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Ravensdene Court
An elderly sailor is found murdered. When authorities attempt to contact his brother to inform him of the bad news, they discover a shocking coincidence: he too had met his end-the victim of foul play-the very same night. Is there a connection between the two deaths? An intrepid detective tries his best to crack the case.
214 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 1922
29 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Fletcher
543 books56 followersJoseph 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 .
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 .
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 14, 2022
Maybe 2.5 stars by the end of this book as it became more and more annoying to read. Still, I have enjoyed several other books by Fletcher considering these books were written one hundred years ago. This particular story starts off brightly with promise of a mysterious crime to investigate. Things get a bit sticky when the whole "Chinaman" theme becomes dominant.
Of course his books can be read for free from either Amazon or gutenberg.
I really enjoyed a good five of Fletcher's books, such as The Middle Temple Murder and others.
Of course his books can be read for free from either Amazon or gutenberg.
I really enjoyed a good five of Fletcher's books, such as The Middle Temple Murder and others.
September 3, 2021
3.5 stars
This author was recommended to me by someone in the Golden Age Detection Facebook group. I enjoyed this book, first published in 1922, although it turned out to be more adventure than detection. Fletcher's depiction of the Northumbrian people, the North Sea, and the formidable landscape add a nice sense of place to the story.
It’s interesting to read mysteries from this era that haven’t been cleaned up like Agatha Christie’s. Here, the prejudice against “Chinamen” was on full display. The only woman among the leading characters was portrayed kindly, but she was an afterthought. Personally, I rarely have any problem with the casual bigotry shown in books written long ago, and I easily tolerate things that would anger me coming from a modern-day author.
I wasn’t swept away by the story, but I shall try another one or two before deciding whether to carry on.
This author was recommended to me by someone in the Golden Age Detection Facebook group. I enjoyed this book, first published in 1922, although it turned out to be more adventure than detection. Fletcher's depiction of the Northumbrian people, the North Sea, and the formidable landscape add a nice sense of place to the story.
It’s interesting to read mysteries from this era that haven’t been cleaned up like Agatha Christie’s. Here, the prejudice against “Chinamen” was on full display. The only woman among the leading characters was portrayed kindly, but she was an afterthought. Personally, I rarely have any problem with the casual bigotry shown in books written long ago, and I easily tolerate things that would anger me coming from a modern-day author.
I wasn’t swept away by the story, but I shall try another one or two before deciding whether to carry on.
July 24, 2017
English murder mystery, written in 1922. It can be read for free at Project Gutenberg here: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26324 .
Two brothers, 400 miles apart, are both murdered on the same night. Their bodies were clearly searched by their murderers, but money and valuables were left on the corpses. What were the murderers looking for? The author unravels the complex story connected to these two brothers. To tell any more of the plot might spoil it for readers. There is some racism directed at Chinese characters in the story, but I think that attitude is changed by the end. A fast-paced, interesting mystery.
Two brothers, 400 miles apart, are both murdered on the same night. Their bodies were clearly searched by their murderers, but money and valuables were left on the corpses. What were the murderers looking for? The author unravels the complex story connected to these two brothers. To tell any more of the plot might spoil it for readers. There is some racism directed at Chinese characters in the story, but I think that attitude is changed by the end. A fast-paced, interesting mystery.
January 4, 2021
Twist upon twist, surprisingly good in that golden age, old school way. Good prose, good characterization, good world building, good story. There is some old school bigotry as well as expressed by the characters. However, Fletcher seems to undercut anti-Chinese prejudice in the narrative as well as by making a Chinese man the hero of the story. I gave Fletcher an extra star for his subtle fight against prejudice.
April 18, 2025
This is a typical, well-written, interesting J.S. Fletcher novel. If you like mysteries, this is a good one.
April 15, 2013
Although a bit formulaic, Fletcher generally comes up with a half decent story which are mostly set in the North of England. This one has the usual country house owned by an eccentric old chap with the obligatory attractive young niece. On the way to the house to catalogue the library our hero bumps into a strange old seafaring man asking questions about local graveyards and looking for a certain name.
He, of course, gets bumped off and when the authorities try to get hold of his next of kin, a brother living hundreds of miles away, they find that he was also murdered on the same night. A bit far fetched, maybe but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
He, of course, gets bumped off and when the authorities try to get hold of his next of kin, a brother living hundreds of miles away, they find that he was also murdered on the same night. A bit far fetched, maybe but I enjoyed it nevertheless.
June 18, 2011
A classic British mystery complete with a young and handsome amateur sleuth, a young and beautiful woman with pluck, buried treasure, a mysterious murder, a kidnapping, stolen jewels, essentially the works. J. S. Fletcher wrote to a formula, but it is a fun and entertaining formula, and so long as one is not too much of a stickler for believability, it's a treat.
September 25, 2018
The book started promisingly enough, with interesting characters and at least some departure from Fletcher’s usual formula, which does keep for the rest of it. Still, I think if unlike me you’re able to break off reading a book you started, you could rightly nope out after seeing a chapter named Yellowface and wouldn’t be missing much that wasn’t tainted by more of the same.
October 15, 2022
30 year old Middlebrook, an established antiquarian and expert in books, etc. is invited by the new lord of Ravendene Court, Francis Raven, to evaluate the hundreds of books and manuscripts in his inherited library and work with 80 year old somewhat eccentric character Mr. Cazalette. The invite come in February, 1912 and in early March, the narrator travels from London to distant Northumberland to begin the task. He makes a connection with Raven's 19 year old niece Marcia.
