Classic Detective Stories

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...

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...

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...

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," 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

"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 Englis...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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" 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...

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" 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...