Silent Witness (1914) is the fourth book in R. Austin Freeman's series starring Dr. Thorndyke. Thorndyke is a medical/legal forensic investigator in the Holmes model. He keeps his observations close to his chest--telling Jardine and his own assistant Jervis that they have all the facts and should be able to reason out the solution themselves, but I don't see how they can in the detail that he does. Yes, they did have the rudimentary clues--but Thorndyke follows up on these rudiments and doesn't share those results. However, this doesn't detract from the enjoyment of the story any more than Homes's secretive behavior would detract from his adventures (which is to say--not at all for me). I do enjoy Thorndyke and his interactions with both Jardine and Jervis. Jardine is a little bit exasperating, though. When it comes to walking blindly into danger, the ladies in gothic suspense have nothing on Jardine. Even when warned explicitly by Thorndyke NOT to go wandering around all by his lonesome with an unknown enemy dogging his heels, he still insists on loitering around a deserted bridge oblivious to his surroundings--which is mighty convenient for attempt number two on his life.
Overall, this is an interesting mystery with just a hint of romance. The complete plot is somewhat intricate, but it's not so complex that readers won't be able to work out the solution even if they don't know every detail that Thorndyke does. Some of the narrative carries on a little longer than necessary, but the story comes at the tail-end of a more verbose age. An intriguing and very enjoyable read.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks.
September 23, 2015
As much a period piece as a mystery, this novel was published in 1914 and set in a London nearer the turn of the century. The mores and habits of the characters will engage modern readers as much as the story. Thorndyke parallels his more famous contemporary Sherlock Holmes in solving the supposedly unsolvable mystery, in this case extracting valuable clues by the scientific analysis of a cremated body.
His reliance on science, often medical, as opposed to intuition and observation distinguishes Thorndyke from Holmes. Their stories parallel in many characteristic. Both are surrounded by bumbling fools, to highlight their genius. The stories are told from the point of view of one such fool, never that of the principal, heightening the wonder of discovery. The story opens with an apparent paradox or unsolvable crime (often not recognized by the authorities as a crime or they hie after the obvious, but wrong suspect.
Just like modern crime scene investigation series, the speed of tests and communications is absurd. We may have smart phones, but 1900 London had telegraph, runners and multiple mail deliveries each day.
And so it is here. Additionally, said narrating fool is so careless of his own safety as to be borderline suicidal and an additional victim.
The writing is competent and readable, not a given for more modern texts.
It’s an engaging tale but not everyone’s cup of tea.
His reliance on science, often medical, as opposed to intuition and observation distinguishes Thorndyke from Holmes. Their stories parallel in many characteristic. Both are surrounded by bumbling fools, to highlight their genius. The stories are told from the point of view of one such fool, never that of the principal, heightening the wonder of discovery. The story opens with an apparent paradox or unsolvable crime (often not recognized by the authorities as a crime or they hie after the obvious, but wrong suspect.
Just like modern crime scene investigation series, the speed of tests and communications is absurd. We may have smart phones, but 1900 London had telegraph, runners and multiple mail deliveries each day.
And so it is here. Additionally, said narrating fool is so careless of his own safety as to be borderline suicidal and an additional victim.
The writing is competent and readable, not a given for more modern texts.
It’s an engaging tale but not everyone’s cup of tea.
January 12, 2020
8/10. Very good.
November 20, 2018
In general, I found this an enjoyable old style novel but the lack of insight by Thorndyke's proteges becomes a little wearing and stretches credibility at times. Dr Batson's failure to notice the change in appearance of his patient also takes some believing.
May 8, 2018
While the mystery was excellent, the first person narrator (a newly accredited doctor who was a former student of Thorndyke's) was irritatingly dense a few more times than I could stand.
February 26, 2024
Freeman generally needs a naive young doctor to narrate the story, and since Jervis is now mature, he has created Dr Jardine to take his place. And in fact the two characters are indistinguishable. However, Jardine is in rather greater danger. But why? That's the mystery.
As usual, the story meanders and doesn't seem to go anywhere, but course this is an illusion.
I have to say that Jardine is extraordinarily reckless. After successive ordeals by air, fire and water, he is still ready to stick his head into the noose.
An intricate case, and one that hinges (not for the first time!) on an extraordinary coincidence.
As usual, the story meanders and doesn't seem to go anywhere, but course this is an illusion.
I have to say that Jardine is extraordinarily reckless. After successive ordeals by air, fire and water, he is still ready to stick his head into the noose.
An intricate case, and one that hinges (not for the first time!) on an extraordinary coincidence.
November 7, 2022
Early Bird Book Deal | The best Thorndyke I've read so far, largely because Thorndyke is kept mostly to the edges | Not a hard nut to crack, the solution is clear pretty much from the moment Jardine goes to assist at the deceased's bedside. But reasonably good to see how they get it worked out. One use of the N-word, some racially offensive bad understanding of Mendelian inheritance, and standard for the time misogyny.
August 25, 2017
Clue from a Dead Man – 4.5 stars
With his usual dextrous use of language, Freeman begins this story with a young, newly-qualified Doctor Jardine discovering the body of a man in a deserted lane very late on a cold, wet night. After ascertaining that the man was dead, Jardine hurries back to notify the police. Coming upon a constable not far away, he tells his story and shortly, accompanied by the constable, a sergeant and an inspector, Jardine leads them to the place, only to discover the body has gone. The police are inclined to the view that Jardine was mistaken and don’t appear to be very interested in pursuing the matter. Jardine goes back and has a good look around the area and finds an unusual little ornament that he picks up and takes back to his lodgings.
Some weeks later at the hospital he runs into Dr Thorndyke who suggests that Jardine act as locum for a Doctor Batson, a General Practioner, who is going on holiday for a week. Jardine is reluctant but agrees, and goes with Batson to certify the death of a patient who died early that morning. The landlady of the dead man, Mrs Samway is an unusual looking young woman of about thirty and doesn’t seem at all pleased by Jardine’s examination of the dead man, who supposedly died from some kind of heart disease. Before his week is out, Jardine is bored and pining for a return to the hospital wards, when he is called out to an industrial accident. It proves to be a hoax and Jardine has a very close encounter with death. Luckily for him, Doctor Batson’s maid, Maggie, had taken him to the site and knew where he was and he is rescued by Maggie and Thorndyke. Of course, Thorndyke wants to know everything and is soon in possession of everything Jardine has seen and done since he found the mysteriously vanishing body, and then, quite naturally, Thorndyke begins to investigate.
What follows is really quite a fun read, verging sometimes on the ridiculous, as there are various attempts on Jardine’s life and he often seems to be impervious to his danger. He is a rather large young man and has the endearing quality of believing that women should be looked after and protected, and the rather less endearing quality of being singularly casual about his own safety, even to the point of seeming dim-witted on occasion. There are two women in his life, a young, pretty amateur artist, Miss Sylvia Vyne, and the strangely beautiful Mrs Samway. There are three murders and Thorndyke’s exposition at the end is an incredible one, showing how he built up his case using seemingly totally unrelated incidents and pieces of information, as well as finding odd objects in unusual places, and his practice of writing everything down so that as more becomes known, the pieces slot in to make a whole. There is some beautifully descriptive prose in this story, a good plot, some memorable characters, all combining to make a great mystery. There are quite a few coincidences, but not to the extent of ruining a jolly good mystery. This is the fourth Thorndyke book as I am reading them randomly and not in sequence. Recommend to those who like great mysteries from the golden age of crime writers, and this is a very good one.
With his usual dextrous use of language, Freeman begins this story with a young, newly-qualified Doctor Jardine discovering the body of a man in a deserted lane very late on a cold, wet night. After ascertaining that the man was dead, Jardine hurries back to notify the police. Coming upon a constable not far away, he tells his story and shortly, accompanied by the constable, a sergeant and an inspector, Jardine leads them to the place, only to discover the body has gone. The police are inclined to the view that Jardine was mistaken and don’t appear to be very interested in pursuing the matter. Jardine goes back and has a good look around the area and finds an unusual little ornament that he picks up and takes back to his lodgings.
Some weeks later at the hospital he runs into Dr Thorndyke who suggests that Jardine act as locum for a Doctor Batson, a General Practioner, who is going on holiday for a week. Jardine is reluctant but agrees, and goes with Batson to certify the death of a patient who died early that morning. The landlady of the dead man, Mrs Samway is an unusual looking young woman of about thirty and doesn’t seem at all pleased by Jardine’s examination of the dead man, who supposedly died from some kind of heart disease. Before his week is out, Jardine is bored and pining for a return to the hospital wards, when he is called out to an industrial accident. It proves to be a hoax and Jardine has a very close encounter with death. Luckily for him, Doctor Batson’s maid, Maggie, had taken him to the site and knew where he was and he is rescued by Maggie and Thorndyke. Of course, Thorndyke wants to know everything and is soon in possession of everything Jardine has seen and done since he found the mysteriously vanishing body, and then, quite naturally, Thorndyke begins to investigate.
What follows is really quite a fun read, verging sometimes on the ridiculous, as there are various attempts on Jardine’s life and he often seems to be impervious to his danger. He is a rather large young man and has the endearing quality of believing that women should be looked after and protected, and the rather less endearing quality of being singularly casual about his own safety, even to the point of seeming dim-witted on occasion. There are two women in his life, a young, pretty amateur artist, Miss Sylvia Vyne, and the strangely beautiful Mrs Samway. There are three murders and Thorndyke’s exposition at the end is an incredible one, showing how he built up his case using seemingly totally unrelated incidents and pieces of information, as well as finding odd objects in unusual places, and his practice of writing everything down so that as more becomes known, the pieces slot in to make a whole. There is some beautifully descriptive prose in this story, a good plot, some memorable characters, all combining to make a great mystery. There are quite a few coincidences, but not to the extent of ruining a jolly good mystery. This is the fourth Thorndyke book as I am reading them randomly and not in sequence. Recommend to those who like great mysteries from the golden age of crime writers, and this is a very good one.
November 30, 2019
I could have done with significantly less racism. In addition to the absolutely blatant racism, did you guys catch what was up with Mrs. Samway? All those comments about her un-English beauty that creeps out all these English characters and makes our English narrator insist she's totally gloriously attractive except he personally totally wouldn't hit that, and how her pale skin and eyes are 'incongruously' mixed with dark wavy hair, how she has large hands and a love of bright colors? She's black. Those were standard hints about secret African ancestry at the time. Double check Thorndyke's speech about heredity at the beginning. It's dumb. Nobody needed another 'tragic mulatto' story (or tragic octoroon or whatever I guess, ugh), especially from this fuckin guy.
Okay I'm not done, I am still baffled by the idea that Mrs. Samway's eyes were a super pale hazel to indicate her heritage (you see, says the author cleverly, her eyes are BROWN, but like, a PALE BROWN, a WEIRDLY PALE color, the kind that is MIXED WITH A LOT OF WHITE HINT HINT god I can't even). Biracial people do not have pastel eyes. Eye color is not inherited in a similar way to skin color, and someone who begins the book with a lecture on Mendelian genetics ought to know that!
Anyway, on a different note, the author only really wants to write one protagonist - a young doctor who works as a locum tenens, is good at medicine but can't deduce his way out of a paper bag, is single and ready to fall in love with The Only Good Woman In The Book (don't think I fucking missed that crack about how hysteria makes women want "social reform and emancipation"), and makes foolish decisions about information security in order to be closer to his love interest, thus prompting a few close calls with assassination attempts. Since he leveled Jervis up, he has been introducing new young protagonists to fall in love and obfuscate the mystery for about a hundred pages more by being too dumb to connect any dots at all.
Okay I'm not done, I am still baffled by the idea that Mrs. Samway's eyes were a super pale hazel to indicate her heritage (you see, says the author cleverly, her eyes are BROWN, but like, a PALE BROWN, a WEIRDLY PALE color, the kind that is MIXED WITH A LOT OF WHITE HINT HINT god I can't even). Biracial people do not have pastel eyes. Eye color is not inherited in a similar way to skin color, and someone who begins the book with a lecture on Mendelian genetics ought to know that!
Anyway, on a different note, the author only really wants to write one protagonist - a young doctor who works as a locum tenens, is good at medicine but can't deduce his way out of a paper bag, is single and ready to fall in love with The Only Good Woman In The Book (don't think I fucking missed that crack about how hysteria makes women want "social reform and emancipation"), and makes foolish decisions about information security in order to be closer to his love interest, thus prompting a few close calls with assassination attempts. Since he leveled Jervis up, he has been introducing new young protagonists to fall in love and obfuscate the mystery for about a hundred pages more by being too dumb to connect any dots at all.
June 7, 2018
The titular "Silent Witness" in R. Austin Freeman's fourth Doctor Thorndyke adventure does not only have an unfortunate name, Humphrey Jardine, ("which people seem disposed to confuse with that of a well-known edible fish"). He's also a generally unfortunate young man who gets caught in the British rain during a routine stroll , and then stumbles upon what appears to be the corpse of a priest. But, after seeking help from the police (a constable, an inspector, and a sergeant are conveniently waiting close by) Jardine finds that the corpse has disappeared, promptly concluding any investigation.
Jardine's troubles are not over. After consulting the brilliant Doctor Thorndyke, "The Great Unraveller," the young man, who is just starting in the medical profession, gets hooked up with a gig at a private practice. There, he learns about the death and subsequent cremation of one Septimus Maddock. AND THEN gets trapped and immured in a lethal gas chamber (he escapes, thrillingly). AND THEN someone pushes him off a bridge into murky waters (he gets fished from the waters by some earthy sailors). AND THEN a runaway horse tries to stomp him to death.
Someone wants Jardine dead, but why, when he doesn't have an enemy in the world, and in fact seems to have two lovely young women in love with him? Doctor Thorndyke solves the mystery... via a convoluted chemistry lesson that proves that even the ashes of the dead can tell stories, when correctly interrogated.
Jardine's troubles are not over. After consulting the brilliant Doctor Thorndyke, "The Great Unraveller," the young man, who is just starting in the medical profession, gets hooked up with a gig at a private practice. There, he learns about the death and subsequent cremation of one Septimus Maddock. AND THEN gets trapped and immured in a lethal gas chamber (he escapes, thrillingly). AND THEN someone pushes him off a bridge into murky waters (he gets fished from the waters by some earthy sailors). AND THEN a runaway horse tries to stomp him to death.
Someone wants Jardine dead, but why, when he doesn't have an enemy in the world, and in fact seems to have two lovely young women in love with him? Doctor Thorndyke solves the mystery... via a convoluted chemistry lesson that proves that even the ashes of the dead can tell stories, when correctly interrogated.
December 21, 2024
A Silent Witness by R. Austin Freeman begins with familiar elements of coincidence. A young doctor named Jardine finds a man's body while walking at night on Hempstead Heath. Two months later we find Jardine starting in as a locum tenens position. On his first evening, before the principal leaves for his week off, Jardine finds himself looking on as the death certificate and cremation order are prepared for a local man who has died.
This being Freeman, there is only one corpse, only one murder -- at least at the beginning - - and the architect of the crime suspects young doctor Jardine of knowing more than he does. Thus does Jardine become a target for assassination.
Jardine has a guardian throughout, however. The man who suggested he take the locum tenens position: his old instructor Dr. Thorndyke.
A Silent Witness offers the reader plenty of blood and adventure before the issues are resolved. The chief pleasure for me of the Thorndyke novels is that they escape the classical mystery setting cliches: closed rooms and the closed number of suspects. Thorndyke's young assistants usually have to make their way by night, over uncertain country, with no idea from time to time and moment to moment whether they are the pursuer or the pursued.
Plot
The novel opens with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a newly qualified physician, discovering a dead body in Millfield Lane. The body disappears, and Jardine's attempts to report the incident are met with skepticism by the police. As the story unfolds, Jardine becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, including attempts on his own life. He becomes entangled in a web of intrigue involving a mysterious reliquary, a case of suspected murder, and the practice of cremation.
The narrative takes several unexpected turns, including Jardine's temporary disappearance and the shocking murder of a key character. The central mystery revolves around the true identity of a cremated man, Septimus Maddock, and the motives of those who sought to harm Jardine. The novel culminates in a dramatic revelation of the true victim's identity and the exposure of the cunning murderer.
A Silent Witness by R. Austin Freeman begins with familiar elements of coincidence. A young doctor named Jardine finds a man's body while walking at night on Hempstead Heath. Two months later we find Jardine starting in as a locum tenens position. On his first evening, before the principal leaves for his week off, Jardine finds himself looking on as the death certificate and cremation order are prepared for a local man who has died.
This being Freeman, there is only one corpse, only one murder -- at least at the beginning - - and the architect of the crime suspects young doctor Jardine of knowing more than he does. Thus does Jardine become a target for assassination.
Jardine has a guardian throughout, however. The man who suggested he take the locum tenens position: his old instructor Dr. Thorndyke.
A Silent Witness offers the reader plenty of blood and adventure before the issues are resolved. The chief pleasure for me of the Thorndyke novels is that they escape the classical mystery setting cliches: closed rooms and the closed number of suspects. Thorndyke's young assistants usually have to make their way by night, over uncertain country, with no idea from time to time and moment to moment whether they are the pursuer or the pursued.
Plot
The novel opens with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a newly qualified physician, discovering a dead body in Millfield Lane. The body disappears, and Jardine's attempts to report the incident are met with skepticism by the police. As the story unfolds, Jardine becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, including attempts on his own life. He becomes entangled in a web of intrigue involving a mysterious reliquary, a case of suspected murder, and the practice of cremation.
The narrative takes several unexpected turns, including Jardine's temporary disappearance and the shocking murder of a key character. The central mystery revolves around the true identity of a cremated man, Septimus Maddock, and the motives of those who sought to harm Jardine. The novel culminates in a dramatic revelation of the true victim's identity and the exposure of the cunning murderer.
This being Freeman, there is only one corpse, only one murder -- at least at the beginning - - and the architect of the crime suspects young doctor Jardine of knowing more than he does. Thus does Jardine become a target for assassination.
Jardine has a guardian throughout, however. The man who suggested he take the locum tenens position: his old instructor Dr. Thorndyke.
A Silent Witness offers the reader plenty of blood and adventure before the issues are resolved. The chief pleasure for me of the Thorndyke novels is that they escape the classical mystery setting cliches: closed rooms and the closed number of suspects. Thorndyke's young assistants usually have to make their way by night, over uncertain country, with no idea from time to time and moment to moment whether they are the pursuer or the pursued.
Plot
The novel opens with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a newly qualified physician, discovering a dead body in Millfield Lane. The body disappears, and Jardine's attempts to report the incident are met with skepticism by the police. As the story unfolds, Jardine becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, including attempts on his own life. He becomes entangled in a web of intrigue involving a mysterious reliquary, a case of suspected murder, and the practice of cremation.
The narrative takes several unexpected turns, including Jardine's temporary disappearance and the shocking murder of a key character. The central mystery revolves around the true identity of a cremated man, Septimus Maddock, and the motives of those who sought to harm Jardine. The novel culminates in a dramatic revelation of the true victim's identity and the exposure of the cunning murderer.
A Silent Witness by R. Austin Freeman begins with familiar elements of coincidence. A young doctor named Jardine finds a man's body while walking at night on Hempstead Heath. Two months later we find Jardine starting in as a locum tenens position. On his first evening, before the principal leaves for his week off, Jardine finds himself looking on as the death certificate and cremation order are prepared for a local man who has died.
This being Freeman, there is only one corpse, only one murder -- at least at the beginning - - and the architect of the crime suspects young doctor Jardine of knowing more than he does. Thus does Jardine become a target for assassination.
Jardine has a guardian throughout, however. The man who suggested he take the locum tenens position: his old instructor Dr. Thorndyke.
A Silent Witness offers the reader plenty of blood and adventure before the issues are resolved. The chief pleasure for me of the Thorndyke novels is that they escape the classical mystery setting cliches: closed rooms and the closed number of suspects. Thorndyke's young assistants usually have to make their way by night, over uncertain country, with no idea from time to time and moment to moment whether they are the pursuer or the pursued.
Plot
The novel opens with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a newly qualified physician, discovering a dead body in Millfield Lane. The body disappears, and Jardine's attempts to report the incident are met with skepticism by the police. As the story unfolds, Jardine becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, including attempts on his own life. He becomes entangled in a web of intrigue involving a mysterious reliquary, a case of suspected murder, and the practice of cremation.
The narrative takes several unexpected turns, including Jardine's temporary disappearance and the shocking murder of a key character. The central mystery revolves around the true identity of a cremated man, Septimus Maddock, and the motives of those who sought to harm Jardine. The novel culminates in a dramatic revelation of the true victim's identity and the exposure of the cunning murderer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
A Silent Witness (Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #6) by R. Austin Freeman
First published in 1914
Summary -
In this detective novel, the young doctor Humphrey Jardine stumbles upon a corpse during a walk near Hampstead Heath in the middle of the night. However, when he returns to the spot with a police officer, the corpse has disappeared. And this is just the start of a series of strange and sometimes life-threatening events. Had it really been a dead man he had seen? And if so, who was it? And what is the role of the mysterious Mrs. Samway, who keeps popping up wherever he goes? He will need the help of Dr. John Thorndyke to solve this mystery.
My thoughts -
Not as good as the first one that I read (Dr Thorndyke Intervenes). In fact, I found too many coincidences to make the story believable. There was just too much going on in too many directions to satisfy my reader curiosity. Furthermore, in the middle of the book things both bogged down and became somewhat muddled. There was one aspect that I liked, however. Toward the beginning after Jardine is positive that he discovered a dead body, but it has disappeared when the police are summoned, he discusses it with Dr. Thorndyke. After hearing the story, Thorndyke shows interest in investigating the matter and explains to Jardine that the police are best suited to pursue alleged crimes where there are witnesses or strong physical evidence. Lacking each of these factors, Thorndyke explains that his investigation will incorporate methods and avenues of investigation that the police have not yet adopted. I thought this explanation was quite viable, especially knowing that Thorndyke is taking forensic examination to a whole new level (something I discovered in the book I read earlier).
Personal Note -
Earlier this month I read Dr Thorndyke Intervenes (Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #22) which I rated 5 stars. Thinking that I would move along to another outstanding mystery I discovered that my wife had "A Silent Witness" as an eBook as well as an Audible edition. I had never tried 'immersive reading' before although I became curious about it after seeing several GR readers expound on the enjoyment that it can deliver. Before giving it a go with this title I tried plain reading, plain listening, and immersive reading of the same chapter in a comparative experiment. I was not too fond of the reader in the Audible edition but found that the combination of listening to and reading the book at the same time actually provided more comprehension. Perhaps with two senses engaged I was less subject to distraction.
First published in 1914
Summary -
In this detective novel, the young doctor Humphrey Jardine stumbles upon a corpse during a walk near Hampstead Heath in the middle of the night. However, when he returns to the spot with a police officer, the corpse has disappeared. And this is just the start of a series of strange and sometimes life-threatening events. Had it really been a dead man he had seen? And if so, who was it? And what is the role of the mysterious Mrs. Samway, who keeps popping up wherever he goes? He will need the help of Dr. John Thorndyke to solve this mystery.
