Scarhaven Keep

by J.S. Fletcher

Mysterious disappearance of a famous London actor, who was on the way to an engagement in a provincial town. People are drawn to the small town of Scarhaven to look for him, and everybody has a past and a secret. Did he drown in a tidal spout? Was he murdered by the mysterious new lord recently arrived from the United States? What is the nature of the relationship between this new lord and his estate manager?

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Historical Fiction, Crime, Fiction, British Literature

250 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1920

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

[Msjodi777 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that the time I spent working with librivox.org I discovered several excellent authors I probably never would have heard of any other way - J. S. Fletcher is one of those authors. While we rarely hear about him today, when he was writing he was considered one of the leading writers of detective fiction. Scarhaven Keep is one of his later works, and is excellent. Fletcher's works are so different from today's mysteries/thrillers because they just didn't have the technical knowledge we have today, which, in my opinion makes them just that much better. Because of librivox, I was able to listen to this book in audio which makes me happy - knitting and reading can be done together, if you know about audiobooks. Cathy Barrett may be an amateur narrator but she is actually better than some of the professional narrators who have been reading for years. If you haven't discovered J.S. Fletcher, I highly recommend that you track him down. <><

[Scilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good mystery from 1922. It takes place in northern England. Oliver Bassett, an acter and director of a theater company is missing. A young author Mr. Copplestone, who has come to meet with Bassett and the business manager start out to find him. They track him to Scarhaven, where Copplestone meets Audrey Greyle, the cousin of the Squire of Scarhaven Heep. Bassett has disappeared in Scarhaven and murder is suspected. Of course, there is more than the missing man; another criminal act is discovered as the clues come in, and typical of the 20's mysteries, there is a love interest as well. The plot keeps moving, and I enjoyed the book.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent free download from Kindle. Fletcher can usually be relied on to come up with a few different twists. Very difficult to review this book thoroughly without spoiling the plot. I enjoyed it very much and I recommend it to Golden Age British Detective fans.

[Lawrence FitzGerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good prose, decent characterization and world building, many story elements, no theme.

Part mystery, part thriller, a possible country house murder, being kidnapped and marooned, buried treasure, a police dragnet, and a wonderful girl (of course).

[mzbeastle · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite books are written around the turn of the 20th century. Love the way the stories are constructed, the intrigue, the understated mystery - great stuff! This author is my go-to when I need a break from the monotony of action thrillers (sounds contradictory, but one becomes inured to the same expolosion-gunfight-nasty serial killer genre). Very relaxing to read and try to figure out the answer to the mystery. Love this!

[Joan Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic 1920's mystery novel. There is a love interest, action, and an interesting twist. Worth reading

[Pamela Mclaren · Rating 3 out of 5]

The action all begins in Scarhaven Keep when renowned actor and theater producer Bassett Oliver, someone who never is late to a rehearsal, is missing. His disappearance throws the local theatre into disarray and playwright Richard Copplestone, who has authored a play which Oliver was to produce, finds himself becoming involved in the search for the man, joining Oliver's business manager seeking to discover what the actor did prior to arriving at Scarhaven Keep, home of the newly-named squire of the manor, Marston Greyle. Greyle says that Oliver never arrived but what the squire says and behaves triggers suspicion about what is going on at the Manor.

The plot thickens and multiple characters are introduced that may be connected with the disappearance and death, revealing that there is more to the story than initially thought. There also is quite a bit of intrigue as well. I found is a good, fun read.

[Ape · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was great fun. I am still a little annoyed that it is an abridged version, as I don't remember seeing this advertised when I got it, but I still enjoyed the book and didn't feel like I suffered for it being abridged. Without having read the full version it's hard to say what effect this has had.

It's from the 1920s, a great British melodrama muder-mystery, with lots of twists and turns, double-dealings, what-ho old man!, ruthless villains and running about up and down the country. Although the bulk of it is set in the north of England (J S Fletcher was from Yorkshire!), they're also running down to London, across to Plymouth and Bristol and then all the way up to the Orkneys off the north coast of Scotland.

An actor goes to visit small coastal village of Scarhaven inbetween performances at two local theatres. And he disappears.... Playwright Copplestone has come up north to see the actor on other business, and gets pulled into the investigate. But the more he investigates, the more he realises that the actor's disappearence is only the tip of the iceberg.

Not to be taken too seriously, but it was good fun. I am quite tempted to try more of his books; it's just such a shame that he's out of print for the most part and it'll be hard to get hold of his books. I had decided to try a J S Fletcher book as a couple of months ago I went to see a comedy play called The Lighthouse on the Shivering Sands, which is based on another of his books. I'd not heard of him before then, but apparently he was a very prolific Yorkshire writer.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun mystery, taking place in the early 1920's in Northern England. A famous actor goes missing, and many confusing facts keep popping up as a small group of interested persons search for answers. Ancient dwellings provide hiding places and pitfalls for danger, a good-natured poacher who lives on the run helps them out with his knowledge of all the shortcuts and secret hiding places in a wide area, love happens, thievery, and kidnapping. Detective work before cell phones was so much more complicated! I listened to this as a free audio download from LibriVox.org. (First published in 1922.)

[Martina Sartor · Rating 2 out of 5]

Non c'è enigma.

SPOILER


La vera identità di Marston Greyle si capisce subito (o meglio che lui non è il vero M.G.). Dopo di che, il libro diventa un giallo fatto di inseguimenti, avventure, naufragi su isole deserte, rincorse fra "guardie e ladri" per trovare il malloppo. Il coinvolgimento di Addie Chatfield è prevedibile e l'ultimo mistero sull'identità di Andrius risibile. L'atmosfera delle "vecchie rovine" tiene solo all'inizio fino alla scoperta del cadavere. Poi sparisce.
PS: e non era nemmeno un omicidio! Delusione, somma delusione.

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening 🔰😀

Another will written British romantic thriller adventure mystery novel by Joseph Smith Fletcher with lots of interesting will developed good 👍 and bad 👎 characters. The story line is set in a small village in the English countryside. Where murder takes place and money 💰 goes missing and the fun begins. I would recommend this novel to readers of British mysteries thriller. Enjoy the adventure of books 2021🏰👑🏡

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite authors of the time
Downloaded all his books on kindle and working my way through them
This story keeps your attention all the way through with good characters where some books can wain a little in the middle before the conclusion at the end
It’s a pity this author isn’t more read nowadays like Doyle

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable mystery from the Golden Age of British mystery. Scarhaven Keep is set along the nothern coast of England and is not a typical murder mystery. The characters are engaging and the story moves along well. Fans of this sub-genre are in for a good read.

[Sherry McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received a free copy for a review. This may be an old mystery, but it was interesting and entertaining. I enjoyed every moment while reading it.

[Bev · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bassett Oliver, renowned actor and theatrical producer, is also known for his strict adherence to schedule. So, when he is half an hour late for the first rehearsal at the Theatre Royal in Norcaster, it throws his business manager Mr. Stafford into a bigger tizzy than one might expect. But Oliver has never been late for anything. Ever. The theatrical company had come into Norcaster over the weekend from their previous engagement at Northborough. Oliver's usual plan when engagements are in towns fairly close together is to travel by car and stop somewhere along the way that has interesting sights. His journey this time would have taken him along the coast--along a portion of the coast that could be very dangerous for someone unfamiliar with the terrain.

Also on hand is Richard Copplestone, a young playwright whom Oliver had just telegraphed to say he would produce his play. A meeting had been set at the Royal for Monday as well. Copplestone volunteers to go with Stafford in an attempt to retrace Oliver's steps. They fear an accident, but hope to find the actor alive. The trail leads them to the village of Scarhaven and it seems to end at Scarhaven Keep. The Keep is the home of Marston Greyle, newly-made squire of the manor who had spent his formative years in the United States. Oliver was heard to say that he had met a Marston Greyle while on tour in the States and planned to see visit the Keep and see if his Greyle and the new sauire were one and the same. Greyle claims he never arrived...and no one has seen Oliver since he started up the trail to the Keep.

Oliver's brother comes to the area and immediately fears the worst...and believes Scarhaven Keep to hold the answers. He asks Copplestone to stay in the village and "listen without seeming to listen and observe without seeming to observe." Copplestone has already developed an interest in the case (as well as Greyle's impoverished cousin, Audrey Greyle) and is more than happy to comply. He soon discovers that Marston Greyle is under the thumb of his estate manager (fears him, no less) and finds a web of motives and characters that may explain Oliver's disappearance. But is he dead--and, if so, how did he die?

Spoilers ahead! I can't really talk about my reaction without them...read at your own risk.


So--this mystery really falls more in the suspense/adventure category than well-plotted mystery. There is lots of intrigue, skulduggery, and jiggery-pokery going on. There are secrets and plots and a dose of attempted theft. I thoroughly enjoyed Copplestone and his involvement. The first few chapters when he and Stafford were playing detectives and tracking down Oliver were good, but then it took a deep dive into adventure and "let's throw the rules out the window." Oliver dies--but no one gets the blame because it's supposedly not a murder. The villains try to swindle Audrey and her mother out of their just inheritance--but everything is returned and we're not going to fuss over it. The villains of the piece get away and one of them even gets a nice pension out of it and we're all supposed to be happy. Well...I'm not. I feel cheated. No real murder. No real justice. So the ending just kind of falls flat. ★★ and 1/2 [rounded up here]

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

[Lilirose · Rating 1 out of 5]

Un giallo senza giallo.
Il libro è anche scorrevole, ma manca completamente la suspense. C'è un inizio promettente, con un attore scomparso in un pittoresco villaggio della costa inglese: peccato che già prima della metà venga risolto il cosiddetto "mistero" e il focus si sposti su una ben poco plausibile cospirazione e un ancor meno plausibile tesoro nascosto. Il resto della vicenda diventa un'avventura rocambolesca tra isole deserte, appostamenti e inseguimenti. La conclusione poi è nonsense, un lieto fine forzato e illogico.
Il ritmo sostenuto e una certa brillantezza nei toni lo salvano dall'essere un completo disastro, ma le troppe ingenuità e soprattutto la mancanza di una trama mystery degna di questo nome rendono il romanzo non solo dimenticabile ma addirittura evitabile.

[Karmakosmik · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un giallo piuttosto atipico, dal momento che sembra più una specie di action che crime. Infatti, la morte del famoso attore di teatro rimane praticamente subito in ombra per far spazio ad una cospirazione, possiamo chiamarla così, che ruota tutto intorno al piccolo paesino di Scarhaven. Ci sono alcuni colpi di scena piuttosto inaspettati, che rendono il libro una piacevole ed avvincente lettura. Peccato per il finale, buttato via così ed a mio avviso senza alcun senso. Sembra fatto più per chiudere il libro in qualche maniera, che altro.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

There really is no "mystery" involved in this and precious little by way of detection, despite amateur, private and professional investigators being involved.

There is, as ever with JSF, plenty going on. There are three mysterious deaths, impersonations, financial shenanigans, abduction, marooning, and buried gold to keep the reader interested, and the usual light romance. There is even a slight twist towards the end.

However it is pretty tame, if well-written, and a little lacking in real drama, despite a promising setting on a rugged northern coast.

3.25 stars.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the prevalence of coincidence -that remarkable concurrence of events or circumstances without apparent causal connection - there is enough meat on the bones of plot in Scarhaven Keep to make a decent read. I'm now fully aware what to expect in the next Fletcher, and have begun to wonder if Jessica isn't his imaginary granddaughter.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

A famous actor, Oliver Bassett, goes missing in a small coastal English village, and many confusing facts keep popping up as a small group of interested persons which brings together outsider Richard Copplestone and and Scarhaven resident Audrey Greyle as the search for answers begins. Was he murdered? As the story unfolds more and more things are discovered along with twists and turns.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorites by this author. A young playwright heads to a meeting with an actor-manager. But the man has disappeared, and the explanation reveals that several people in the quiet community of Scarhaven are not what they seem. A series of discoveries and twists (although the last one may have been a step too far) change the playwright's life completely.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bassett Oliver, actor and producer has gone missing while on a Sunday excursion. It fall to playwright Richard Copplestone to start the investigation and re-trace his steps of the previous day. What secrets will be revealed in this mystery set in 1913 and written in the 1920s.
An enjoyable story.

[John Keeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Very Interesting Mystery By J.S. Fletcher

Much of what is going on in this book is very clear. However that doesn’t mean everything is clear. To say more would most likely not be wise. I would definitely suggest reading the book.

[Mark Rabideau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good mystery, filled with interesting turns & twists. The characters are interesting as is the plot. FWIW this is the first J.S. Fletcher I have read where there was NOT a murder in an open-pit mine.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

An old style mystery read very clearly by a solo Librivox reader.

[Anicius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced mystery of a murder and a recovered inheritance.

[Larry-Marlene Kershner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ripping tale until the disappointing end. JS Fletcher is one of my favorite authors, but he sure copped out on this one.

[John Sheets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author is one of the many English writers from the golden age--1920's and 1930's--almost as prolific as Edgar Wallace. Story is fast-moving, suspensful, but the characters are one-dimensional and stiff.

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as The Middle Temple Murder and a bit of a lame ending but JSF writes in the John Buchan mould and as he wrote over 200 books, they are inevitably not all of the same quality.

I downloaded several free from Amazon so I will read another one or two to see whether it is worth continuing.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun look back in time in solving mysterious deaths. One has to be patient at times reading expressions of the time period, but the setting of this adventure was interesting and the characters certainly lively and extreme as usual with Fletcher's writing.