The War Terror

Craig Kennedy, Scientific Detective #4

by Arthur B. Reeve

A new invention, Craig explained. "All you need to do is to move it so that little dark spot falls directly on an object. Pull the trigger-- the bullet strikes the dark spot. Even a nervous and unskilled marksman becomes a good shot in the dark. He can even shoot from behind the protection of something--and hit accurately."

Genres: Mystery, Classics

ebook

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Arthur Benjamin Reeve (October 15, 1880 - August 9, 1936) was an American mystery writer. He is best known for creating the series character Professor Craig Kennedy, sometimes called "The American Sherlock Holmes", and Kennedy's Dr. Watson-like sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter, in 18 detective novels. The bulk of Reeve's fame is based on the 82 Craig Kennedy stories, published in Cosmopolitan magazine between 1910 and 1918. These were collected in book form; with the third collection, the short stories were stitched together into pseudo-novels. The 12-volume Craig Kennedy Stories were released in 1918; it reissued Reeve's books-to-date as a matched set.

Reviews

[Carol Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reeves' books, featuring Craig Kennedy, are collections of short mystery stories in which the detective uses the scientific methodology of the early 20th century to solve crimes. To me, it's fascinating to get this glimpse of what the future (1920 - 2020) held in the mind of a person who lived 100 years ago. Some of the technological devices he envisioned have never been invented, while others have come and gone. In comparison, our understanding of scientific "fact" is incredibly advanced. There is a sense of nostalgia for the simplistic days of very early technology. It's like reading a futuristic novel in reverse -- not unlike steampunk, but definitely different.

I can't help wondering what reading our "scientific" fiction (not sci-fi) will feel like to the reader of 2121.

[Tony Ciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fun with Science and gadgets...love it

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of little mysteries, several chaptrs each. Enjoyable.
Originally published in 1915