The copper box

by J.S. Fletcher

In "The Copper Box," J. S. Fletcher weaves an intricate narrative that interlaces elements of mystery and early 20th-century societal norms. Set against the backdrop of an English town, the novel explores themes of betrayal, trust, and the repercussions of greed through the lens of a missing copper box containing priceless secrets. Fletcher employs a meticulous prose style, rich in detail and character development, reflecting the literary conventions of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. His keen observations illuminate the social dynamics of the period, grounding the plot in both relatable human experiences and intellectual intrigue. J. S. Fletcher, a prolific writer and journalist, crafted numerous works that delved into crime fiction, exploiting his background in investigative journalism to enrich his narratives with authenticity and depth. His extensive career likely informed the psychological insights and moral dilemmas faced by his characters, as he deftly incorporates his understanding of human behavior and societal structures into the plot. Fletcher's writings reveal a fascination with the nature of truth and deception, making his exploration of these themes all the more compelling. For readers captivated by the psychological underpinnings of crime fiction and those who appreciate a well-structured plot, "The Copper Box" stands as a must-read. Fletcher's skillful storytelling and command of suspense not only entertain but also invite readers to ponder profound questions of morality and ethics in a rapidly changing world. This novel is an essential addition to the cannon of classic British crime literature, sure to engage both fans of the genre and new readers alike.

Genres: Mystery

134 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1923

About the author

Joseph Smith Fletcher was an English journalist, writer, and fellow of the Royal Historical Society. He studied law before turning to journalism.

His literary career spanned approximately 200 books on a wide variety of subjects including fiction, non-fiction, histories, historical fiction, and mysteries. He was known as one of the leading writers of detective fiction in the Golden Age .

Reviews

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really three and a half stars. Very suspenseful 1923 mystery about an antique copper box that everyone seems to want.

[Mbuye · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘The Copper Box’ by JS Fletcher was published in 1923, which explains its unevenness as a mystery novel. Although in his life he was to write more than 200 books, including poetry, it is as a fine novelist of the early crime and detection mysteries that his fame rests.

‘The Copper Box' is full of mystery, but it is not clear until almost the last page what the mystery was about. From the start to the finish, the book is full of inquisitive strangers who come to the ancient house of a very puzzling gentleman, who is reclusive, but hospitable enough to unexpected callers.

Why they come, and what the backstory is, are the little details you either work out for yourself or wait until the last page to get to the dots before you can start connecting them. Two things made me happy: there are no murders and there is a happy ending – for everybody.

[Les Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

See Cheryl’s rating 10 months ago. Total agreement with her.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unusual mystery story from 1923; there's no murder, and, indeed, no crime at all, and the viewpoint character doesn't solve the mystery that there is, and yet I found it a satisfying journey. There's a romance thread that doesn't get enough development to rise to the level of a subplot, even though it's important to the conclusion, but it's no less developed than plenty of romances in books of this period, and at least the couple spend enough time together to make it somewhat plausible that they know each other well enough for a successful relationship.

There are a few chance meetings between the viewpoint character and several other characters that serve to facilitate the progress of the plot, but it's reasonably credible that they would happen to be in the same place at the same time, so I haven't given it the "plot relies on coincidence" tag; and while the hero doesn't solve the mystery, he does protagonize, so I'm not going to tag it as a "main character lacks agency" story either.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un giallo dagli ingredienti classici: una vasta tenuta posseduta da una ricca famiglia inglese, un'eredità cospicua che passa tra generazioni, improvvisi omicidi e sparizioni, impostori, vari poliziotti, un detective e un novello avvocato che indagano. Non avevo mai letto nulla né sentito parlare di quest'autore prima di questa lettura, che è stata scorrevole e piacevole ma mi ha un po' deluso nel finale. Ho trovato un le ultime pagine un po' troppo sbrigative, e non mi hanno convinto granché. Peccato.

[Rosalind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vintage 1920s romantic mystery that is both charming and involving.

“The Copper Box,” originally published in 1923, is the first mystery I have read by author J.S. Fletcher. I looked him up after I enjoyed this mystery and was fascinated to discover he was a prolific English author who wrote over 200 books from the late 1880s through the 1930s. This novel begins with a forlorn, young artist lost in the countryside. Luckily, he comes upon an old manor house and is given shelter by its eccentric owner Parnlewe and his beautiful young ward. Parnlewe is wealthy from the business he ran in India. After his business partner died, he became the guardian of his partner’s daughter and returned to England with her. He is a collector of curiosities. One item that catches the artist’s eye is a small copper box that must be several hundred years old with coat of arms and unusual moto worked into the metal. The moto basically means “I do what I want.” This box is the beginning of a mystery that the artist becomes increasingly involved with as he becomes increasingly involved with this family. I also quickly became involved in this mystery and the romance. I enjoyed the humor and the adventure. No dark, downer crime business here. It’s all light and fun. I love that I discovered this author.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

When landscape artist Alvery Crayne becomes snowbound, he's rescued by a beautiful woman, Madasia Durham, who welcomes him into the small keep where she lives with her guardian. There's a copper box with a coat of arms and a motto on it in the dining room and he's curious about where it came from and what the motto means. Apparently, so are several others, because people keep finding excuses to enter the house.

Like one of the other reviewers said, the viewpoint character doesn't solve the mystery, but it's a good read despite that. Some of the mystery wouldn't exist if one of the characters would just tell the others what's going on. Normally, I don't like it when an author does that, but it works in this case because that's what the character would do.

The language on the first couple of pages seemed rather formal and old-fashioned (well, it is an old book), but after that I never noticed it because I was engrossed with the plot.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is unusual, and interested me, because it is a "mystery" with neither a crime nor a detective for its focus. A young artist encounters an eccentric antiquarian ( to use the term of the time) and his beautiful ward (cue inevitable romance; all Fletcher's narrators fall for the first pretty girl they see).
However (spoiler) WHY did the dead man give away his will without any clue to its new possessor??

[Levent Mollamustafaoglu · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a light mystery where a single fact is searched for from the beginning to the end, with a dull style and a lot of speculation and repetition. Unfortunately it is nowhere near the good examples of the genre. I read it in a single sitting, with some boredom characterising my experience.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novelette

Mystery, adventure, travel, interesting characters. Intriguing settings. Kept guessing who really was the villain. Honor & love win the day.

[Sophiebird · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn’t a deep and heady read, with a convoluted plot, but I enjoyed the banter between the individuals. Each era has its preferred turns of phrase, but human nature doesn’t change.

[Kareenah E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short story about the mystery of a small copper box and how it was acquired.

[Bill Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a read for a silly finish.

[Edny Hobbs · Rating 2 out of 5]

*2.5*
Not terrible, just a cozy little read that has some better options. Still didn't mind reading it though.

[Emma Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

To get started, this book was written in 1923. My copy looks like it is original to the release of the novel. So, considering the age, I thought that this book was going to be a slow, hard read. So so was pleasantly surprised when I easily understood the grammar (but maybe not a couple of the words). Overall, I really enjoyed reading this vintage mystery novel, and would read other books by the same author.

[Marco Regali · Rating 3 out of 5]

Il colophon dell'edizione italiana (Newton Compton) riporta un clamoroso errore. Il testo tradotto, infatti, non è "The Copper Box" (1923), bensì "Dead Men's Money", un giallo del 1920, pubblicato in Italia per la prima volta nel 1938 col titolo di "Il motto rivelatore".