Classic Detective Stories

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...

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 a...

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...

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 journe...

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...

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 or Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie. The penultimate episode! Things are hotting up and you can almost guess whodunnit. Only Poirot knows! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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...

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...

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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....

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'...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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" 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...