Dead Men's Money

by J.S. Fletcher, Joseph Smith Fletcher

Dead Men's Moneyby Joseph Smith FletcherNothing is what it seems, and dead bodies abound in this classic 1920 murder mystery from the British crime author and journalist, J.S. Fletcher.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Mystery Thriller, Classics, British Literature, Detective

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1919

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

[Thomas Cotterill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dead Men’s Money is my first J. S. Fletcher mystery. The novel dates to the golden age of mystery writing, the nineteen-twenties and -thirties, and is an appealing “cozy.” When I read books from this era I always enjoy picturing the hissing steam engines, compartmented passenger coaches, and smoky railway stations that were such a romantic aspect of the time.

The story is set mostly in Berwick-upon-Tweed, a town on the English side of the border with Scotland, but the characters walk and bicycle about the surrounding countryside (often at night!), visit a stately home, and do a fair bit of travelling by rail. There is even an episode aboard a sailing yacht. The changing locales keep the unfolding mystery fresh and absorbing.

We see events through the eyes of a rather slow-witted but sincere young man, Hugh Moneylaws, who works in a lawyer’s office. His employer, Mr. Lindsey is the brains of the piece. He is always there to ask the sharp questions and shrewdly put two and two together while young Hugh dreams of marrying his sweetheart and tries to find the money to furnish a home. While none too swift - one wonders how he ever got a job with a law firm – his direct honesty and simple decency make him likable. I found myself rooting for him as he works past the obstacles standing between him and his girl.

Hugh becomes central to the tale entirely by accident. He hopes to earn some much-needed cash while running a mysterious nighttime errand for a sick lodger in his mother’s house, but instead stumbles into murder. The law firm gets involved and Hugh accompanies Mr. Lindsey on his various investigative rounds. The young man also sneaks in a bit of snooping on his own. Who the guilty party might be seems at first obvious, but the situation quickly becomes more complex, and a lot must be uncovered before the murderer’s true motive is revealed. A second murder adds a wonderful plot twist to what is already an engaging story.

Fletcher is a capable writer well equipped to handle the ins and outs of the mystery genre. I especially enjoyed the unfamiliar border setting and the book’s relatively brisk pace. Hugh’s obtuseness may occasionally try your patience, but the novel never bores.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really 3 and 1/2 stars, due to an abrupt ending. Fast-paced 1920 mystery told in the first person. A strange lodger in Hugh's mother's boardinghouse sends Hugh to meet a man at midnight, because the lodger is too ill to go himself. At his destination Hugh finds a man murdered, and upon returning finds the lodger dead from his illness. The body count increases while the authorities, with Hugh's help, try to find the murderer.

The narrator, Hugh, is a likable character, if a bit naive. The chapters are short and most end with some sort of tantalizing info that makes you want to read the next chapter to find out more. A fun mystery that's a quick read. Found at Project Gutenberg.

[Aby · Rating 4 out of 5]

ثاني قراءة لنفس الكاتب، و هذه المرة أكثر تشويقاً من الأولى "لغز محطة تشارينغ كروس" و التي كانت مشوقة في حد ذاتها.

ما يميز جوزيف سميث فليتشر، هو أسلوبه السلس في السرد و الحوار، شخصياته اللطيفة و الراقية، الحبكة البوليسية المختلفة و المميزة، و القصة أو القضية نفسها تحتوي على أبعاد تنكشف بالتدريج لتكشف عن أبعاد أخرى تكشف بدورها عن أبعاد أخرى و هكذا، نعم، حتى لو عرفت هوية القاتل، يظل الدافع أو الطريقة أو الدليل أو كلهم، و طيلة الوقت تتفاجأ بتفاصيل جديدة.

"ملاحظة: قرأت نسخة هنداوي المترجمة"

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another quiet little cozy from Fletcher. His books always deliver good characters, a couple of well handled twists, and nice quiet plot. No blood. No gore. No sex. Perfect as a "palate cleanser" after a week spent immersed in modern and classic noir.

Every time I finish one of his books, I ask the same question: Why isn't this guy better known? He may not be as good as the Great Christie, but he's definitely in the running for second place.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fast-paced murder mystery by J.S. Fletcher. It was first published in 1920, and has just the right stock of truly good characters, balanced by a couple of nasties. A young apprentice solicitor in a rural English town bordering Scotland, is riding his bike through lonely stretches of countryside very late in the evening, to run a strange errand for a mysterious lodger at his mother's house. He finds a recently murdered body at the end of his ride, and the mysteries keep piling up from there. He's WAY too trusting, and that trait gets him into serious trouble several times. Very enjoyable reading. I listened to this novel as a free audio download from LibriVox.org.

[Perry Whitford · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this fairly effective old school mystery certainly did his best to establish a sinister streak into his story early on, introducing both a man with only one eye and another with two fingers missing from his hand.

J. S. Fletcher was clearly following the mystery blueprint of Conan Doyle here, in Sherlock Holmes physical deformity was a sure indication of criminal mentality.

Similarly Sherlockian was the underlying family history which held the key to the plot. The police also proved to be largely inept in comparison to an amateur detective, in this case a dogged lawyer.

I enjoyed most of it, though the ending was fairly underwhelming.

[Allison Henle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nicely complicated mystery but the foreshadowing felt heavy handed and the conclusion is rushed.

[Tim Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid procedural, with no ghosts, demons or master criminals. What a relief! But it does drag on. The case would have been solved quicker if the protagonist had more sense! I gave up.

[Andrew Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

The narrator hears "steps coming along the road in the gloom - swift, sure steps, as of a man who walks fast, and puts his feet firmly down as with determination to get somewhere as soon as he may". The steps are coming from a man who is swiftly leaving the scene of a murder. It is midnight and there is nobody else about. The man swiftly leaving the scene of a murder is "making his way somewhere without losing any time in the business". This man also has the two middle fingers missing from his right hand.

The police ask the narrator if he saw anyone near the site of the murder, and the narrator writes: "To be sure, I had seen a stranger, and I had observed that he had lost a couple of fingers, the first and second, of his right hand; and it was certainly a queer thing that he should be in that immediate neighbourhood about the time when this unfortunate man met his death. But it had been borne in on my mind pretty strongly that the man I had seen looking at his map was some gentleman-tourist who was walking the district, and had as like as not been tramping it over Plodden Field and that historic corner of the country, and had become benighted ere he could reach wherever his headquarters were. And I was not going to bring suspicion on what was in all probability an innocent stranger."

NO, there is NO chance AT ALL that this is an innocent stranger. It is IMPOSSIBLE that the reader can believe this. I hate Joseph Smith Fletcher for making up such a dumb scenario.

[Randy Rasa · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first exposure to J.S. Fletcher, and an overall "like but not love" experience. I enjoyed the plot, and some of the characters, but the ending was pretty abrupt, without tying up loose plot threads. It's always frustrating to me when a story's development depends on the main character's repeated incompetence and denseness, and that's unfortunately the case here. But I absolutely adored the fact that major characters got around by bicycle, and it was the most normal thing in the world. So civilized and sensible.

The voice actors for the Librivox recording were generally quite good, though the sound level and recording quality was all over the place.

[Olivia Barth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read, perfect for the elliptical trainer! I wish the ending would have said a bit more about how Hugh's life worked out...but I think I always feel like that about books - you enter into someone's life, and then I have a hard time exiting it!

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 1920 rural England mystery told in the first person recalling the events from 10 years ago. A strange lodger in Hugh's mother's boardinghouse sends 21 year old Hugh to meet a man at 11 PM, because the lodger is too ill to go himself. Upon arriving, Hugh finds a man murdered, and upon returning finds the lodger dead from his illness. The body count increases while the authorities, with Hugh's "help," try to find the murderer working from very little information. It doesn't always help as Hugh can be both incompetent and dense. One example is Hugh willingly withholding the name of a possible suspect which is the one clue that is key to the investigation.
The end resolves the mystery, but leaves many unanswered questions regarding back ground plot issues and why I rated it a three.

[Translator Monkey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent book, swiftly moving plot until about 2/3 of the way in - at that point, Fletcher feels compelled to drop a ton of red herrings, red trout, red halibut, red mackerel - you name it. The narrator tends to be incredulously slow on the uptake at times, but serves as a good character overall to help the plot nudge forward when needed.

Three stars, which isn't bad. I'll look at Fletcher's other novels.

This was freely available from Amazon for my Kindle, and is also freely available through Gutenberg and a host of other similar sources.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hugh Moneylaws a lawyer's clerk, on an errand for his mother's lodger discovers a body. Mr. Lindsey, the lawyer and Hugh attempt to unravel the mystery if his name and make sense of everything that follows, as Hugh is not really the brightest of people. But an enjoyable tale, set and written in 1919.

[Rick · Rating 1 out of 5]

The dumbest protagonist I've ever read. Bar none. Every decision this guy makes had me shaking my head. I can't believe he didn't die, or go to prison himself. Other characters make questionable decisions as well, but he's the worst. And then once we add in an abrupt and unsatisfying ending, this book is more frustration than it's worth. I'd give it a miss, if I were you, dear reader.

[Don Drewniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the the third of seventeen Fletcher novels in the J.S. Fletcher anthology. The main character, Hugh Moneylaws, stumbles and bumbles throughout much of the novel, the plot is highly improbable and the ending should have been expanded. Nevertheless, Dead Men's Money is an interesting read and, in it's own unique way, quite engrossing.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of Fletcher's twistiest!
It begins with a mysterious lodger, but before it ends there's a sneaky gossip, a crazed Irish servant, a cunning butler, hidden parentage, three murders, a disappearing wife....
The narrator is a rather dim lawyer's clerk who longs to avoid the nefarious deeds, but ends up in the middle of the action every t ime!

[michael pilgrim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read. Cute english drama

The story line was well written. It kept you guessing. My only problem was Maisie. I kind had it figured out but the actual turn of events caught me off guard. Good read based on the English side of the Scotland border. Language was G+.mp

[Doga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not a lesson in thrillers, albeit enjoyable to a certain extent and worth a read considering its length. Proof that although presumed to be the bearers of great acumen by nature, men not only struggle to seek revenge but also lack the intellect for reaching the most simple conclusions.

[Edward Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good rread

A fine story and good suspense. Would read more of his work.
I am very glad to have fun into it.

[john r shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars as a bit convoluted. The gist of the story is clear enough, but not all the threads seem neatly tied off in the end. Reading perhaps better than listening, for this kind of book.

[Cons Marquet · Rating 3 out of 5]

como por qué nadie sospecha de Hugo si estuvo en TODAS las escenas del crimen???

[Paul Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

He always weaves an interesting tale! Love the language and character of the characters. Best of the early crime writers.

[Karin Ibrahim · Rating 2 out of 5]

لأ، مش هو ده اللي كان المفروض يحصل

[Roddy Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young solicitor's clerk, Hugh Moneylaws, is intrigued by Mr Gilverhwaite, a mysterious stranger who takes lodgings at his mother's house in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The man appears to be not short of money and keeps himself to himself, although he spends a lot of time examining parish registers and gravestones of the area.
When Mr Gilverthwaite becomes gravely ill however, he calls upon young Hugh to run a strange errand; to set off in the night for a desolate country spot to meet a stranger who may be bearing news for Mr Gilverthwaite.
On his way to the rendezvous, alone and nervous, Hugh hides when he hears someone approaching; a man consulting a map and with two fingers missing.
Hugh then continues on his way but at the rendezvous finds Mr Gilverthwaite's contact, stabbed and quite dead.
Mr Gilverthwaite himself dies of natural causes before Hugh can question him about the dead man, and subsequently finds himself drawn into the mystery of Mr Gilverthwaite's quest.
This is not a bad read at all, if one can forgive Hugh's naivety in allaying all suspicion of the man who is clearly guilty of murder.
The narrative rattles along at a fair pace and is assisted by a well defined selection of characters.
Exemplary vintage hokum.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful entertaining listening 🔰😀

Another will written British romance thriller adventure mystery novel by Joseph Smith Fletcher with lots of action around the English county side. The characters are interesting and will developed. The story line is set in England where a con artist has committed murder and stole a great deal of money 💰from an estate. Hugh and friends investigate and race to solve the mystery. I would recommend this British novel to readers of mysteries and British novels. Enjoy the adventure of reading 📚 or 🎶 listening to books 2021 🏰🏡👑😅☺🐇

[Ape · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another twists-and-turns filled mystery tale from J S Fletcher. This time we’re all about ancestry and inheritance in Dead Men’s Money.
This one is set in north Northumberland, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, and with many a journey over the border into Scotland to conduct investigations. Our main character, and first person narrator, is Hugh Moneylaws, a young solicitor in training who has to be one of the most naïve and gullible characters known to literature. He doesn’t twig that people might not be who they say they are, even when it’s blindingly obvious. He even sits through a discussion of same said topic, and it’s not until someone spells it out – that man is someone else – that Hugh M almost falls out of his chair with amazed shock. Yep, not the brightest lightbulb.

This whole mess starts up when his mother takes in an old sea dog lodger, complete with heavy, locked up chest (pirate treasure!) who wants to stay in the area for a month or two as he apparently once had relatives in the areas and wants to go about looking at their graves. He falls gravely ill the same day as receiving a letter, and pays our innocent muppet ten pounds to cycle a few miles to meet with a man and speak in codes to him. Hugh merrily sets off on his way, in the semi darkness sees a suspicious character, and when he arrives at the meeting place, discovers a dead murdered and bloody body… What would you do? Would you mention the suspicious person you saw? Not old Hugh. That person probably wasn’t involved, so he doesn’t want to cause trouble. He has a nice chat with said person to assure himself they’re not involved and when said person offers him a job at five times his current salary, he thinks it’s due to his own merit and good luck and the idea of blackmail doesn’t cross his little mind once. Even when another potential witness is murdered, he doesn’t think that he perhaps ought to mention what he really saw. How he manages to survive the book I don’t know.

Wills and inheritance always cause problems and greed, and this is a classic tale of skulduggery built around that idea. It all builds up to a complex case that has been in the making for many a year. But the final two murders… their explanation felt a bit – really?... and it all ended so quickly, that it was a bit of a sudden shock, even for Mr Fletcher, who ( I have noticed) does have a tendancy to wrap things up rather abruptly and suddenly at the end.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good old murder mystery set in English Scottish border town of Berwick Upon Tweed. An old seafaring type turns up from nowhere seeking lodgings with the narrators mother. He spends his time wandering around graveyards, obviously looking for something. He is taken ill and while incapacitated he receives a letter. He then asks the narrator,Hugh, who is a solicitors clerk, to keep an appointment for him and explain that he is too ill to come himself. He goes out late at night and, of course, finds the person murdered.The police do not figure much in this story but there is a good deal of detection done by Hugh and his employer. All the clues are there with a few red herrings. Not bad at all.

[Joen Wolfrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

This my first exposure to J.S. Fletcher's books. This story is one of those warm, fuzzy British murder mysteries. It takes place primarily in Berwick, but there is Scottish influence included. I enjoyed this who-done-it although every time I thought it was about done, it headed out into another twist. Then when I thought there was going to be one more twist, it was over. Written almost a century ago, I found this novel quite quaint and interesting. I shall read more of these quaint stories ----and they cost almost nothing.