On his way to Ravendene, he meets Salter Quick who is checking graveyards looking for a certain name. A another person indicates that a couple of days earlier a man had stopped him doing the same thing. As Middlebrook strolls to a nearby beach his first morning there, he discovers the murdered body of the man he met the previous day. It is soon learned that the man's brother was also murder around the same time 400 miles away! Robbery wasn't a motive as both had all their valuables, but each had been thoroughly searched for something. What were they murdered for and what was Salter searching for.
Thee are a number of plot twists in the story along with a strain of anti Chinese racism in the story which probably reflects English views at the time.
On his way to Ravendene, he meets Salter Quick who is checking graveyards looking for a certain name. A another person indicates that a couple of days earlier a man had stopped him doing the same thing. As Middlebrook strolls to a nearby beach his first morning there, he discovers the murdered body of the man he met the previous day. It is soon learned that the man's brother was also murder around the same time 400 miles away! Robbery wasn't a motive as both had all their valuables, but each had been thoroughly searched for something. What were they murdered for and what was Salter searching for.
Thee are a number of plot twists in the story along with a strain of anti Chinese racism in the story which probably reflects English views at the time.
September 8, 2021
Although this veers more towards being an adventure/thriller rather than a detective novel, it was not devoid of interest. For a novel of the period - 1922- it is remarkably free of the xenophobic little-Englandism so often found in such novels. To be sure there are remarks about "Chinamen" which are today unacceptable, but on the whole the Chinese characters here are talented and cultured and less stereotyped than is usual.
The heroine and hero are not particularly brave or glamorous and there is a lot of atmospheric description of the Northumbrian coast and the city of Hull.
The plot is convoluted, in the usual Fletcher style, with strands which lead back to the sixteenth century and to the Far East. There are fabulous jewels and buried treasure, murders and thefts, and a little romance.
It is written in an easy-to-read style, but is not terribly thrilling or puzzling.
3.25 stars.
The heroine and hero are not particularly brave or glamorous and there is a lot of atmospheric description of the Northumbrian coast and the city of Hull.
The plot is convoluted, in the usual Fletcher style, with strands which lead back to the sixteenth century and to the Far East. There are fabulous jewels and buried treasure, murders and thefts, and a little romance.
It is written in an easy-to-read style, but is not terribly thrilling or puzzling.
3.25 stars.
July 18, 2021
A young man travels to catalogue and organize a massive collection of antiquated books in a large old mansion. Thinking it would be a quiet time, he and the lovely young niece of the owner instead become embroiled in privately investigating a strange murder case involving centuries old thievery of religious relics. The book contains much bigotry and racism, common to that time. The LibriVox audio version was well read by Nicholas Clifford.
February 16, 2022
Entertaining mystery listening 🔰😀
Another will written British romantic thriller mystery adventure novel by J. S. Fletcher about murder, seafaring adventure, stealing, and lying. I would highly recommend this novel to readers of British mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or 🎶 listening to novels 🔰🏡🏰😃 2022
Another will written British romantic thriller mystery adventure novel by J. S. Fletcher about murder, seafaring adventure, stealing, and lying. I would highly recommend this novel to readers of British mysteries. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or 🎶 listening to novels 🔰🏡🏰😃 2022
January 22, 2018
1912 England and the murder of two brothers at the same time and in different locations confounds the police. This is only the start of the story.
An enjoyable mystery with its twists but there was a lot of re-telling throughout the story which did slow the pace somewhat.
An enjoyable mystery with its twists but there was a lot of re-telling throughout the story which did slow the pace somewhat.
January 24, 2019
As good a writer as Doyle or Christi.
February 9, 2021
Great dory from one of my favourite authors of this are
Well done to Nicholas Clifford at LibriVox
Well done to Nicholas Clifford at LibriVox
August 27, 2021
The ending was abrupt, but the story was okay. Good little mystery and detective story.
April 28, 2022
It drove me crazy a lot of the time as it is so slow and long-winded, but at heart it's a good story with a strong plot. I think it would make a good film.
December 28, 2025
2 brothers murdered on the same day but in distant locales. Hidden treasure, Chinese pirates, etc.
December 31, 2016
A complicated, really overly complicated, period piece, replete with cultural stereotyping. To be avoided or read for what it is, a choice made. Interestingly, one of the most maligned? slandered? denigrated? turns out to be the hero of this tale. However Ravensdene seemed to me a book with unsure footing, and so less enjoyable, although still an OK read.
April 13, 2011
another JS Fletcher mystery that is worth reading. A mysterious double murder takes place miles apart at the same time. The antiquties specialist helps the detective solve the case and gets the girl also at the end. Typical book of his time (early 20 centuary).
November 26, 2012
The protagonist visits Northumberland to review some documents, and finds himself investigating a murder.
July 14, 2011
A great mystery. Be aware, however, there is some anti-Chinese prejudice and stereotyping.
July 15, 2012
Well written Edwardian mystery.
May 19, 2017
A most unlikely hero. It was a long wait, but there was some action. Cute ending.
August 1, 2017
Brutto, proprio brutto.
January 20, 2019
I highly recommend the Librivox audio read by Nicholas Clifford.
March 8, 2014
Really enjoyable .
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews