Classic Detective Stories
Classic Detective Stories is a weekly podcast hosted by Tony Walker that explores the rich heritage of crime fiction, from the intricate puzzles of the Golden Age to the gritty streets of the hardboiled era. Each episode features timeless tales written by masters such as Agatha Christie, Arthur Conan Doyle, Raymond Chandler, Edgar Allan Poe, and Dashiell Hammett. The series begins with Poe's groundbreaking “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” and spans stories through the 1950s. Guest narrators and occasional appearances by Sherlock Holmes bring these classic whodunits to life, promising a twist that keeps listeners guessing until the very end.
Episodes
The Story of the Czarina's Diamonds by Richard Harding Davis
Following on from The Story of the Naval Attaché last week, we move onto part 2 of Richard Harding Davis's novella: In The Fog, in which a Queen's Messenger has an encounter with the seductive, charming, ruthless, femme fatale, Russian spy Princess Zichy.
It takes place not in the fog, but in an overnight train from Paris to the French Riviera.
Oozing period charm, it reminded me a bit of The La
The Story of the Naval Attache by Richard Harding Davis
On a winter night when London has quite forgotten the idea of light, an American naval attaché loses his way in the yellow murk near Knightsbridge. The streets are gone, the landmarks drowned; only an occasional scrap of gaslight or distant music proves the city is still there at all. Groping along an iron railing, he finds an open gate, a half‑closed door, and a silent, richly furnished house tha
The Adventure of the Copper Beeches by Arthur Conan Doyle
Miss Violet Hunter has been offered a post as governess at a salary so far above the ordinary. The conditions attached are small, and each on its own might be put down to an employer's eccentricity. She goes a handsome house in the Hampshire countryside, where the beech trees burn copper in the evening light. But, as you might imagine, things are not what they seem.
"The Adventure of the Coppe
The Adventure of the Beryl Coronet by Arthur Conan Doyle
On a bitter winter morning in London, a respected banker arrives at Baker Street half‑mad with terror. In his keeping was one of the most precious ornaments of the British Empire; now it lies twisted and mutilated, and every sign points to betrayal within his own house. Snow has fallen, secrets have stirred, and somewhere between a locked bureau and a silent suburban garden, honour, love, and ruin
The Adventure of the Noble Bachelor (Sherlock Holmes) by Arthur Conan Doyle
A bride vanishes from her own wedding breakfast. Her clothes are found floating in the Serpentine. A jealous woman is taken away by the police. Every sign points toward something dark, something final — and yet Sherlock Holmes, reading the morning papers over his breakfast in Baker Street, has already seen something that no one else has thought to look for.
Not all disappearances are what they se
The Adventure of the Engineer's Thumb by Arthur Conan Doyle
A young hydraulic engineer is offered an unusually generous fee for a small, secret piece of work. The commission requires absolute discretion; the journey must be made at night; and the house to which he is taken seems designed to vanish from memory.
What begins as an odd professional errand becomes a winter journey into locked rooms, guarded silences, strange machinery, and a danger too close
The Man With The Twisted Lip (Sherlock Holmes) by A. Conan Doyle
In a reeking opium den on the riverside, Dr Watson is looking for a lost soul when he stumbles on something stranger than any drugged vision: an old man who isn’t what he seems, and a disappearance that may not be a crime at all. Clothes without a body, blood on a windowsill, a woman who insists her husband is alive when everyone else is certain he is dead.
First published in The Strand Magazine
The Five Orange Pips (Sherlock Holmes) by Arthur Conan Doyle
Five dried orange pips, sent through the post with no letter, no explanation, only three initials scrawled beneath them. Twice before, the same type of letter arrived at an English door.
Twice, within weeks, a man was dead.
Now a third message has come, addressed to a man who comes seeking Sherlock Holme's help.
Somewhere across an ocean, an old debt has not been forgotten. Sherlock Holmes has
A Case of Identity by Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes)
A woman comes to Baker Street with a hundred pounds a year, a typewriter, and a fiancé who has vanished into thin air as if he had never existed at all.
Sherlock Holmes never leaves his chair but deduces its solution anyway.
Somewhere in a plush sleeve, a torn glove, an ill-fitting boot, the truth is already sitting in plain sight — waiting only to be noticed by those who know how to think.
"
Dancing Dan's Christmas by Damon Runyon
On Christmas Eve during Prohibition, a burglar named Dancing Dan drinks hot Tom and Jerrys at Good Time Charley's speakeasy with the narrator and the proprietor. Dan has been courting Miss Muriel O'Neill, a nightclub worker, despite the dangerous attention of Heine Schmitz, a violent Harlem mobster who considers her his own. As the evening wears on and the liquor flows, Dan arrives with a suspicio
The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle by Arthur Conan Doyle
A battered hat. A Christmas goose. A puzzle that begins in jest.
On a winter evening in Baker Street, what starts as idle curiosity leads Sherlock Holmes into the heart of London's markets and back alleys, where something precious has gone astray and the wrong man may pay the price.
The trail winds through shopkeepers and strangers, each holding one fragment of the truth. But detection is not me
Rear WIndow by Cornell Woolrich
Read by Brendan Sullivan
A man, stuck inside with time on his hands, watches the small theatre of neighbouring lives through a single window. Patterns harden into questions; silences feel heavier than noise. An ordinary evening acquires edges: late footsteps, a restless light, a habit broken. Curiosity grows teeth. What do you really know about people you never meet—only study from across the bri
The Inoffensive Captain by E C Bentley
A dangerous prisoner has escaped from Dartmoor, and the police are certain he will return to where he stashed the stolen jewels whose whereabouts remain maddeningly obscure. When Inspector Muirhead comes to Philip Trent's rooms, he brings not evidence but an enigma: a letter whose phrasing seems deliberately cryptic, as though its author were speaking in code.
First published in The Strand Magazi
The Mystery of the Child's Toy by Leslie Charteris
wo men are out late for dinner in a swanky hotel: one is a detective, the other writes detective stories. They notice three Wall Street tycoons at a nearby table. Before the night ends, one of those men is found dead. The detective says it’s suicide. The detective story writer says it’s not.
Publication: First published in 1934 in Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror, Third Series
The Adventure of the Speckled Band by Arthur Conan Doyle
A young woman arrives at Baker Street with a story of barred shutters, a locked room, and a low whistle in the small hours. Holmes and Watson travel to a crumbling country house where money, menace, and family obedience coil tightly together. There is a dying warning that makes no sense, a bed fixed to the floor, and a bell-pull that rings nothing. Night falls; the air grows close; and in the hush
Death on the Air by Ngaio Marsh
Was it accident, or murder? On a frosty Christmas morning, the household of Septimus Tonks awakens to a grim discovery: their patriarch lies lifeless beside his wireless set, seemingly electrocuted. Chief Detective-Inspector Alleyn arrives to find more than just a tragic accident; he finds a family simmering with resentment, secrets festering beneath a veneer of festive cheer, and a tangled web of
The Red-Headed League by Arthur Conan Doyle
Can a hair colour be sinister, Holmes? A London pawnbroker, lured by the absurd Red-Headed League, unwittingly becomes a pawn in a far grander scheme. As Jabez Wilson carries out his bizarre task, Sherlock Holmes meticulously unravels a plot far more audacious than it seems. What is the motive behind this strange organisation? Join us as we investigate dark motives and cunning schemes in this clas
Abraham Lincoln's Clue by Ellery Queen
This story by two American cousins, Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee, writing under the name Ellery Queen, is a classic of Golden Age American detective fiction, narrated for us by the accomplished Brendan Sullivan with his classic smooth voice!
I hope you enjoy the story and enjoy Brendan's narration.
Tony
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Cheating the Gallows by Israel Zwangill
Two men share a room, yet live separate lives. One vanishes with a fortune, the other consoles the abandoned bride. But the evidence stacks up, a man is condemned, justice is served. Or is it? In the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London, a shocking story begins to unfold. A scandal, a disappearance, a ghostly visitation... prepare to be drawn into a web of intrigue and deceit, where nothing is
Wrong Pigeon by Raymond Chandler
How far does corruption reach? A single pencil, sharpened to a point, sends a shiver down Marlowe's spine. The message is clear: stay out. But for a man with a code, some lines can't be crossed. Dive into a world where cops and criminals dance a dangerous tango, and a good deed might get you killed. Tune in.
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The Footprint in the Sky by John Dickson Carr (1940)
A woman is found beaten, her home ransacked. Outside, the fresh snow holds only one set of footprints—leading straight to the scene and back again.
They belong to a young woman known for sleepwalking. She has no memory of the crime… but with no other tracks, who else could it have been?
The case seems clear. The evidence is certain. And yet… something is wrong.
This impossible crime is the work of
The Mystery of the Sleeping-Car Express by Freeman Wills Crofts
"The Mystery of the Sleeping Car Express" plunges readers into an intricate railway puzzle where a seemingly impossible crime unfolds within the confines of a sleeping car. The story, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century train travel, presents an engaging enigma wherein the limitations of space and time serve to deepen the intrigue. As suspicions mount and alibis clash, the truth remains
We Know You're Busy Writing... by Edmund Crispin
In "We Know You're Busy Writing, But We Thought You Wouldn't Mind If We Just Dropped in for a Minute", Edmund Crispin crafts a darkly humorous tale of a writer's frustration. Mr Bradley, a detective story author, struggles to meet his deadline in his quiet Devon cottage. His work is derailed by the arrival of two unexpected visitors who can't seem to remember his name.
As the interlopers make them
A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle
In the shadowy streets of Victorian London, Sherlock Holmes faces a challenge unlike any other. A monarch's past threatens to shatter the delicate balance of European politics. A single photograph holds the power to ruin reputations and topple a throne. At the centre of this intrigue stands the enigmatic Irene Adler, a woman whose wit and resolve may rival Holmes's own. As the great detective delv
Light Fingers by Francis Durbridge
A quiet New Year's drive takes an unexpected turn for Paul Temple, when a speeding car nearly tosses him and his wife, Steve, into darkness. Yet, beneath the chill of the winter night, a hidden pursuit beckons—more than just a collision on a lonely road. When an old acquaintance in uniform appears, revealing the chase for the assailant is well underway, Temple feels the familiar pull of intrigue.
Rumpole and The Hanging Judge by John Mortimer
In "Rumpole and the Hanging Judge," the echoes of an unresolved past reverberate as Horace Rumpole meets Lord Justice Truscott, a formidable hanging judge. Their paths cross once more, reigniting old tensions and stirring memories of a case that haunts Rumpole deeply. Truscott, now at the twilight of his career, seeks Rumpole’s company for lunch, exuding an unsettling confidence that reveals layer
The Woman In The Big Hat (1910) by Baroness Orczy
In a Regent Street tea room in the heart of Edwardian London, a man lies dead. The only clue: a woman wearing an enormous hat. As Scotland Yard's finest struggle to unravel the mystery, Lady Molly Robertson-Kirk steps forward. With her keen eye for fashion and uncanny ability to see what others miss, she delves into a world where appearances deceive and class tensions simmer. But even Lady Molly m
The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle
In the tranquil countryside of Boscombe Valley, a shocking murder shatters the peace, and all evidence points to an obvious suspect. But Sherlock Holmes, with his keen eye and brilliant mind, senses a deeper mystery lurking beneath the surface. As he delves into the case, Holmes uncovers a web of long-buried secrets and hidden motives that challenge everything Scotland Yard believes. With each ste
The Necklace of Pearls by Dorothy L Sayers
"Tinsel, trinkets, and... treachery? At Sir Septimus Shale's grand country house, where Christmas cheer blankets every nook and cranny, a string of precious pearls has vanished faster than a mince pie in a hungry caroler's mouth. Lord Peter Wimsey, our intrepid sleuth, finds himself knee-deep in Yuletide shenanigans and upper-crust eccentricities. As carols echo through holly-decked halls and the
Murder at Pentecost by Dorothy L Sayers
Whose hand strikes the fatal blow?
Within the ancient walls of Pentecost College a murder shatters the scholarly peace. Montague Egg, a sharp-eyed wine salesman, steps into a web of whispered secrets and hidden motives.
Confusion looms large as confessions echo through the halls, and lies mask truths yet to be uncovered.
Join us as we navigate a world where appearances deceive and academic knowled
The Oxford Way of Death by Robert Barnard
Would you kill for a glass of port?
Join us in The Oxford Way of Death, where the hallowed halls of St. Pothinus’s are alive with more than just dusty books. The Fellows, entangled in their routines and rituals, find their complacency disrupted with hilariously dark consequences. As new ideas ripple through, academic eccentricities give way to unexpected chaos—and even a touch of murder. Robert Ba
A Dangerous Thing by H R F Keating
In the hushed halls of the British Library Reading Room, a sanctuary of knowledge hides a chilling secret. When an elderly professor is found murdered amidst at his desk, the scholarly calm of the Reading Room is shattered.
Enter Mrs. Craggs, a humble charwoman with a sharp eye and a knack for uncovering truths others overlook. Overlooked herself by a world of scholars and "whizzers," she carries
The Killing of Michael Finnegan
Is patriotism worth the cost?
In the volatile landscape of 1980s Britain, this question haunts every counter-terrorism operative.
Michael Gilbert's "The Killing of Michael Finnegan" draws you into a high-stakes game where loyalty is fleeting and deception is currency.
As seasoned agents Calder and Behrens race to thwart an IRA plot, they navigate a maze of half-truths and double-crosses. With ea
Hunted Down by Charles Dickens
Can perfect manners mask a murderer?
In Victorian London, Charles Dickens crafted a tale of calculated evil lurking behind a respectable smile. A gentleman whose perfectly groomed appearance and cultured conversation conceal something far more sinister. In the gaslit streets and elegant drawing rooms, a deadly game unfolds. Someone watches from the shadows - but nothing is quite what it seems.
Di
A Trap to Catch a Cracksman by E. W. Hornung
In the glittering world of Edwardian London, where wealth flaunts itself shamelessly, a brash American boxer throws down an irresistible gauntlet. Barney Maguire, flush with prize money and sporting gaudy trophies, boasts of an unbeatable trap for thieves in his opulent Half-moon Street residence. Enter A.J. Raffles, gentleman thief extraordinaire, whose code of honor is matched only by his appeti
The Case of the Purloined Letter by Edgar Allan Poe
In the dark streets of 1840s Paris C. Auguste Dupin confronts his most perplexing case yet: a missing letter, a cunning thief, and a hidden agenda that could shake the very foundations of the French elite. The stakes? The stability of the government and the honour of a desperate royal.
As alliances shift and secrets emerge, Dupin must use his prowess to recover the purloined letter and outsmart
The Mystery at Number Seven by Mrs Henry Wood
In "The Mystery at Number Seven," the tranquil facade of a Victorian seaside town conceals a web of dark secrets.
When an unexplained death occurs in a seemingly ordinary household, suspicion falls on various characters, each harbouring their own hidden passions and motives. Through the eyes of Johnny Ludlow, we witness amateur sleuths unravel a tale filled with unexpected twists and moral dilemma
The Final Problem by Arthur Conan Doyle
Thank you to Gavin Critchley for sponsoring this episode.
In the shadowy streets of Victorian London, Sherlock Holmes faces his greatest challenge yet. As the detective's brilliant career reaches its zenith, a sinister presence emerges from the criminal underworld—Professor James Moriarty, the Napoleon of Crime.
With the stakes higher than ever before, Holmes and Watson embark on a perilous jour
Murder! by Arnold Bennett - 1927
Arnold Bennett's "Murder!" is a thought-provoking subversion of the classic detective story. Set against the backdrop of early 20th-century Britain, this tale delves into the murky waters of morality and justice, challenging readers to question their preconceptions about right and wrong.
Bennett skilfully weaves a narrative that goes beyond the simple question of 'whodunit', instead inviting us to
The Adventure of the Three Students by Arthur Conan Doyle
In a quiet university town, Sherlock Holmes confronts a crime that threatens to destroy more than just academic reputations. As he investigates the theft of crucial examination papers, Holmes uncovers a web of ambition, desperation, and long-buried secrets. With each clue—a scrap of clay, a peculiar pencil, a torn leather surface—the great detective inches closer to a truth that will challenge his
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Chapters 19-22
The. Murder or Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. The penultimate episode! Things are hotting up and you can almost guess whodunnit. Only Poirot knows!
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The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (Chap 14-18)
The Murder of Roger Acrkoyd, Chapters 14-18. A slightly longer one this week as I'm trying to finish the serialisation. Even so, I reckon we have 2 weeks left after this.
In any case, Chapter 16 the Mah Jong game is one of Christie's finest - a tour de force of wit and comic characterisation. She really was great.
But I'd listen to Chapter 1 first. Scroll back in the weeks to find it.
Learn more a
The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
In the heart of the eerie moors, a sinister legend lurks, shrouded in mystery and fear. Join the brilliant Sherlock Holmes and his trusty companion Dr. Watson on a treacherous journey to unravel the chilling secrets of the cursed Baskerville family. Will they conquer the malevolent forces that haunt the night, or will they fall prey to the legendary hound? Find out in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's grip
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Chapters 8-10
This is the third episode of our serialisation of the classic Agatha Christie story: The Murder of Roger Ackroyd. I don't want to say too much about it, other than it will make more sense to listen to part 1 first, then part 2 and then this one.
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The Monkey Murder by Stuart Palmer
Prepare to be entangled in a web of mystery and deception with Stuart Palmer's "The Monkey Murder"! When Janet Wayland is found dead in a locked room, bizarrely bound by the tail of a monkey statue, even the seasoned Inspector Oscar Piper is left baffled. Enter the sharp-witted, no-nonsense schoolteacher Hildegarde Withers, whose keen eye for detail might just crack this seemingly impossible case.
The Mysterious Visitor by R. Austin Freeman
Step into the world of razor-sharp deduction and ingenious crime-solving with the brilliant detective Thorndyke and his trusty companion Jardine. In this gripping tale of murder and mystery, nothing is as it seems. As the story unfolds, you'll be drawn into a web of intrigue where the killer remains elusive, defying the conventions of classic detective fiction. With each twist and turn, Thorndyke'
The House in Gobiin Wood by Carter Dickson
Welcome to my narration of 'The House in Goblin Wood' by Carter Dickson (John Dickson Carr), where engaging characters and enigmatic disappearances unfold in a captivating tale. Join Sir Henry Merrivale and a cast of vibrant characters as they navigate a secluded house filled with faeries and secrets waiting to be unraveled. Prepare to be drawn into a world where logic is challenged, and mysteries
Three Is A Lucky Number by Margery Allingham
Imagine the chilling precision of a man who has successfully carried out two murders, now meticulously planning his third. In "Three is a Lucky Number" by Margery Allingham, step into the mind of Ronald Frederick Torbay as he targets his unsuspecting new wife, Edyth. With a plot that twists and turns, this suspenseful tale will keep you on the edge of your seat. Will Ronald's sinister plans succee
The Eye of Apollo by G. K Chesteron
In the bustling heart of Westminster, beneath the towering shadows of Parliament and the Abbey, a new and enigmatic symbol rises—a giant, golden eye, blazing from a modern skyscraper. This is the temple of the sun-worshipper Kalon, a charismatic prophet whose followers believe that true enlightenment comes from staring directly at the sun. But when a tragic and mysterious death occurs in this very
The Adventurous Exploit of the Cave of Ali Baba by Dorothy L. Sayers
In the dim heart of Lambeth, a man who might once have served the finest households sits sipping his morning coffee, unaware that this ordinary moment is the prelude to an extraordinary tale. In a world where aristocrats chase elusive game, one nobleman embarks on a perilous adventure that tests his cunning and courage. Disguises, secret meetings, and high-stakes intrigue unfold as he navigates th
Candidate for a Coffin by T W Ford
Step into the shadowy streets of 1940s New York City, where danger lurks at every corner and the line between hunter and hunted blurs. In "Candidate for a Coffin" by T.W. Ford, a seemingly ordinary subway platform becomes the stage for a chilling game of cat and mouse. With the clock ticking and the tension rising, one man's dark obsession unfolds in a tale of suspense and psychological intrigue.
The Nine Mile Walk by Harry Kemelman
In "The Nine Mile Walk," a seemingly casual breakfast conversation between a newly elected County Attorney and a sharp-witted English professor takes an unexpected turn. What begins as a simple exercise in logic and deduction soon spirals into a gripping mystery that raises more questions than answers. How can a single, innocuous sentence unravel a series of inferences leading to a startling revel
Stan The Killer by Georges Simenon
In the shadowed corners of Paris, Inspector Jules Maigret is on the hunt for a merciless gang led by the elusive Stan the Killer. The stakes are high as Maigret and his team conduct a tense stakeout at the Barrel of Burgundy café, determined to catch the ruthless criminals terrorizing Northern France.
When a desperate Polish man named Michael Ozep offers his help, Maigret faces a dilemma. Can Ozep
Crooked Souls by Dashiell Hammett
"Crooked Souls" is an early short story by Dashiell Hammett, the master of hard-boiled detective fiction. First published in 1923 under the title "The Gatewood Caper," this tale introduces us to the unnamed Continental Op as he investigates a seemingly straightforward kidnapping case that quickly unravels into a web of family secrets, deceit, and twisted motives.
Set against the backdrop of a pro
The Adventure of the Three Garridebs by Arthur Conan Doyle
A Sherlock Holmes mystery. When an eccentric collector named Nathan Garrideb is entangled in a curious challenge involving an alleged inheritance, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are swept into a deceptive whirlwind in early 20th-century London. Nathan is promised a part of a grand estate, but only if he can find others with his rare surname to claim his share. As Holmes delves deeper, the deceit u
Goldfish by Raymond Chandler
Dive into the murky depths of Los Angeles in Raymond Chandler's classic noir tale, "Goldfish." Originally penned for *Black Mask* magazine in 1936, this gripping short story introduces a detective as cunning and charismatic as Chandler's legendary Philip Marlowe. Tasked by the enigmatic Kathy Horne—a woman as alluring as she is mysterious—the detective is plunged into a shadowy chase for the legen
The Footsteps That Ran by Dorothy L. Sayers
Step into the intriguing world of Dorothy L. Sayers' "The Footsteps That Ran." Set within the confines of 24 Great James Street, London, this gripping tale follows the discerning detective Lord Peter Wimsey as he grapples with a puzzling mystery. The echoing footsteps from the room above become a perplexing clue in this riveting narrative, guiding Wimsey along a path fraught with suspense and intr
The Adventure of the Emperor's Dice by Ellery Queen
Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1928 by the American detective fiction writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee. It is also the name of their main fictional detective, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve baffling murder cases. From 1929 to 1971, Dannay and Lee wrote around forty novels and short story collections featuring Ellery Queen as
Dead Man by James M. Cain
Guest Narrator: Michael Rutland, Austin, Tx.
James M. Cain (1892-1977) was an American novelist, journalist, and screenwriter best known for his hardboiled crime fiction. Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Cain began his career as a journalist, working for The Baltimore Sun and The New Yorker. His experiences as a reporter heavily influenced his writing style, which was characterized by its directness,
The Magic Casket by R. Austin Freeman
R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943) was a British writer best known for his detective fiction featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr. Thorndyke. Born in London, Freeman studied medicine and became a physician, serving as a colonial surgeon in West Africa. However, ill health forced him to return to England, where he eventually abandoned his medical practice. Freeman held conservative politi
Beware of The Trains by Edmund Crispin
Guest Narrator: Matthew Jones
My name is Matthew Jones, I used to have a channel 'MJam from London' which sadly got taken down. Ah, well... I've risen from the ashes with the channels below
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAIykVoygG4Y7hj2oou3sgA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV_d51P8y35TqoT2N7FpMjA (my own material)
and most importantly my website which has everything from my old channel
ht
The Hanover Court Murder by Sir Basil Thomson
Sir Basil Thomson (1861–1939) was a British colonial administrator and prison governor, born in Oxford. He hailed from an esteemed background, with his father, William Thomson, serving as the provost of The Queen's College in Oxford before later becoming the Archbishop of York. Basil Thomson received his education at New College, Oxford, where he crossed paths with Montague John Druitt, a figure l
Belgrade 1926 by Eric Ambler
Eric Ambler (1909-1998) was a distinguished English writer renowned for his gripping spy and thriller novels. Born on June 28, 1909, in London, England, Ambler hailed from a family with a background in entertainment; his father was a music hall comedian, while his mother worked as a dressmaker. His early education took place at University College School in London, and later he pursued engineering
The Story of The Spaniards, Hammersmith by E and H Heron
"The Story of the Spaniards, Hammersmith," published in 1898, marked the debut of Flaxman Low, the pioneering psychic detective of fiction. This story, written by the joint authors Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard and his mother, Kate O'Brien Ryall Prichard, set the stage for a series of supernatural investigations that captivated readers of the late Victorian era.
Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard, born on Novemb
Sweating It Out With Dover by Joyce Porter
Joyce Porter was a British mystery author known for her witty and engaging crime novels. Born on February 17, 1924, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, Porter's literary career primarily spanned from the 1960s to the 1970s. She attended Queen Anne's School in Caversham and later studied Modern Languages at Somerville College, Oxford.
Porter gained recognition for her series of novels featuring th
The Riddle of the Yellow Canary by Stuart Palmer
Stuart Palmer (1905–1968) was an accomplished American mystery novelist and screenwriter, best known for his creation of the beloved character Hildegarde Withers. Born on June 21, 1905, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer pursued various odd jobs before finding his calling in fiction. His literary journey began with contributions to Ghost Stories magazine in the late 1920s and early 1930s, sometimes wri
I'll Be Waiting by Raymond Chandler
Guest narrator is Brendan Sullivan
Brendan is an illustrator, artist, and graphic designer from Florida who dabbles in audio storytelling. He’s worked across several industries, from themed attractions to product lines to architecture, and he has a love for using creative color palettes, interesting compositions, and whimsical shapes. He’s admittedly rather fond of oddities and monsters, and will
The False Burton Combs by Caroll John Daly
Guest narrator: Caspar Stockhuyzen. Caspar says: Casper Stokhuyzen (pronunciation at your discretion) and link to the audio drama I am currently starring in (Leaving Corvat). https://open.spotify.com/show/2l0YaWqlom0DbGQ44haICu?si=e5f3c355058440c8 I have also worked on The Deca Tapes https://open.spotify.com/show/6S8iYgJibdA6xkVQnVVo7b?si=8104a08ddad44848 and live in Amsterdam. I also recently di
The Invisible Man by G. K. Chesterton
"With a fierce exclamation and a French gesture..." I'm very curious about both the exclamation and the gesture.
This classic detective story was narrated by Ben Brinicombe, this week's guest narrator.
Here are some links to Ben's work, including his podcast
https://www.buzzsprout.com/757040
Gilbert Keith Chesterton, born in West London in 1874, emerged as a versatile and prolific figure in Engli
Night Shots by Dashiell Hammett
Narrated by Jeff Ronan
http://www.jeffronan.com/
Catch him on Instagram at @jeff.ronan
"Night Shots" - Hammett's Noir Intricacy:
In Dashiell Hammett's story "Night Shots," the nameless detective of the Continental Detective Agency is thrust into a perplexing case that blends a domestic quagmire with an external mystery. The narrative unfolds as the Op receives an assignment to investigate an attem
The Murders in The Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe
Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a captivating and seminal work that holds a significant place in the history of detective fiction and particularly the locked room mystery subgenre. First published in Graham's Magazine in April 1841, this short story marks a crucial milestone in the evolution of mystery literature, laying the foundation for future detective stories.
Set in Pari
Who Killed Bob Teal? by Dashiell Hammett
Narrated by Richard S. Rose.
Richard S. Rose can also be heard, among other places, as the voice of Jarno in “Visionaries”, and the voice of Mac in “Mac (and Bonnie's)” (https://podcasts.apple.com/cy/podcast/mac-and-bonnie-s/id1591682328); he is also the voice of Walt Whitman in the documentary, “In Search of Walt Whitman” seen on PBS and elsewhere. You can hear him reciting Shakespeare in the App
Ask Me Another by Frank Gruber
Frank Gruber was a prolific American author born on February 2, 1904, and he passed away on December 9, 1969. Best known for his contributions to the detective and Western genres, Gruber left an indelible mark on the world of pulp fiction during the mid-20th century.
Gruber's early life was marked by a deep fascination with storytelling and literature. He attended the University of Illinois, where
The Little Restaurant Near Place Des Ternes by Georges Simenon
Georges Joseph Christian Simenon, born on 12/13 February 1903 in Liège, Belgium, and passing away on 4 September 1989, was a prolific Belgian writer renowned for creating the iconic fictional detective Jules Maigret. Simenon's literary legacy extends beyond the realm of detective fiction, with his impressive body of work comprising approximately 400 novels, 21 volumes of memoirs, and numerous shor
Christmas Re-Union by Andrew Caldecott
Sir Andrew Caldecott (1884-1951), a distinguished British civil servant born in Boxley, Kent, ventured into the realm of fiction following his retirement from the colonial administration. Educated at Uppingham School and Exeter College, Oxford, Caldecott's administrative career in Malaya, including roles as Acting Governor of the Straits Settlements and Governor of Hong Kong, showcased his diploma
Secrets in The Snow by J. Jefferson Farjeon
"Secrets in the Snow" is one of many mystery stories written by J. Jefferson Farjeon (1883-1955), this one first appearing in the collection "Best Stories of the Underworld" published in 1942.
In the story, a young woman named Janet decides to continue her journey to a Christmas party on foot when the bus she's travelling on breaks down. But she becomes lost in the snow and, taking refuge in a for
The Stolen Rubens by Jacques Futrelle
Jacques Heath Futrelle, born on April 9, 1875, in Pike County, Georgia, was a distinguished American journalist and mystery writer whose legacy became synonymous with the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. His career unfolded against the backdrop of the early 20th century, where he initially made a name for himself as a journalist, contributing to esteemed publications such as the Atlanta Journal, t
The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire by Arthur Conan Doyle
"The Adventure of the Sussex Vampire" is one of twelve Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and collected in "The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes" between 1921 and 1927. It was first published in January 1924 in The Strand Magazine in London and Hearst's International in New York.
In this story, Mr. Robert Ferguson visits Sherlock Holmes, worried that his second wife from Peru is
