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annieb123's review
5.0
R. Austin Freeman was an Edwardian surgeon and author famous as the originator of the inverted detective story; we're given the crime and the narrative is built around catching the criminal instead of a traditional "whodunit".
He wrote a number of other fiction and nonfiction works, but is rightfully remembered best for his Dr. Thorndyke novels and stories.
The stories included in this collection have weathered remarkably well. They're still readable and compare favorably with other period works. All 8 of the included stories have aged very well, and he manages to write without ìnfusing his work with his personal philosophy and beliefs (which haven't stood the test of time).
I was familiar with most of the stories in one format or another but was thankful that Dover has collected them together and re-released them in a new edition with a nice forward/intro by E. F. Bleiker. This edition also includes source notes for the original publications.
Well worth a reread if you've read them before, and if you haven't you're in for a real treat.
Even the great Raymond Chandler said of Freeman "This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer. He has no equal in his genre..."
Five stars for the stories and supporting information in this edition.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
He wrote a number of other fiction and nonfiction works, but is rightfully remembered best for his Dr. Thorndyke novels and stories.
The stories included in this collection have weathered remarkably well. They're still readable and compare favorably with other period works. All 8 of the included stories have aged very well, and he manages to write without ìnfusing his work with his personal philosophy and beliefs (which haven't stood the test of time).
I was familiar with most of the stories in one format or another but was thankful that Dover has collected them together and re-released them in a new edition with a nice forward/intro by E. F. Bleiker. This edition also includes source notes for the original publications.
Well worth a reread if you've read them before, and if you haven't you're in for a real treat.
Even the great Raymond Chandler said of Freeman "This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer. He has no equal in his genre..."
Five stars for the stories and supporting information in this edition.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.
nicklai's review against another edition
5.0
Paradoxically, most detective stories are not stories of logic. We like to think of them that way, but under an honest eye, even the most famous plots liberally trade sense for entertainment. Dr. Thorndyke stories make no such compromises. Freeman sets a fair contest with the reader, laying out the facts of the cases plainly and without cheap deception, challenging us to examine his every word with the same attention that Thorndyke gives to fibers of lint and shards of broken glass.
mayke's review
4.0
Look for this review and others on my blog (bio)
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What a fun read! This book contains 8 short stories about Detective Dr. Thorndyke. Giving a Sherlock Holmes vibe you are brought on the case with Thorndyke and his sidekick Jervis. These were relaxing and enjoyable detective stories to read in maybe half an hour or less. All the stories were different and had some good twists in the case.
:D
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What a fun read! This book contains 8 short stories about Detective Dr. Thorndyke. Giving a Sherlock Holmes vibe you are brought on the case with Thorndyke and his sidekick Jervis. These were relaxing and enjoyable detective stories to read in maybe half an hour or less. All the stories were different and had some good twists in the case.
:D
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