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The Five Matchboxes
Some secrets can only stay buried for so long… After the police receive an advanced warning of his impending murder, stockbroker Granville Collins is found shot dead in his office. The windows were closed; the door was locked. There is not a window broken or a single sign of forced entry. The building was under police observation at the no one except Collins entered, and no one left. On Collins’ desk, someone has left five empty matchboxes, each with a small hole forged in one side. The sheer impossibility of the crime spooks even hardened Detective Inspector Garth, who becomes increasingly determined to get to the bottom of the mystery. But as the list of suspects with potential motives grows ever longer, the interwoven webs of lies and intrigue make matters even more complicated. Could this murder be linked to an unsolved crime that dates back over fifteen years – the notorious ‘Clothes Cupboard’ mystery? With blackmail, murder, omissions and lies, the well-buried secrets of the past begin to surface once more... Can Inspector Garth get to the bottom of this murder? Or will the truth evade him? “I have yet to read a book employing the same murder method. It is unusual and imaginative ideas like this that make [Fearn’s] books worth tracking down and reading.” – Pretty Sinister “… A pioneer of science fiction […] he was one of the Greats of the earlier ages, and his name should be there with Hugo Gernsback, John W. Campbell, Stanley G. Weinbaum, Murray Leinster, and all the others whose thoughts and works formulated today’s modern science fiction.” — John Carnell, New Worlds John Russell Fearn was an extremely prolific and popular British writer, who began in the American pulps, then almost single-handedly drove the post-World War II boom in British publishing with a flood of science fiction, detective stories, westerns, and adventure fiction. He was so popular that one of his pseudonyms became the editor of Vargo Statten’s Science Fiction Magazine in the 1950’s. His work is noted for its vigor and wild imagination. He has always had a substantial cult following and has been popular in translation around the world. He passed away in 1960 at the age of 52.
- GenresMystery
212 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2008
22 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
John Russell Fearn
374 books8 followersA prolific author in various genres under his own name, John Francis Russell Fearn also used these pseudonyms: Astron del Martia, Brian Shaw, Conrad G. Holt, Dennis Clive, Frank Jones, Geoffrey Armstrong, Griff, Hugo Blayn, John Russell, K. Thomas Mark Denholm, Paul Lorraine, Polton Cross, Spike Gordon, Thornton Ayre, Vargo Statten, Volsted Gridban, Dom Passante, John Cotton, Ephriam Winiki, Lawrence F. Rose, Earl Titan, Ephraim Winiki.
John Russell Fearn was an extremely prolific and popular British writer, who began in the American pulps, then almost single-handedly drove the post-World War II boom in British publishing with a flood of science fiction, detective stories, westerns, and adventure fiction. He was so popular that one of his pseudonyms became the editor of Vargo Staten’s Science Fiction Magazine in the 1950’s! His work is noted for its vigor and wild imagination. He has always had a substantial cult following and has been popular in translation around the world.
John Russell Fearn was an extremely prolific and popular British writer, who began in the American pulps, then almost single-handedly drove the post-World War II boom in British publishing with a flood of science fiction, detective stories, westerns, and adventure fiction. He was so popular that one of his pseudonyms became the editor of Vargo Staten’s Science Fiction Magazine in the 1950’s! His work is noted for its vigor and wild imagination. He has always had a substantial cult following and has been popular in translation around the world.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 9, 2017
I wish I could have liked this book more.......but the riddle of the five matchboxes was solved quite early on in the book. And it was a bit of an anti-climax if I am to be honest. I must point out, that the crime is not solved at this point, just the mystery of the matchboxes.
I liked the book, but I didn't love it.
I liked the era it was set in, when people had to rely on detecting abilities rather than forensic evidence. There were no computers, no mobile phones, no criminal data bases........detectives had to rely on their hunches and deductive processes. No doubt there was, at times, great miscarriages of justice!
The Five Matchboxes was interesting, but not absorbing.
Thank you to Goodreads and Endeavour Press for a digital ARC of The Five Matchboxes by John Russell. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
I liked the book, but I didn't love it.
I liked the era it was set in, when people had to rely on detecting abilities rather than forensic evidence. There were no computers, no mobile phones, no criminal data bases........detectives had to rely on their hunches and deductive processes. No doubt there was, at times, great miscarriages of justice!
The Five Matchboxes was interesting, but not absorbing.
Thank you to Goodreads and Endeavour Press for a digital ARC of The Five Matchboxes by John Russell. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
June 17, 2016
This book was first published in 1948. It’s a dated version of the locked door mystery, something I always enjoyed as the author managed to keep the secret until the very end.
The police have received an anonymous letter stating that Granville Collins, an accountant, is going to be killed in his office between 9 and 9:30 AM.
Detective Inspector Garth and his team make sure they are at his office earlier in the morning. There are men watching the front and men watching the back. The entire building was being watched. No one except Collins went in and no one came out.
The windows were closed and the door was locked from the inside. One of the officers had heard a shot …and when they break down the door, Collins is dead on the floor. Windows are not broken.
There is no gun in sight. There are no signs of forced entry and no way to the roof.