My thoughts -
Not as good as the first one that I read (Dr Thorndyke Intervenes). In fact, I found too many coincidences to make the story believable. There was just too much going on in too many directions to satisfy my reader curiosity. Furthermore, in the middle of the book things both bogged down and became somewhat muddled. There was one aspect that I liked, however. Toward the beginning after Jardine is positive that he discovered a dead body, but it has disappeared when the police are summoned, he discusses it with Dr. Thorndyke. After hearing the story, Thorndyke shows interest in investigating the matter and explains to Jardine that the police are best suited to pursue alleged crimes where there are witnesses or strong physical evidence. Lacking each of these factors, Thorndyke explains that his investigation will incorporate methods and avenues of investigation that the police have not yet adopted. I thought this explanation was quite viable, especially knowing that Thorndyke is taking forensic examination to a whole new level (something I discovered in the book I read earlier).
Personal Note -
Earlier this month I read Dr Thorndyke Intervenes (Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #22) which I rated 5 stars. Thinking that I would move along to another outstanding mystery I discovered that my wife had "A Silent Witness" as an eBook as well as an Audible edition. I had never tried 'immersive reading' before although I became curious about it after seeing several GR readers expound on the enjoyment that it can deliver. Before giving it a go with this title I tried plain reading, plain listening, and immersive reading of the same chapter in a comparative experiment. I was not too fond of the reader in the Audible edition but found that the combination of listening to and reading the book at the same time actually provided more comprehension. Perhaps with two senses engaged I was less subject to distraction.
September 8, 2025
Not a strong entry in the Thorndyke series for me, and I'm thinking I might stop seeking these out. Freeman is recycling a lot of his material, and relying on multiple unlikely coincidences to hold his plots together, and what's more, I figured out most of the mystery well before Thorndyke started into his usual detailed recap.
The setup is one we've seen multiple times before in the series. Young, newly-qualified doctor, who has been taught by Thorndyke, is (without much enjoyment or enthusiasm) doing an easy locum job, stumbles across a couple of odd happenings that are, by complete coincidence, connected, and also meets a nice young woman who becomes the love interest (but doesn't ever get much of a personality or play any real role in the plot to speak of). Freeman even reuses another plot device from an earlier book:
This young man, the narrator, bumps into several people who are important to the plot in a place where he is only present by complete accident. He's too stupid to live, and keeps failing to take elementary precautions, even though he's only escaped being murdered by the villain by several strokes of luck.
There's a second woman whom the narrator initially says he personally is not attracted to, even though she's strikingly beautiful, and he drops hints about her foreign/racially mixed appearance - one of my fellow reviewers thinks she's of African descent, but in any case, at this time for most authors, definitely including Freeman, "foreign" equals "villain," and her imperfect Englishness is a big signal that she's up to no good. He ends up flirting with her quite extensively for a (married, by the way) woman who he says he's not attracted to, especially given that he's falling for the other (thoroughly English) woman, and this doesn't improve my opinion of him, which is low anyway. Sylvia could do better than this lazy, dense, reckless, by-the-standards-of-the-time philandering guy. (Or perhaps, sadly, she couldn't; maybe this was the norm back then.)
The villain's plot is moderately clever, but overly elaborate, and is detected because of his inept attempts to cover up what doesn't actually need covering up in the first place. The narrator and Thorndyke's assistant profess complete bafflement, long after it was obvious to me how various identities fitted together and what the crime had been.
On balance, not a recommendation, and something of a disappointment.
The setup is one we've seen multiple times before in the series. Young, newly-qualified doctor, who has been taught by Thorndyke, is (without much enjoyment or enthusiasm) doing an easy locum job, stumbles across a couple of odd happenings that are, by complete coincidence, connected, and also meets a nice young woman who becomes the love interest (but doesn't ever get much of a personality or play any real role in the plot to speak of). Freeman even reuses another plot device from an earlier book:
This young man, the narrator, bumps into several people who are important to the plot in a place where he is only present by complete accident. He's too stupid to live, and keeps failing to take elementary precautions, even though he's only escaped being murdered by the villain by several strokes of luck.
There's a second woman whom the narrator initially says he personally is not attracted to, even though she's strikingly beautiful, and he drops hints about her foreign/racially mixed appearance - one of my fellow reviewers thinks she's of African descent, but in any case, at this time for most authors, definitely including Freeman, "foreign" equals "villain," and her imperfect Englishness is a big signal that she's up to no good. He ends up flirting with her quite extensively for a (married, by the way) woman who he says he's not attracted to, especially given that he's falling for the other (thoroughly English) woman, and this doesn't improve my opinion of him, which is low anyway. Sylvia could do better than this lazy, dense, reckless, by-the-standards-of-the-time philandering guy. (Or perhaps, sadly, she couldn't; maybe this was the norm back then.)
The villain's plot is moderately clever, but overly elaborate, and is detected because of his inept attempts to cover up what doesn't actually need covering up in the first place. The narrator and Thorndyke's assistant profess complete bafflement, long after it was obvious to me how various identities fitted together and what the crime had been.
On balance, not a recommendation, and something of a disappointment.
December 21, 2024
A Silent Witness by R. Austin Freeman begins with familiar elements of coincidence. A young doctor named Jardine finds a man's body while walking at night on Hempstead Heath. Two months later we find Jardine starting in as a locum tenens position. On his first evening, before the principal leaves for his week off, Jardine finds himself looking on as the death certificate and cremation order are prepared for a local man who has died.
This being Freeman, there is only one corpse, only one murder -- at least at the beginning - - and the architect of the crime suspects young doctor Jardine of knowing more than he does. Thus does Jardine become a target for assassination.
Jardine has a guardian throughout, however. The man who suggested he take the locum tenens position: his old instructor Dr. Thorndyke.
A Silent Witness offers the reader plenty of blood and adventure before the issues are resolved. The chief pleasure for me of the Thorndyke novels is that they escape the classical mystery setting cliches: closed rooms and the closed number of suspects. Thorndyke's young assistants usually have to make their way by night, over uncertain country, with no idea from time to time and moment to moment whether they are the pursuer or the pursued.
Plot
The novel opens with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a newly qualified physician, discovering a dead body in Millfield Lane. The body disappears, and Jardine's attempts to report the incident are met with skepticism by the police. As the story unfolds, Jardine becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, including attempts on his own life. He becomes entangled in a web of intrigue involving a mysterious reliquary, a case of suspected murder, and the practice of cremation.
The narrative takes several unexpected turns, including Jardine's temporary disappearance and the shocking murder of a key character. The central mystery revolves around the true identity of a cremated man, Septimus Maddock, and the motives of those who sought to harm Jardine. The novel culminates in a dramatic revelation of the true victim's identity and the exposure of the cunning murderer.
This being Freeman, there is only one corpse, only one murder -- at least at the beginning - - and the architect of the crime suspects young doctor Jardine of knowing more than he does. Thus does Jardine become a target for assassination.
Jardine has a guardian throughout, however. The man who suggested he take the locum tenens position: his old instructor Dr. Thorndyke.
A Silent Witness offers the reader plenty of blood and adventure before the issues are resolved. The chief pleasure for me of the Thorndyke novels is that they escape the classical mystery setting cliches: closed rooms and the closed number of suspects. Thorndyke's young assistants usually have to make their way by night, over uncertain country, with no idea from time to time and moment to moment whether they are the pursuer or the pursued.
Plot
The novel opens with Dr. Humphrey Jardine, a newly qualified physician, discovering a dead body in Millfield Lane. The body disappears, and Jardine's attempts to report the incident are met with skepticism by the police. As the story unfolds, Jardine becomes embroiled in a series of mysterious events, including attempts on his own life. He becomes entangled in a web of intrigue involving a mysterious reliquary, a case of suspected murder, and the practice of cremation.
The narrative takes several unexpected turns, including Jardine's temporary disappearance and the shocking murder of a key character. The central mystery revolves around the true identity of a cremated man, Septimus Maddock, and the motives of those who sought to harm Jardine. The novel culminates in a dramatic revelation of the true victim's identity and the exposure of the cunning murderer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 21, 2020
Dr Jardine is going to work as a Locum Tenens for an old medical friend who is going on vacation. He is asked by him to accompany him to a client visit. The client has been very ill and isn't expected to survive. When they arrive the client is breathing his last and the doctor fills out the death certificate without checking the patient.
Late one night, Dr Jardine a colleague of Jervis is taking a short cut while going home. The lane is through a little use part of local park. He sees the feet of a person on the side of the road next to a fence. He checks the body and finds that the man is deceased. He goes to find a policeman, and when they return, the body is gone. It's as if it never happened.
Within a short period of time there are three attempts on Dr Jardine's life. On the third attempt he is thrown into the river, and would have drowned if he hadn't been picked up by a fishing boat that happened to be passing by. When he finally returned home, after quite the adventure, he immediately went to see Thorndyke.
Being just the situation that intrigues him, Thorndyke proceeds to follow some of the most convoluted goings on between Jardine and some new strangers he has met. But the solutions to the situation and the way Thorndyke gets there is a great tribute to the imagination of Freeman.
Late one night, Dr Jardine a colleague of Jervis is taking a short cut while going home. The lane is through a little use part of local park. He sees the feet of a person on the side of the road next to a fence. He checks the body and finds that the man is deceased. He goes to find a policeman, and when they return, the body is gone. It's as if it never happened.
Within a short period of time there are three attempts on Dr Jardine's life. On the third attempt he is thrown into the river, and would have drowned if he hadn't been picked up by a fishing boat that happened to be passing by. When he finally returned home, after quite the adventure, he immediately went to see Thorndyke.
Being just the situation that intrigues him, Thorndyke proceeds to follow some of the most convoluted goings on between Jardine and some new strangers he has met. But the solutions to the situation and the way Thorndyke gets there is a great tribute to the imagination of Freeman.
July 16, 2023
Although this 1914 novel is not the best of the Dr Thorndyke series, it does have some interesting features which were to become “ standard fare” in Golden Age detection and thriller novels. Most noticeable are an opening chapter in which the hero stumbles across a corpse which disappears while he fetches the disbelieving police, and the idea that the criminals try to kill him as they believe that he knows something which will incriminate them- but in reality he has no such knowledge .
The hero,Dr Humphrey Jardine, is one of those blunderingly likeable, woolly-headed yet not unintelligent males who went on to inhabit many a British detective tale of the 1920s and 1930s. He has his many adventures but clearly needs to be taken in hand by the currently poor but soon to be wealthy Sylvia who provides some of the “love interest”.
Many of the characters are well-realised, although the rendering of the speech pattern of one non-native English speaker is grating, and there are some fine descriptive passages. The book is,however,too long and has way too many coincidences. This means that the reader has plenty of time to work out the solution ahead of the revelations of the closing chapters .
Recommendable.
3.5 stars.
The hero,Dr Humphrey Jardine, is one of those blunderingly likeable, woolly-headed yet not unintelligent males who went on to inhabit many a British detective tale of the 1920s and 1930s. He has his many adventures but clearly needs to be taken in hand by the currently poor but soon to be wealthy Sylvia who provides some of the “love interest”.
Many of the characters are well-realised, although the rendering of the speech pattern of one non-native English speaker is grating, and there are some fine descriptive passages. The book is,however,too long and has way too many coincidences. This means that the reader has plenty of time to work out the solution ahead of the revelations of the closing chapters .
Recommendable.
3.5 stars.
January 26, 2024
Questa storia è davvero un colpo di fortuna! Se non mi fosse stata regalata, probabilmente non avrei scoperto questo autore. La storia cattura immediatamente sin dalle prime pagine, con il ritrovamento del cadavere. La scrittura concisa fa sentire parte dell'azione, specialmente durante le parti sulle indagini.
Lo stile di scrittura scorrevole trascina, rendendo difficile staccarsi dalla storia. La trama è ben strutturata, considerando che il romanzo ha solo 128 pagine, tenendo alta l'attenzione del lettore.
Ammetto che verso la fine le indagini si complicano un po', ma questo aggiunge solo al fascino dell'enigma.
Lo stile di scrittura scorrevole trascina, rendendo difficile staccarsi dalla storia. La trama è ben strutturata, considerando che il romanzo ha solo 128 pagine, tenendo alta l'attenzione del lettore.
Ammetto che verso la fine le indagini si complicano un po', ma questo aggiunge solo al fascino dell'enigma.
March 1, 2022
Very Entertaining
My first Freeman mystery, complex and tightly woven. The writing is quite remarkable for its descriptions of characters. Dr. Thorndyke is a marvelous detective though in this case I felt there were a few lose ends that could have made the eventual outcome somewhat clearer. There were a few racial comments that would not be allowed today, though common at the time.
My first Freeman mystery, complex and tightly woven. The writing is quite remarkable for its descriptions of characters. Dr. Thorndyke is a marvelous detective though in this case I felt there were a few lose ends that could have made the eventual outcome somewhat clearer. There were a few racial comments that would not be allowed today, though common at the time.
June 25, 2018
These are good little books - I like to read one once in a while as I have the omnibus edition of 27 stories in one book on my Kindle which is great. So far they are all quite different which is nice and although they can sometimes be a bit long-winded, especially in the denoument at the end, it is a good story and I like the characters.
February 5, 2021
So many things wrong with this book...too many characters, too much unnecessary detail, story line drags on and on...to name just a few. I finally quit and skipped to the end, still not knowing whodunnit! What a waste of time.
August 18, 2017
A classic Dr Thorndyke mystery, with yet another new narrator to keep the romance alive.
December 13, 2018
This series gets better and better. Now the characters are familiar you feel for them when they are in danger. A good plot and interesting characters make the story fly by.
April 7, 2019
Complex story! Anna Simon read the book for Librivox version.
May 23, 2020
Quite clever
This is a slow but satisfying read. The language is flowery, the sentiment a bit sticky but the plot is intricate and surprising.
This is a slow but satisfying read. The language is flowery, the sentiment a bit sticky but the plot is intricate and surprising.
October 12, 2020
It was too drawn out as an audiobook. It would be better read than listened to. IMHO
December 6, 2020
Dr Humphrey Jardine, on one of his evening walks, discovers a body. But when he returns with the police it has disappeared. Now there are several attempts on his life. Soon Dr Thorndyke investigates the case, but what links will he find.
An enjoyable historical mystery
Originally written in 1914
An enjoyable historical mystery
Originally written in 1914
January 20, 2021
This a detective story in the old style. I love it!
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