Edgar Wallace

Mr. J. G. Reeder, mild-mannered, slightly shabby, and a throw-back with his mutton-chops and silk hat, is often mistaken for an office clerk. But his superiors have recognized his special gift: Reeder has a criminal mind. As an employee of the Department of Public Prosecutions, he’s frequently called upon to exercise his unusual talent to solve crimes that have confounded the local police. In this collection of eight stories, Mr. Reeder solves robberies, burglaries, and murders, often at great risk to his personal health and well-being, and frequently employing his great insight into human nature and the criminal mind. Published under the title The Murder Book of Mr. J. G. Reeder in the United States, these stories were adapted for British television between 1969 and 1971 and also for BBC Radio in 2007.

A thrilling tale of commerce and intrigue starring Barbara, god-daughter and Private Secretary to Mr Maber. Unlike the old-fashioned Maber & Maber department store, the modern Atterman's store is a successful, profitable business. At a take-over meeting Barbara gives Messers Atterman and Minkey a piece of her mind. On the evening before the deal is to be finalised something happens to Mr Maber the police summon Barbara - now she is on her own!

A group of wealthy vigilantes known as The Four Just Men are famous for their ability to punish criminals that have evaded the authorities. In this collection of short stores, the Just Men set their sights not only on murderers, kidnappers, and embezzlers, but also on those wrongfully convicted. Often the pursuits of the Just Men require the unwitting assistance of the Assistant Commissioner of Scotland Yard. The ten short stories in this collection were originally published separately in The Strand Magazine and the The Novel Magazine in 1921.

Leslie Maughan, recognized for her keen mind, has unofficially been promoted to Scotland Yard’s first female investigator. Chancing upon a book of poetry once owned by a Peter Dawlish, convicted forger, Leslie delves into the details of the convict’s case and becomes convinced of Peter’s innocence. Befriending Peter after his release from prison, Leslie discovers a link between him, a lady of high society, and a princess, after the violent death of a butler who has his employer’s valuable emerald in his possession. The trail takes a twist when it’s discovered that Peter may have a child he knew nothing about, and that his landlady has been been using her home for more than room and board.

A serial killer leads authorities in Nevada to the graves of his women victims which he has secretly booby trapped. A grave explodes, killing several people and he escapes in the confusion, but reporter Irene Kelly survives and goes after him

Jim Steele, a clerk for a prominent London attorney, has the distasteful task of assisting a notorious client, Digby Groat, who stands to inherit the Jonathan Danton fortune. Danton’s infant daughter and closest heir, Dorothy, was thought to have died in a boating accident twenty years ago. Adding to the mystery, Dorothy’s mother, Lady Mary Danton, also disappeared around the same time. Jim receives alarming news that his new love interest, Eunice, has accepted a new job as live-in secretary to Digby’s mother. Soon after, Eunice receives a message from a mysterious intruder that her life is in danger and that she should leave the Digby house. As time passes, it becomes apparent that Digby, ruthless in his pursuit of wealth and women, has set his sights on Eunice. Eunice’s parents have passed away, but something in her history doesn’t sit well with Jim’s inquiring mind. As he investigates he’s surprised to learn that his neighbor, a beautiful invalid, has also been making inquiries about Eunice’s past, and has more than a casual interest in both Eunice and Jim. Blue Hand was published in 1925.

A Spanish resistance leader's safety in England is threatened by the passage through Parliament of the Aliens Extradition Bill. The minister responsible receives a message from four mysterious figures warning him to withdraw the legislation or face death. The suspense grows as the police struggle to protect the minister before the conspirators' deadline is reached; the ingenious final puzzle was to mark out Edgar Wallace as an outstanding writer of detective thrillers. Included in this edition is his later novel, The Council of Justice, which forms a sequel.

An account of science's application to the everyday world. Includes the physical and biological events that go on daily.

A thread of scarlet ; The little more / J.J. Bell -- The biter bit / William Wilkie Collins -- [Adventure of the Speckled Band]( [Adventure of the Priory School]( Aruthur[sic] Conan Doyle -- The purple death ; The crooked sou / William Le Queux -- The murders in the Rue Morgue ; The mystery of Marie Rogêt ; [Purloined Letter]( / Edgar Allan Poe -- The stolen white elephant / Mark Twain -- The Sunningdale murder ; The mind readers / Edgar Wallace -- Abel Crew / Mrs. Henry Wood -- The authors / Alan K. Russell.

222p. ; 23cm

As a practical joke, Sub-Inspector Dick Martin, about to retire, is asked to find a stolen library book. Before long, Dick finds himself intrigued by the nature of the book—and the attractiveness of Sybil, the librarian. Now in private practice, Dick accepts a job that requires him to chase an elusive nobleman, Lord Selford, across the world and is subsequently surprised to find that his favorite librarian is Selford’s relative. Events take a turn when a safe-cracking expert is murdered after attempting to break into the Selford family crypt, and Dick investigates. The Door with Seven Locks contains the locked-room puzzle for which Edgar Wallace was famous, but it’s also notable for its exploration of the concept of nature versus nurture.

GREAT BOOK!! This editor LOVED it and could not put it down (which led to a very weary day after). They say the ghost of the Black Abbot has been seen near the old abbey, and Cartwright the grocer claims to have seen it too. Meanwhile Harry Alford, eighteenth Earl of Chelford is engaged to Leslie Gine, sister of Arthur, solicitor and gambler with the family fortune. The Earl had originally asked his secretary Mary Wenner to be his bride, but his half brother Richard intervened to stop the marriage. Plotting revenge, Mary proposes she and Arthur marry. Her dowry, she insists, will be fifteen tons of Spanish gold - the missing Chelford treasure. goodread member: 3 STARS According to the records of the Chelford family, the owners of the Fossaway Manor, an enormous treasure in gold ingots had been buried somewhere in the grounds during Queen's Elizabeth time. The lord of the manor is a mono-maniac; his attorney a passionate gambler who has lost his sister's fortune as well as his own. Into the maze of cross-purposes and desperateness at the Manor, in these modern days of electric light and motor cars, enters the Black Abbott again, terrifying the people of the estate and the countryside. Who the Black Abbott is -- and how he is connected with the mystery of the treasure -- these are the elements of the story. goodread member: 4 stars because I didn't have that WOW in the end. I mean I kinda got it myself, who the bad man was, two or three chapters before it was revealed. Still, a solid British-style mystery thriller. Wallace pace is rapid, you get quite involved in the story. I have to say, i expected more of a murder mystery, i was reading thinking how is going to be murdered, then i got a bit frustrated, because nobody got murdered. Was more of a thriller thing. Still great and re-comforting reading. Cant wait to my next Wallace (ein Schriftsteller für Zwischendurch) goodread member: 4 stars. The book is an interesting mystery with some romantic elements though no character is especially likeable. It was interesting to see how the gold bug infected all the characters and then to watch them work at cross purposes. goodread member: 4 stars. Excellent Edgar Wallace mystery. Hidden treasure (with admittedly a blatantly obvious clue), a mysterious ghostly monk and lots of intrigue. Not really a crime novel although there is a murder, this is a rip roaring old fashioned thriller. Wallace at his best.