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Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #27
Mr. Polton Explains
Told through the eyes of a watchmaker, Dr Thorndyke is once again faced with a nettly mystery involving a mysterious fire in a Soho house filled with supposedly inflammable objects. What transpires is an entertaining and amazing twist thanks to the eagle eyes of the Doctor and his friend the watchmaker, Mr Polton.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1940
About the author
R. Austin Freeman
606 books90 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 - 17 of 17 reviews
April 8, 2020
Good mystery in this 27th entry in the Dr. Thorndyke series but the real attraction for me was we finally get to hear how Mr. Polton met Dr. Thorndyke and came to be in his employ.
April 30, 2019
I have now read all the Thorndyke novels save one. I must admit that this is one of my favorites, if not the favorite of the lot.
It is not so much for the murder mystery, which was nicely conceived and executed, but rather for the first part, which so many other reviewers chose to skip, Mr Polton's narrative.
One of the drawbacks to Freeman's Thorndyke oeuvre is that so much is devoted to the mysteries and forensics, while characterizations remain sketchy. For all of Conan Doyle's failings, he did manage to create such three dimensional characters in his Holmes stories that is one of many reasons why the Holmes stories have enjoyed their phenomenal popularity for more than a century.
Mr. Polton Explains by virtue of its first half narrator being one of the most quixotic and appealing of the cast of standing characters stands out from the other novels. Finally the mystery of Mr. Polton is illuminated.
Polton's narrative manages to truly take the voice and persona of Thorndyke's assistant and gives us not only his background, but a sense of how hard it could be to survive in the London of the late 19th and 20th century, even if one was supplied with native intelligence and great skill. Polton's story is at turns triumphant and heartbreaking.
What I loved the most was finally learning how he came to work for Dr. Thorndyke, and finally get an understanding of his devotion to him. We know that the medico-legal specialist is brilliant and kind, it is wonderful at last to see him as a much more admirable and human character through Polton's introduction to their early history.
It is not so much for the murder mystery, which was nicely conceived and executed, but rather for the first part, which so many other reviewers chose to skip, Mr Polton's narrative.
One of the drawbacks to Freeman's Thorndyke oeuvre is that so much is devoted to the mysteries and forensics, while characterizations remain sketchy. For all of Conan Doyle's failings, he did manage to create such three dimensional characters in his Holmes stories that is one of many reasons why the Holmes stories have enjoyed their phenomenal popularity for more than a century.
Mr. Polton Explains by virtue of its first half narrator being one of the most quixotic and appealing of the cast of standing characters stands out from the other novels. Finally the mystery of Mr. Polton is illuminated.
Polton's narrative manages to truly take the voice and persona of Thorndyke's assistant and gives us not only his background, but a sense of how hard it could be to survive in the London of the late 19th and 20th century, even if one was supplied with native intelligence and great skill. Polton's story is at turns triumphant and heartbreaking.
What I loved the most was finally learning how he came to work for Dr. Thorndyke, and finally get an understanding of his devotion to him. We know that the medico-legal specialist is brilliant and kind, it is wonderful at last to see him as a much more admirable and human character through Polton's introduction to their early history.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 15, 2017
I read this one while I had a ton of other crap going on, which was a bad idea. These books normally don't take very long to read but this one just kept getting pushed to the side for other things. I started it out enthusiastically enough, because for the first time ever you get to learn Polton's backstory and hear (part of) the book from his perspective! It was really interesting to learn about a character so dutiful and handy but otherwise only serving in the background.
But then it switched back to Jervis and it was the same old story. Not only that but none of the characters were directly or actively involved in this case, which I think is a first. They investigated it but there was so little mentioned until the end that it seemed like a lot of unnecessary filler for the most part. They looked over a burned body and went to the premises but didn't find anything; the rest was hearsay from Inspector Blandy or other parties. It was really lacking in even intellectual action, something I've come to enjoy about these books. Very interesting premise and a good start, but ultimately a bit on the dragging and boring side.
