John Rhode

A special release of the very first crime novel by John Rhode, introducing Dr. Priestley, the genius detective who would go on to appear in more than 70 bestselling crime novels during the Golden Age. When Harold Merefield returned home in the early hours of a winter morning from a festive little party at that popular nightclub, the 'Naxos', he was startled by a gruesome discovery. On his bed was a corpse. There was nothing to show the identity of...

A classic winter's crime novel by one of the most highly regarded exponents of the genre. Victor Harleston awoke with uncharacteristic optimism. Today he would be rich at last. Half an hour later, he gulped down his breakfast coffee and pitched to the floor, gasping and twitching. When the doctor arrived, he recognized instantly that it was a fatal case of poisoning and called in Scotland Yard. Despite an almost complete absence of clues, the circumstances...

Death Sits on the Board, first published in 1937 (and published in the UK as Death on the Board) is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. In Death Sits on the Board, the story involves the mysterious deaths of five members of the board of directors for...

A scientifically minded professor is stumped by a case involving séances and an inexplicable inheritance . . . After drifting apart from Sir John Claverton, Dr. Lancelot Priestley is finally visiting his old friend for dinner. But Claverton's situation is worrying. He's surrounded by relatives, among them a sister who speaks to the dead-but not to him-and a niece who may or may not be a qualified nurse. Based on Claverton's odd behavior, Priestley...

A man's car is impounded as a stolen vehicle-but that's not the worst of it-in this classic British mystery starring a "tartly logical professor" (The New York Times). Kenneth Winslow's company has sold a car to his nephew, Noel Yewdale, who's supposed to transport the large, locked chest in it. But before he can get the job done, the police seize the car-saying they think it's stolen. When the cops confirm he won't get the car back, he's...

Licensed for Murder, first published in 1958, is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. Licensed for Murder concerns the new managers of an English country inn, who, during the inn's renovation, discover the grisly, burned remains of a man behind corrugated...

An expert in alternative medicine is creating a clinic in Cranbury Hall that promises to cure fatigue, and Arnold Gilroy is happy to invest in this promising moneymaking venture. Unfortunately, his brother Oliver has just finished a stint in prison for fraud-and has weaseled his way into running Cranbury Hall while pursuing some nefarious business on the side. Before long, he's been grazed by a bullet-and Dr. Lancelot Priestley will have to step...

Murder at Derivale, first published in 1958, is book no. 66 in the Dr. Priestley detective story series. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. Murder at Derivale one of the final books in the Priestley series, has Inspector Jimmy Waghorn (assisted by the now elderly Dr. Priestley) investigating the death by poisoning of a man...

Dr. Priestley Lays a Trap, first published in 1933 (and also known by the title The Motor Rally Mystery), is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: The death of Lessingham and his companion, Purvis, was, indeed, a tragic affair; but...

The "astute and sharp-spoken" crime-solving professor must find out if a missing man got away with murder (The New York Times). After some initial suspicion, the death of Ernest Venner's wealthy uncle was attributed to natural causes-a simple infection. But Dr. Lancelot Priestley and his crime-solving companions find it intriguing, to say the least, that as soon as Venner collected his much-needed inheritance, he vanished into the wind. ...