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Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #26
Глинената маймуна
Криминалният роман в литературата е нещо като патологията в медицината. Изучава човешкия организъм чрез болестните състояния и процеси в този организъм. Най-добрите произведения на криминалния жанр на Запада са отражение на едно общество, на неговите язви. Те безпощадно критикуват капиталистическите нрави, вътрешните машинации на това общество, връзката между престъпленията и политическия свят.
Много енергия влагат младият доктор Олдфийлд, инспектор Бланди, вещият криминалист доктор Торндайк, за да разкрият загадката, подсказана от глинената статуетка на маймуна. Нейният създател изчезва при неясни обстоятелства от собственото си ателие. Не могат да помогнат в търсенето нито съпругата му, нито господин Боулс, който ползува същото ателие, но също е изчезнал. Следи от арсеник, чужд бастун на закачалката, произведения на модерното изкуство — накъде ли трябва да се насочат усилията на тримата?
Много енергия влагат младият доктор Олдфийлд, инспектор Бланди, вещият криминалист доктор Торндайк, за да разкрият загадката, подсказана от глинената статуетка на маймуна. Нейният създател изчезва при неясни обстоятелства от собственото си ателие. Не могат да помогнат в търсенето нито съпругата му, нито господин Боулс, който ползува същото ателие, но също е изчезнал. Следи от арсеник, чужд бастун на закачалката, произведения на модерното изкуство — накъде ли трябва да се насочат усилията на тримата?
- GenresMystery
324 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 30, 1938
15 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
R. Austin Freeman
609 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 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 7, 2025
Having just read two Thorndykes in a row I can see that they are a bit formulaic.
- Former pupil of Thorndyke, now in early medical practice comes across strange situation, asks Thorndyke for advice, Thorndyke makes up various hypotheses and then tests them all out ably assisted by the brilliant Polton, eventually arriving at the solution -
Despite this I really enjoyed it.
- Former pupil of Thorndyke, now in early medical practice comes across strange situation, asks Thorndyke for advice, Thorndyke makes up various hypotheses and then tests them all out ably assisted by the brilliant Polton, eventually arriving at the solution -
Despite this I really enjoyed it.
March 4, 2017
After taking a break from this series, this one was a welcome return to it. I had hoped I would be a little more in-the-know and able to see trademark red herrings after reading 25 of these books, but alas, I am just as thick headed as Dr. Jervis seems to be. Of course it all makes sense after the fact, and you can see where the hints all link up, but it takes an amazing author to disguise the reality under the clues like that.
Jervis is still, sadly, rather ignorant in the ways of Thorndyke's investigations which, again, after 25 books, I would think he had absorbed at least some of his superior's teachings. He was particularly incompetent in this book, not even showing his usual exuberance in attempting to put the facts together, instead just waiting for it all to come out in the end. Thankfully, he only narrated, at most, 1/3 of this book, near the end. Most of it is told by Dr. Oldfield, a medical doctor who, inadvertently, becomes the main detective and source of information. He was actively involved in the events of the story and made experienced observations, making it much more engaging after so many of Jervis being a blockhead.
I particularly liked the ending of this book because of how ingenious it was. The amount of effort required by the perpetrator as well as the author is immense, and it shocked me given the time period it was published in. Though some things are laughable in this day and age--a comment is made about being unable to hide scars or change eye color in a disguise--it is a reminder of the ingenuity of both criminals and writers in whatever era they are living in.
Jervis is still, sadly, rather ignorant in the ways of Thorndyke's investigations which, again, after 25 books, I would think he had absorbed at least some of his superior's teachings. He was particularly incompetent in this book, not even showing his usual exuberance in attempting to put the facts together, instead just waiting for it all to come out in the end. Thankfully, he only narrated, at most, 1/3 of this book, near the end. Most of it is told by Dr. Oldfield, a medical doctor who, inadvertently, becomes the main detective and source of information. He was actively involved in the events of the story and made experienced observations, making it much more engaging after so many of Jervis being a blockhead.
I particularly liked the ending of this book because of how ingenious it was. The amount of effort required by the perpetrator as well as the author is immense, and it shocked me given the time period it was published in. Though some things are laughable in this day and age--a comment is made about being unable to hide scars or change eye color in a disguise--it is a reminder of the ingenuity of both criminals and writers in whatever era they are living in.
March 3, 2020
OK mystery but the main "twist" seemed obvious to me.
My edition has this cover but isn't annotated & was from Feedbooks:
http://www.feedbooks.com/book/2140/th...
My edition has this cover but isn't annotated & was from Feedbooks:
http://www.feedbooks.com/book/2140/th...