But then it switched back to Jervis and it was the same old story. Not only that but none of the characters were directly or actively involved in this case, which I think is a first. They investigated it but there was so little mentioned until the end that it seemed like a lot of unnecessary filler for the most part. They looked over a burned body and went to the premises but didn't find anything; the rest was hearsay from Inspector Blandy or other parties. It was really lacking in even intellectual action, something I've come to enjoy about these books. Very interesting premise and a good start, but ultimately a bit on the dragging and boring side.
September 7, 2014
Brilliant but... it takes a long, long time to get to the story. Only an Austin Freeman fan would suffer through Polton's protracted autobiography, fascinating though it is. Because it seems to be leading nowhere. Of course, in part two the strands are woven back in and all makes sense. This is not a good introduction to the Thorndyke novels but it raises a good question: if all the Thorndyke tales had been written through the pov of Polton, a far more amiable character, the world might still be reading Austin Freeman as enthusiastically as it does Conan Doyle!
June 19, 2019
An unusual Thorndyke story: for once who don't know what happened, nor how it happened, until the end and half the book is devoted to the autobiography of Nat Polton, Dr. Thorndyke's technical assistant. Polton's narrative is a vivid depiction of a London long gone peppered with technical details, some of which become crucial in the detective story of the second half. We get to find out how Polton met Thorndyke. And we get the mystery of a particularly dissatisfying case of death by misadventure.
April 11, 2015
This is my final Thorndyke novel. In my reviews, I have often commented on whether there was enough Polton in the book. Well I certainly can't complain about this one. The solution to the mystery is far too obvious if you've read enough Freeman, but it's well enough done. For me, though, the big question remains, what happened to Aunt Judy and Maggie? I'm going to go right back to the beginning and see if they get a mention anywhere else in this remarkable body of work!
January 5, 2017
The first half of the book is an interesting insight into the background of Polton which although, I thought, a bit too long set the scene for what happened with Thorndyke in the second half of the story. As usual R.A.F.'s attention to detail is phenomenal. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to lovers of analytical detection.
July 3, 2010
A delightful little book. The best part was Part I, where we are introduced to Mr. Polton and learn how he came to be an expert on clocks and such mechanical devices. Part 2, the actual mystery, was pretty good, although a bit drawn out, and I guessed most of the solution far too early.
April 6, 2015
If you ever wanted to know Mr. Polton's backstory, this is the book for you. It is so much fun to read and I find myself falling more in love with Polton and Dr. Thorndyke than ever.
February 2, 2025
The strength and pleasure of the novel Mr. Polton Explains is in its first half: a memoir by Polton about his early apprenticeship years. This section ends as Polton is united for the first time with Dr Thorndyke. We know from previous volumes in the series that he will become Thorndyke’s quartermaster, lab assistant, and man of all work. In other words:
“[….] A benevolent Joshua has ordained that I [Nathaniel Polton] shall live the days of my life in perpetual sunshine; and that Joshua’s name is John Thorndyke.”
Excerpts from the second half:
[….] [Inspector] Blandy smiled benignly, and, opening the envelope, drew from it a single sheet of paper; and when he had quickly glanced at its contents, he positively beamed. “Dr. Thorndyke’s statement,” said he, “is, in effect, a very brief summary of your own.”
[….] “‘Summary of the circumstances attending the death of Gustavus Haire as suggested by evidence in my possession.
“‘Haire had planned to murder Cecil Moxdale, presumably, to secure the reversion of a bequest of four thousand pounds, and then, by means of a certain mechanism, to start a fire in the rooms while he was absent in Dublin. He prepared the rooms by filling them with inflammable material and planted certain marked, uninflammable objects to enable Moxdale’s body to be identified. On the 14th of April, he set the mechanism to discharge in the early morning of the 19th. At about six p.m. on the 14th he brought Moxdale to the rooms and attempted to murder him. But the attempt failed; and in the struggle which ensued, Haire’s neck became dislocated. Then Moxdale, knowing that he had been seen to enter the premises with Haire, and fearing that he would be accused of murder, decided to go to Dublin and personate Haire to make it appear that Haire was then alive. He started for Dublin in the evening of the 14th and remained there until the evening of the 18th, when he apparently returned to England.’
Moxdale drew a deep breath. “That is a blessed relief,” he exclaimed. “And now what is to be done? Are you going to arrest me?”
“[….] A benevolent Joshua has ordained that I [Nathaniel Polton] shall live the days of my life in perpetual sunshine; and that Joshua’s name is John Thorndyke.”
Excerpts from the second half:
[….] [Inspector] Blandy smiled benignly, and, opening the envelope, drew from it a single sheet of paper; and when he had quickly glanced at its contents, he positively beamed. “Dr. Thorndyke’s statement,” said he, “is, in effect, a very brief summary of your own.”
[….] “‘Summary of the circumstances attending the death of Gustavus Haire as suggested by evidence in my possession.
“‘Haire had planned to murder Cecil Moxdale, presumably, to secure the reversion of a bequest of four thousand pounds, and then, by means of a certain mechanism, to start a fire in the rooms while he was absent in Dublin. He prepared the rooms by filling them with inflammable material and planted certain marked, uninflammable objects to enable Moxdale’s body to be identified. On the 14th of April, he set the mechanism to discharge in the early morning of the 19th. At about six p.m. on the 14th he brought Moxdale to the rooms and attempted to murder him. But the attempt failed; and in the struggle which ensued, Haire’s neck became dislocated. Then Moxdale, knowing that he had been seen to enter the premises with Haire, and fearing that he would be accused of murder, decided to go to Dublin and personate Haire to make it appear that Haire was then alive. He started for Dublin in the evening of the 14th and remained there until the evening of the 18th, when he apparently returned to England.’
Moxdale drew a deep breath. “That is a blessed relief,” he exclaimed. “And now what is to be done? Are you going to arrest me?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 4, 2020
The first half of this book where Mr Polton explains was very entertaining. But the second half with a different narrator which tells of a rather lame mystery was heavy going. Somehow the detailed explanations of the workings of a clock were interesting when told by a novice clock enthusiast in the first section, but when we go through it all again with a different narrator it was all getting a bit tedious.
And don't start me on the last chapter where in a dialogue between two people they discuss everything that had proceeded to each other quite needlessly! Needless I suppose, except for any readers who hadn't been paying attention and required it to all be explained to them a second time.
And don't start me on the last chapter where in a dialogue between two people they discuss everything that had proceeded to each other quite needlessly! Needless I suppose, except for any readers who hadn't been paying attention and required it to all be explained to them a second time.
October 2, 2020
For long standing fans of the Thorndyke series, this is a fascinating insight into the world of the resourceful Mr Polton. If this is your first Thorndyke book, you may find the first part of the story somewhat long winded and hard work.
The plot itself is one of the more simple in the series and, as usual, Jervis fails to pick up on the clues. If I was in Thorndyke's position, Jervis would have been cut from the team and the admirable Polton given a greater role.
The plot itself is one of the more simple in the series and, as usual, Jervis fails to pick up on the clues. If I was in Thorndyke's position, Jervis would have been cut from the team and the admirable Polton given a greater role.
May 2, 2025
Fascinating mystery. The first half of the book is a retrospective of the life of Mr. Polton which provides necessary background information for the solution to the ingenious mystery. Mr. Polton, now Dr. Thorndyke's assistant, proves invaluable in solving this case. I admit I had my suspicions, and did note some of the carefully placed clues, but still very much enjoyed this book.
August 7, 2020
7/10 I think that young Polton isn't the same person as old Polton.
January 15, 2022
This is one of his best! Told from the perspective of Mr. Polton, Dr. Thorndyke's assistant it is a thoroughly enjoyable read. I have read it many times and enjoy it every time!
June 23, 2021
Mr Polton , assistant to Dr Thorndyke explains his life story as it reflects on a case. That of the burning down of a building and the discovery of a body within. A lot of technical explanations which were not that interesting. But the mystery was of interest.
May 28, 2021
One of Freeman's best.
The origin of the inimitable Nathaneal Polton
The origin of the inimitable Nathaneal Polton
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews