Occult detectives—sometimes called psychic investigators—have been in vogue since the middle of the 19th century. This collection goes back to the roots of the occult detective story. The earliest story in this collection—Fitz-James O'Brien's «The Pot of Tulips»—originally appeared in 1855. Rare stories by Mary Fortune and Bayard Taylor, famous tales from the end of the 19th century by E. and H. Heron, plus 20th Century stories by Robe ...
Philo Vance is a fictional character featured in 12 crime novels written by S. S. Van Dine (the pen name of Willard Huntington Wright), published in the 1920s and 1930s. During that time, Vance was immensely popular in books, movies, and on the radio. He was portrayed as a stylish, even foppish dandy, a New York bon vivant possessing a highly intellectual bent. The novels were chronicled by his friend Van Dine (who appears as a kind of Dr. Watso ...
Two new short novels featuring attorney Gail Brevard. In THE PURPLE GLOVE MURDERS, Gail and her companion and law partner, Conrad «Connie» Osterlitz, are relaxing at their Southern California mountain hideaway when Gail hears of a nearby tragedy. Retired Justice Winston Craig, a friend of Gail's late father, has been discovered face down near his dock on exclusive Black Bear Lake. The judge's widow, Eva, asks for their help in finding ...
The ancient, sinister castle located in the isolated Welsh countryside is no mere heap of dead stones. It quivers with an evil life of its own. Sinister powers are reaching through the castle gateway from somewhere out beyond–evil, menacing Old Gods that had once been thrust out of the world, but now clamor to return. The stranger who appears at the nearby farm on the hillside isn't coming to fulfill Nora’s romantic dreams–he's got his ...
This volume features 25 novels by some of the top writers of young adult mystery fiction from the 20th century. With more than 2,900 pages of classic crimes, here are the complete Mary Louis Gay series, the complete Madge Sterling series, the complete Penny Nichols series, and many more! Included are: <P> THE MYSTERY OF THE SECRET BAND, by Edith Lavell<BR> THE MYSTERY AT DARK CEDARS, by Edith Lavell<BR> THE MYSTERY OF THE F ...
The patrol car swerved, came to a halt; Ron Webber opened his eyes and looked about dazedly: «Where are we?» «Municipal Hospital,» the officer said. The ceremony was brief: the sheet was raised, and Webber glanced and nodded: «It's him. It's Frank…» Webber performs background checks for insurance companies, alongside his best friend, Frank Milford. Now Frank's dead, and so's the young woman whom he was investigating. Ron want ...
Chip, a screenwriter, just wants to cure his writer's block with an impromptu drive to a small town outside of L.A. But his vehicle is smashed within minutes of his arrival,and then he's beaten in his room atop the strange town's only diner. This poignant and moving noir novella will stun you with, not one, but TWO satisfying twist endings worthy of Mickey Spillane. And this is just the first of eight stories included in this coll ...
The creator of the famous criminologist, Dr. Morelle, here gives us four stories of another brilliant detective, whom the newspapers have dubbed «The Amazing Martin Brett.» Brett appears to be selfish and lazy, and his effort at solving crimes is entirely motivated by the size of his fee. His attractive secretary (and narrator) is often the butt of his sardonic humor and sexist remarks, which she finds unnecessary and uncalled for. But she puts ...
The murder is as impossible as it is horrible. Archeologist Reuben Hayles, following written threats to his life, receives police protection at his home. Superintendent Budd stations himself outside the door of his bedroom, while Sergeant Leek remains on alert outside the room's only external window. Yet Hayles is found dead, his head battered by some tremendous blow. Apart from his corpse, the room is empty, devoid of any possible weapon. ...