On Collins’ desk are 5 matchboxes … each one of them with a hole in the end.
Thus begins DI Garth’s venture to solve not only HOW the crime was committed, but by WHO.
This was a short, quick and easy read. I had no idea of How or Who even as I followed the author’s clues. Now that I’ve read the entire book, I can go back and follow the clues … the lies …. The mistakes the killer made.
The book is somewhat dated …. Typewriters, not computers …. Bowlers … not baseball caps. Garth, in a small way, reminds me of Columbo…. Down to the cigar /cheroot.
The mystery and intrigue drew me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until the very last page.
Many thanks to Endeavor Press and NetGalley who provided digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
The police have received an anonymous letter stating that Granville Collins, an accountant, is going to be killed in his office between 9 and 9:30 AM.
Detective Inspector Garth and his team make sure they are at his office earlier in the morning. There are men watching the front and men watching the back. The entire building was being watched. No one except Collins went in and no one came out.
The windows were closed and the door was locked from the inside. One of the officers had heard a shot …and when they break down the door, Collins is dead on the floor. Windows are not broken.
There is no gun in sight. There are no signs of forced entry and no way to the roof.
On Collins’ desk are 5 matchboxes … each one of them with a hole in the end.
Thus begins DI Garth’s venture to solve not only HOW the crime was committed, but by WHO.
This was a short, quick and easy read. I had no idea of How or Who even as I followed the author’s clues. Now that I’ve read the entire book, I can go back and follow the clues … the lies …. The mistakes the killer made.
The book is somewhat dated …. Typewriters, not computers …. Bowlers … not baseball caps. Garth, in a small way, reminds me of Columbo…. Down to the cigar /cheroot.
The mystery and intrigue drew me in from the beginning and didn’t let go until the very last page.
Many thanks to Endeavor Press and NetGalley who provided digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
August 7, 2019
Actually five and a half stars. This is a funny book. Not funny as in comical, but funny as in strange. A lot of queer things happen in the story and bit by bit they are explained. It’s only after finishing the book and thinking about the story that you realize that everything was connected. This is actually quite brilliant.
July 5, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for this copy of "The Five Matchboxes".
An inspector of Scotland yard received a warning note saying that a certain Granville Collins, a stockbroker will be killed in his office between 9 and 9:30 in the morning.
In spite of all the police observation, Collins was found dead in his locked office, shot through the heart with nobody else with him, no bullet holes, and all the windows shut, with only five empty matchboxes on his desk.
As inspector Garth went through his investigation, the story turned out to be much more complicated, with most of the suspect without solid alibi and with a lot of motives. and it goes back to a notorious crime that happened 15 years ago. With every new clue, it was only more confusing and the whole crime seemed impossible to solve.
The story and characters were interesting and i liked how it unfolded piece by piece.
An inspector of Scotland yard received a warning note saying that a certain Granville Collins, a stockbroker will be killed in his office between 9 and 9:30 in the morning.
In spite of all the police observation, Collins was found dead in his locked office, shot through the heart with nobody else with him, no bullet holes, and all the windows shut, with only five empty matchboxes on his desk.
As inspector Garth went through his investigation, the story turned out to be much more complicated, with most of the suspect without solid alibi and with a lot of motives. and it goes back to a notorious crime that happened 15 years ago. With every new clue, it was only more confusing and the whole crime seemed impossible to solve.
The story and characters were interesting and i liked how it unfolded piece by piece.
August 6, 2016
Detective Inspector Garth is faced with solving the death of a stockbroker - Granville Collins - inside a locked room. Just as predicted by a note sent to the police. (This book was first published in 1948.)
An interesting tale as Garth solves the case bit by bit.
An interesting tale as Garth solves the case bit by bit.
July 29, 2016
"Impossible" locked room murder
Readers, this is a great book! Inspector Garth of Scotland Yard must solve a most unusual murder. The previous day, police received a typed message stating that Granville Collins would be shot in his office between 9:00 and 9:30 the following morning.
The entire building was watched beginning at 8:00 and Collins was seen to enter the building. Shortly a noise was heard, but no one could enter the office as the door was locked. When entrance was effected, Collins was dead of a gunshot wound and no one else was in the room.
This is an intriguing mystery which I enjoyed very much.
Readers, this is a great book! Inspector Garth of Scotland Yard must solve a most unusual murder. The previous day, police received a typed message stating that Granville Collins would be shot in his office between 9:00 and 9:30 the following morning.
The entire building was watched beginning at 8:00 and Collins was seen to enter the building. Shortly a noise was heard, but no one could enter the office as the door was locked. When entrance was effected, Collins was dead of a gunshot wound and no one else was in the room.
This is an intriguing mystery which I enjoyed very much.
July 7, 2016
This book was good, very much a locked room mystery, with a surprising solution, I did enjoy it very much even though it had me saying "unfair" at the end. The story is well told, it unfolds in an orderly way and characters are very well developed. The book was first published in 1948 and the writing style reflex the era, that is, it is well written, with storyline that concentrates on the solving of the crime. I enjoy this style of book.
This book was provided to me in return for an honest and unbiased review
This book was provided to me in return for an honest and unbiased review
July 25, 2016
This was a great read, a locked-door mystery and police procedural: a real page-turner. It was originally published in 1948 and depicts a Scotland Yard with apparently infinite scientific resources and no need to worry about budgets at all. Despite all information being held on paper, everybody was very efficient and could always come up with the relevant details (suspects' right to privacy is obviously something else that the police did not have to worry about back then).
February 10, 2017
Really good whodunit
Very good book written in the style of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. The case is solved using only the very dated technology of the period and good old fashioned deduction, and 'legwork'. Interesting book.
Very good book written in the style of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. The case is solved using only the very dated technology of the period and good old fashioned deduction, and 'legwork'. Interesting book.
October 12, 2016
What a refreshing read. Spelling, punctuation, word choice...all like it used to be done. I like this type of mystery.
September 12, 2017
E-Reader. Murder Mystery
Granville Collins is found murdered in his office by his secretary, who came in late. The door was locked.
Chief Inspector Mortimer Garth of Scotland Yard was ordered to take this case. Scotland Yard had received a letter stating Mr. Collins would die tomorrow and the approximate time. He had the building under surveillance by undercover officers watching the building. And he and his C.I. Whitaker sat in unmarked vehicle at end of an alley. They only saw Mr. Collins enter the building then to his office.
Mr. Collins is married to Beatrice and has a 12 yr. old son Derek. He went into a rage at Derek to get out of bed or he'd be late for school. But there's more that happened when speaking to his son.
Once the investigation starts the suspect list grows. No firm evidence is found. More puzzle pieces.
There is so much more that takes place. Many characters that you need to read this book.
John Russell Fearn, British author wrote this book many years ago. He's a famous writer of many type of stories.
Enjoy this book! Good luck on trying to figure out what happened.
Granville Collins is found murdered in his office by his secretary, who came in late. The door was locked.
Chief Inspector Mortimer Garth of Scotland Yard was ordered to take this case. Scotland Yard had received a letter stating Mr. Collins would die tomorrow and the approximate time. He had the building under surveillance by undercover officers watching the building. And he and his C.I. Whitaker sat in unmarked vehicle at end of an alley. They only saw Mr. Collins enter the building then to his office.
Mr. Collins is married to Beatrice and has a 12 yr. old son Derek. He went into a rage at Derek to get out of bed or he'd be late for school. But there's more that happened when speaking to his son.
Once the investigation starts the suspect list grows. No firm evidence is found. More puzzle pieces.
There is so much more that takes place. Many characters that you need to read this book.
John Russell Fearn, British author wrote this book many years ago. He's a famous writer of many type of stories.
Enjoy this book! Good luck on trying to figure out what happened.
November 9, 2022
I’ve read a few mysteries by this author now and they’ve stood out in quality over the normal fare from that era and certainly over the sort of thing Lume/Endeavor tends to publish. But then, this book firmly brought the quality back down. Not all the way down, but certainly back to average.
It starts off so compellingly, so interestingly, with a trick murder (Fearn seems to have loved those), a seemingly impossible murder. A locked office mystery.
The investigation proceeds as expected but then about midway through, it starts getting too convoluted for its own good. And the datedness of the book is more obvious here than in Fearn’s other works, especially when technology or women are discussed.
It still works, more or less; conceptually, it is still a fun puzzle to solve, but it’s just ok. A reasonably quick read and decent either way for a freebie.
It starts off so compellingly, so interestingly, with a trick murder (Fearn seems to have loved those), a seemingly impossible murder. A locked office mystery.
The investigation proceeds as expected but then about midway through, it starts getting too convoluted for its own good. And the datedness of the book is more obvious here than in Fearn’s other works, especially when technology or women are discussed.
It still works, more or less; conceptually, it is still a fun puzzle to solve, but it’s just ok. A reasonably quick read and decent either way for a freebie.
October 30, 2022
Fearn published in various genres and used lots of pseudonyms. This was one of four featuring Inspector Garth and Sergeant Whittaker, written as Hugo Blayn.
As is often the case with this and other second rank mystery writers, there are some good ideas which do not really live up to their promise and potentially interesting characters who are not used effectively. Here there is an impossible murder with a mundane, if unlikely, solution, along with a far-fetched blackmail plot based on an earlier crime.
The big pluses for me are the detail of the forensics and the meticulous way in which the police case is put together.
Easy reading, with insights into British police procedure in the 1940s.
3.25 stars.
As is often the case with this and other second rank mystery writers, there are some good ideas which do not really live up to their promise and potentially interesting characters who are not used effectively. Here there is an impossible murder with a mundane, if unlikely, solution, along with a far-fetched blackmail plot based on an earlier crime.
The big pluses for me are the detail of the forensics and the meticulous way in which the police case is put together.
Easy reading, with insights into British police procedure in the 1940s.
3.25 stars.
October 20, 2022
Very, very good
From such an innocuous title comes a really good locked room mystery. I thoroughly recommend this book for any crime lover.
From such an innocuous title comes a really good locked room mystery. I thoroughly recommend this book for any crime lover.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews