Classic Detective Stories

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 a quiet determination that surprises everyone—even herself.

When Mrs. Craggs stumbles upon the crime, she finds herself drawn into a labyrinth of smooth-talking ambition and deceit.

With the authorities sceptical and the suspect eager to cast blame elsewhere, can the stakes grow higher?

Can Mrs. Craggs, armed with little more than her mp and her working-class common sense, expose the murderer before the wrong person is condemned?

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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 each revelation, the line between ally and enemy blurs further. Gilbert's razor-sharp prose and intricate plotting keep you guessing until the final moment. 

The clock is ticking, lives hang in the balance, and no one is above suspicion.

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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.

Dickens knew the dark corners of London, walked with real detectives, studied the faces of criminals. In "Hunted Down," he reveals what he learned about evil wearing a gentleman's mask.

Join me for Dickens's only pure detective story, where appearances can be fatally deceptive.

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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 appetite for challenge. When Maguire's ostentatious display of riches collides with Raffles' unquenchable thirst for adventure, the stage is set for a battle of wits that will test the limits of cunning and audacity.

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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 an adversary who always seems two steps ahead. Can you predict the twist before Dupin reveals it all?

Published in 1845, the authorized version of "The Purloined Letter" appeared in "The Gift," an annual literary anthology, offering readers Poe's expanded and refined vision of his groundbreaking detective story.

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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 dilemmas.

As the investigation deepens, questions of love, betrayal, and the price of hidden sins emerge, exposing the shadowy undercurrents of polite society.

Mrs. Henry Wood's masterful storytelling keeps readers guessing until the very end, reminding us that in this world of intrigue and deception, nothing is as it first appears.

This is our 50th Episode!

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Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out. 

You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month. 

Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible?

Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work

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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 journey across Europe, leading to a fateful confrontation at the edge of the Reichenbach Falls.

Arthur Conan Doyle's "The Final Problem" pits the world's foremost detective against his intellectual equal in a battle of wits that will test the limits of reason, loyalty, and sacrifice. This is Holmes as you've never heard him before—vulnerable, hunted, and all too human.

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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 grapple with the ethical implications of actions taken in the name of protection.

As the story unfolds, we are confronted with the limitations of conventional justice and the complexities of human nature. With its nuanced exploration of moral ambiguity, "Murder!" remains as relevant and engaging today as it was upon its publication in 1927, offering a reading experience that lingers long after the final page is turned.

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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 notions of justice and redemption. In "The Adventure of the Three Students," Holmes must solve not just a crime, but a moral conundrum that strikes at the heart of privilege, integrity, and the price of success.

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The final part of the serialization of The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

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