The Thinking Machine at Work

by Jacques Futrelle

Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, with the help of his friend newspaper reporter Hutchison Hatch, solves a variety of mysteries using cold, hard logic. No matter how twisted the trail of clues or how clever the perpetrator, Professor Van Dusen, aptly dubbed “The Thinking Machine”, reminds us that “two and two make four, not some times, but all the time”.

So when a woman begs a surgeon to amputate part of her perfectly healthy finger, or when a pearl necklace disappears from a woman’s neck at a party, or when a man presents the court with his “perfect” alibi, The Thinking Machine focuses on the facts and methodically investigates all of the (logical) possibilities.

In fact, the author’s own wife, May Futrelle, set out to stump her husband’s talented detective with an unsolvable mystery of her own, in which a lonely traveler takes a wrong turn and ends up in a mysterious house. Was she successful? Discover for yourself in this original audio compilation produced by Skyboat Media for Blackstone Publishing.

Full

“Problem of Dressing Room A”

“The Problem of Cell 13”

“Problem of the Perfect Alibi”

“Problem of the Superfluous Finger”

“Problem of the Cross Mark”

“Problem of the Stolen Bank Notes”

“Problem of the Green Eyed Monster”

“My First Experience With the Great Logician”

“The First Problem”

“Problem of the Missing Necklace”

“Problem of the Souvenir Cards”

“The Tragedy of the Life Raft”

“Problem of the Deserted House”

“The Grinning God, Part I - Wraiths of the Storm”

“The Grinning God, Part II - The House That Was”

Audible Audio

Published March 31, 2020

About the author

Jacques Heath Futrelle (1875-1912) was an American journalist and mystery writer. He is best known for writing short detective stories featuring the "Thinking Machine", Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen. He worked for the Atlanta Journal, where he began their sports section; the New York Herald; the Boston Post; and the Boston American. In 1905, his Thinking Machine character first appeared in a serialized version of The Problem of Cell 13. In 1895, he married fellow writer Lily May Peel, with whom he had two children. While returning from Europe aboard the RMS Titanic, Futrelle, a first-cabin passenger, refused to board a lifeboat insisting his wife board instead. He perished in the Atlantic. His works include: The Chase of the Golden Plate (1906), The Simple Case of Susan (1908), The Thinking Machine on the Case (1908), The Diamond Master (1909), Elusive Isabel (1909), The High Hand (1911), My Lady's Garter (1912), Blind Man's Bluff (1914).

Reviews

[Carl · Rating 4 out of 5]

from the publisher: Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen, with the help of his friend Hutchison Hatch, solves a variety of mysteries using cold, hard logic. No matter how twisted the trail of clues or how clever the perpetrator, Professor Van Dusen, aptly dubbed “The Thinking Machine,” reminds us that “two and two make four, not some times, but all the time.” So when a woman begs a surgeon to amputate part of her finger or when a pearl necklace disappears from a woman’s neck at a party or when a man presents the court with his “perfect” alibi, The Thinking Machine methodically investigates all of the (logical) possibilities.
That's it. Perfect short stories on Chirp for longish car rides. The "logic" is always there and almost always convoluted. I switch back and forth with classic radio stories when I'm in the car for more than an hour.

[Clay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up a copy of three stories about "The Thinking Machine" when I was in elementary school from Scholastic, the publisher that offered cheap books about once a month. I loved it. I even still have that slim paperback with it's illustrations that, I'm sure, were added for a younger audience.

I really liked this expanded collection of stories from Futrelle (which only had one that I had read before from my early days). I would put Professor Augustus S. F. X. van Dusen, and all the other letters after his name, as not-quite a Holmesian intellect since the professor doesn't study only crime and criminology. Even so, his wide range of experience and knowledge allows him to logically intuit the correct solution.

[Mr Osowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably 4.5 stars. It's not Doyle or Poe level mysteries, but it's some solid old-school mystery. Doesn't have the character building of a Sherlock and the mysteries seem timid in light of how far mystery writing has come, but it is good to take a look at the origins.

[Ian Burrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would love the Thinking Machines if you enjoyed Sir Arthur Conan-Doyles Sherlock Holmes. A collection of short mysteries solved by the logical sleuth.