August 1, 2020
7/10 Quite simple mystery. I was able to crack it in the first half of the book.
Amusing thoughts on modern art, though.
Amusing thoughts on modern art, though.
March 31, 2015
"Gli amanti dei paradossi ci assicurano ch l'inaspettato finisce sempre per accadere. Ma questa è, a dir poco, un'esagerazione. A volte, succede che capiti persino ciò che si attende."
Il giallista britannico Richard Austin Freeman, padre della detective story "rovesciata", vale a dire una storia nella quale il colpevole è noto e la suspense si focalizza sulla ricerca della soluzione, è l'autore di LA STATUETTA DI TERRACOTTA. Il protagonista è il dottor John Thorndyke, celebre personaggio di Freeman e della sua serie di gialli, i quali gli hanno permesso di ottenere grande successo. Thorndyke è il primo investigatore scientifico letterario, in quanto professore di medicina legale e protagonista indiscusso degli intrecci di Freeman. Impronte digitali, cadaveri riesumati e analisi di sostanze, accompagnate a ferree cognizioni di medicina e di chimica, sono la chiave di volta per la soluzione degli intricati casi che Freeman costruisce ad arte. Ed è esattamente quello che ha fatto con LA STAUETTA DI TERRACOTTA, un oggetto non tanto particolare, una scimmietta in terracotta.
Intorno al medico James Oldfield, nell’esercizio della sua professione, accadono strani avvenimenti: prima il misterioso ritrovamento di un poliziotto in fin di vita nei recessi di un bosco, poi l’ancor più misteriosa malattia che affligge un paziente, un ceramista specializzato nella creazione di arcaici oggetti di terracotta. I sintomi del ceramista lasciano temere a Oldfield che si tratti di un avvelenamento da arsenico e le analisi confermano la sua ipotesi. Sono stati rubati anche dei diamanti.
Il maestro di Oldfield è l'abile dottor Thorndyke, consultato in proposito. Ma nemmeno il geniale criminologo può prefigurare come si svilupperanno gli eventi. Il caso è da brivido per il dottor Thorndyke.
July 10, 2012
The Stoneware Monkey is all about a man's greed and its cover up.
First, there were two seemingly unrelated events: the murder of a constable in pursuit of a diamond thief and the attempt to poison a potter by using arsenic. The connection lies in the presence of Dr. Oldfield, a Dr. Thorndyke former student, who happened to find the constable body and served as the consulting physician of the potter.
Dr. Oldfield once again found a trace of murder: ashes of cremated human human body in the dustbin at the potter's studio. This led to the (tentative) conclusion that the murdered person was the potter due to the existence of arsenic in the ash. The police tried to chase the supposedly real villain, the close friend of the potter, but end up in vain. Faced with these puzzling events, Dr. Thorndyke had his own hypotheses. His inquiries resulted in the discovery of the real felon while the secret was concealed in the hideous figurine of a stoneware monkey.
I gave this 3.5 star. I almost give up to finish the book because I feel it's tedious, especially the first part, which is narrated by Dr. Oldfield. My curiosity and my fondness for Dr. Thorndyke trait are the main factor to bring me to its end. Anyway, the second part narration by Dr. Jervis is quite amusing.
First, there were two seemingly unrelated events: the murder of a constable in pursuit of a diamond thief and the attempt to poison a potter by using arsenic. The connection lies in the presence of Dr. Oldfield, a Dr. Thorndyke former student, who happened to find the constable body and served as the consulting physician of the potter.
Dr. Oldfield once again found a trace of murder: ashes of cremated human human body in the dustbin at the potter's studio. This led to the (tentative) conclusion that the murdered person was the potter due to the existence of arsenic in the ash. The police tried to chase the supposedly real villain, the close friend of the potter, but end up in vain. Faced with these puzzling events, Dr. Thorndyke had his own hypotheses. His inquiries resulted in the discovery of the real felon while the secret was concealed in the hideous figurine of a stoneware monkey.
I gave this 3.5 star. I almost give up to finish the book because I feel it's tedious, especially the first part, which is narrated by Dr. Oldfield. My curiosity and my fondness for Dr. Thorndyke trait are the main factor to bring me to its end. Anyway, the second part narration by Dr. Jervis is quite amusing.
July 20, 2023
I wonder if I have read too many of these in a row but this late(1938) Dr Thorndyke investigation quickly palled on me.
It is in two sections, the longer narrated by Dr Oldfield and the second by Dr Jervis. It opens dramatically enough with a diamond robbery and a murdered policeman but there is then rather too much of Oldfield’s relations with Peter Gannet, his wife and his partner Boles which provides background to the further crimes.
Most avid GAD readers will have worked out the basis of Gannet’s illness well before Oldfield and the general outlines of the solution are likewise not unfathomable. There were too many repetitions-the inquest is particularly tedious- and on this occasion Thorndyke’s final disquisition was dull.
A rest now required before attempting to read more.
3.5 stars.
It is in two sections, the longer narrated by Dr Oldfield and the second by Dr Jervis. It opens dramatically enough with a diamond robbery and a murdered policeman but there is then rather too much of Oldfield’s relations with Peter Gannet, his wife and his partner Boles which provides background to the further crimes.
Most avid GAD readers will have worked out the basis of Gannet’s illness well before Oldfield and the general outlines of the solution are likewise not unfathomable. There were too many repetitions-the inquest is particularly tedious- and on this occasion Thorndyke’s final disquisition was dull.
A rest now required before attempting to read more.
3.5 stars.
July 24, 2011
One of the better Dr. Thorndyke mysteries: murder(s), a diamond thief, artists who specialize in modern art (their efforts are clearly to make fun of modernism in art), and a solid plot. Very engaging and interesting the whole way through. Dr. Jervis narrates the second half and Dr. Oldsfield the first. I believe Dr. Oldsfield made a brief appearance in The Jacob Street Mystery. One of the main characters also lives in Jacob Street, since he is an artist.
December 6, 2016
Some Brits think Freeman is 2nd only to Arthur Conan Doyle among mystery writers. I won't argue with that, though I figured this one out about halfway through. But, with Doyle, it's often the style and atmosphere that is more enjoyable than the puzzle.
September 4, 2011
This was amusing, especially Freeman's tirade on 'modern art.' I get the impression that he wanted to throw the whole 1939 baby out with the bathwater.
December 7, 2014
Predictable plot twists and final result but still a good read.
March 6, 2015
Yeah, pretty much figured it out long before the end. Still, I enjoyed the anti-modern art rants and the character interaction.
September 6, 2018
Ако сте от онзи вид геймъри, които предпочитат мозъчните упражнения под формата на пъзели и разрешаване на сложни ситуации само с наличния силно ограничен инвентар във сложни комбинации, достойни за разкриване само от висш престъпен мастърмайнд, ще трябва да сте обърнали достойно внимание на разните адаптации за интерактивно разследване на убийства по книгите на Кристи и Дойл, от които особено любима ще ми остане, разбира се не само на мен, поредицата за Шерлок Холмс. Да, объркахте се, за игра или книга ще говорим, или може би евентуално за книга-игра? Нищо подобно, просто интересно подредена история, която ще ви направи особено впечатление, ако сте от подходящата природна група играещи хора.
Настоящата книжка е изключително близка по усещане на особен вид хартиена криминална игра, и ако сте с малко повече въображение, ще си нагласите и графиките, и озвучаването, че даже и финалните кредити, с което една всъщност малко плитка крими история, получава двойна доза очарование и чисто забавление. Влизаме с отваряща сцена на весел лекар, каращ колелото си кротко някъде из английската пасторалия, докато ужасен вик ракъсва мрака. Скоро в краката му лежи мъртъв полицай, наблизо е станала позорно лесна кражба на ужасно скъпи диаманти, и няма нито заподозрени, нито свидетели. Ако ви напомня на Убийства в Мидсъмър – вече знаете от къде са се вдъхновявали сценаристите. И започваме процедура по разследване, обследване на доказателства, съд и присъда, но не и обвиняем. Така почва сцена втора, която е и основната.
Ексцентричен богаташ с особено липсващ талант за майстор – грънчар, всъщност създава изключително добре продаваем кич, поне до момента, в който привидно е отровен с арсеник, като зап��дозрените са толкова театрално подредени, че в крайна сметка са напълно аматьорски невъзможни. Нашият доктор се намесва в събитията като същинский наивен Уотсън, и без да иска се намесва в доста сложен и добре замислен заговор, от който излиза невредим като по чудо, не без помощта на местните Холмсовци, разгледали местопрестъплението, направили важните изводи, и навързали разпръснатите до невъзможност по потайни кътчета възли на тъмна тайна с изгорели трупове, мистериозни колекционери и неизяснени жертви на покушения, криещи доста трудна за преглъщане истина.
Читателят внимателно навлиза в случая, повтаря му се, където трябва, доизяснява му се по крайно логичен и простичък начин, където е неясно, и въобще му се създава усещането за главен следовател на тъмната страна на благородна Британия, способна на сурови и страстни убийства със същата лекота, с която пие чай с краставичени сандвичета точно около петия час. Елегантно, леко интелектуално и свежо забавно по особено нърдски начин за онези почитатели на криминалния жанр, търсещи малко повече забавление в любимото си хоби – разкриване на чуждите грешки в опит за потулване на смущаващо престъпление. Следете поредицата за златните криминалета на Милениум – заслужава си.
Настоящата книжка е изключително близка по усещане на особен вид хартиена криминална игра, и ако сте с малко повече въображение, ще си нагласите и графиките, и озвучаването, че даже и финалните кредити, с което една всъщност малко плитка крими история, получава двойна доза очарование и чисто забавление. Влизаме с отваряща сцена на весел лекар, каращ колелото си кротко някъде из английската пасторалия, докато ужасен вик ракъсва мрака. Скоро в краката му лежи мъртъв полицай, наблизо е станала позорно лесна кражба на ужасно скъпи диаманти, и няма нито заподозрени, нито свидетели. Ако ви напомня на Убийства в Мидсъмър – вече знаете от къде са се вдъхновявали сценаристите. И започваме процедура по разследване, обследване на доказателства, съд и присъда, но не и обвиняем. Така почва сцена втора, която е и основната.
Ексцентричен богаташ с особено липсващ талант за майстор – грънчар, всъщност създава изключително добре продаваем кич, поне до момента, в който привидно е отровен с арсеник, като зап��дозрените са толкова театрално подредени, че в крайна сметка са напълно аматьорски невъзможни. Нашият доктор се намесва в събитията като същинский наивен Уотсън, и без да иска се намесва в доста сложен и добре замислен заговор, от който излиза невредим като по чудо, не без помощта на местните Холмсовци, разгледали местопрестъплението, направили важните изводи, и навързали разпръснатите до невъзможност по потайни кътчета възли на тъмна тайна с изгорели трупове, мистериозни колекционери и неизяснени жертви на покушения, криещи доста трудна за преглъщане истина.
Читателят внимателно навлиза в случая, повтаря му се, където трябва, доизяснява му се по крайно логичен и простичък начин, където е неясно, и въобще му се създава усещането за главен следовател на тъмната страна на благородна Британия, способна на сурови и страстни убийства със същата лекота, с която пие чай с краставичени сандвичета точно около петия час. Елегантно, леко интелектуално и свежо забавно по особено нърдски начин за онези почитатели на криминалния жанр, търсещи малко повече забавление в любимото си хоби – разкриване на чуждите грешки в опит за потулване на смущаващо престъпление. Следете поредицата за златните криминалета на Милениум – заслужава си.
June 20, 2021
Two separate crimes - the murder of police constable Murray, while the theft of diamonds occur. And secondly the attempted poisoning of modern potter Peter Gannet.
Dr Thorndyke is brought in to investigate.
An entertaining historical mystery.
Originally published 1938
Dr Thorndyke is brought in to investigate.
An entertaining historical mystery.
Originally published 1938
Want to read
February 16, 2020Synopsis: Dr. James Oldfield finds himself caught in a police hunt. He engages Dr. Thorndyke; it becomes stolen diamonds and murder.
December 5, 2020
Easy to figure out what was going on but I imagine it was more challenging when it was first published. Really liked the disquisition on modern art!
October 23, 2022
Me gustan estas novelas de R. A. Freeman, en especial la lógica del desenlace que sigue el Dr. Thorndyke para su resolución.
Valoración 9/10
Leído octubre 2022.
Valoración 9/10
Leído octubre 2022.
August 5, 2023
A clever forensic mystery from 1938 with lots of humorous comments on modern art.
March 23, 2017
The story was not as good as most of Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle's novels, but it was still entertaining.
December 8, 2025
Note: I listened to the audiobook version, which is not listed on here.
April 8, 2015
This is my twenty-first Thorndyke novel. Did I just get too good at solving mysteries, or was it really as obvious as I found it? And the usual ridiculous coincidence was in this case not even a plot point. Frankly, I was disappointed with this one, I usually give him 4 or 5 stars, and now there's only one novel left! Hope it's one of the better ones, with a title like 'Mr Polton Explains' at least it should have plenty of my favourite character in it...
November 15, 2013
It's great when a murder mystery takes the last 20 pages to smugly explain in condescending detail everything you figured out 200 pages ago. No, wait, what's the opposite of great? That's the one I mean.
February 5, 2014
Started out well, but the poisoning and murderer were obvious from the start. The roundup at the end was excessively ponderous.
May 3, 2016
read SOMETIME in 1998
Read
September 11, 2024Сюжет, взаимстван от Дойл, но разказан сухо и скучно ала Кристи. Доктор Торндайк - безличен и безинтересен като герои. Определено няма да чета останалите му подвизи.
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