THE CLUE OF THE NEW PIN


Book Description

At other times, he sat at ease midway between the desert and the sown in a pokey little parlour hung about with vivid pictures which he had cut from the covers of magazines. Here, in a black silk robe, he pulled at his long-stemmed pipe. At half-past seven every night, except Sundays, he went to a door which opened on to the street, and was the door of one of those houses which linked the two restaurants, and here he would wait, his hand upon the knob. Sometimes the girl came first, sometimes the old man. Whichever it was, they usually passed in without a word and went up to Room No. 6. With their arrival Yeh Ling went back to his parlour to smoke and write letters of great length and beauty to his son at Han-Kow, for Yeh Ling’s son was a man of great learning and position, being both a poet and a scholar. He had been admitted a member of the Forest of Pencils, which is at least the equivalent to being elected an Academician...FROM THE BOOK.




The Clue of the New Pin


Book Description

Tab Holland, newspaper reporter and a friend of a local police investigator, is surprised to discover that his roommate’s uncle Jesse Transmere, a wealthy miser, has been found murdered in a cellar vault locked from the inside. More surprising is the fact that Ursula Ardfern, a famous actress and new acquaintance of Tab’s, has had her plays backed by the murder victim in the past. Although he has been regularly reporting on the case for the newspaper, Tab’s interest in the case intensifies after both his own apartment and the murdered man’s house are ransacked. Although it’s yet another entry in Edgar Wallace’s locked-room mysteries, The Clue of the New Pin also explores the claim of various religions in having exclusive access to the truth, or the only path to spirituality. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.




A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Film Noir


Book Description

Featuring rumpled PIs, shyster lawyers, corrupt politicians, double-crossers, femmes fatales, and, of course, losers who find themselves down on their luck yet again, film noir is a perennially popular cinematic genre. This extensive encyclopedia describes movies from noir's earliest days – and even before, looking at some of noir's ancestors in US and European cinema – as well as noir's more recent offshoots, from neonoirs to erotic thrillers. Entries are arranged alphabetically, covering movies from all over the world – from every continent save Antarctica – with briefer details provided for several hundred additional movies within those entries. A copious appendix contains filmographies of prominent directors, actors, and writers. With coverage of blockbusters and program fillers from Going Straight (US 1916) to Broken City (US 2013) via Nora Inu (Japan 1949), O Anthropos tou Trainou (Greece 1958), El Less Wal Kilab (Egypt 1962), Reportaje a la Muerte (Peru 1993), Zift (Bulgaria 2008), and thousands more, A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Film Noir is an engrossing and essential reference work that should be on the shelves of every cinephile.







The Greatest Works of S. S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition)


Book Description

In 'The Greatest Works of S.S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition)', readers are treated to a meticulous curation of mystery and deduction that spans the remarkable career of Willard Huntington Wright, known by his nom de plume, S.S. Van Dine. This anthology encapsulates the evolution of the detective genre during the early 20th century, showcasing a range of literary styles from tightly knit whodunits to elaborate puzzles of logic and deception. The collection not only highlights the famed Philo Vance series, a cornerstone of the genre, but also explores Van Dine's contributions to literary criticism and his influence on the detective narrative form, underscoring the diversity and significance of his work. The contributing editor to this collection has carefully selected works that represent Van Dine's breadth and depth as a writer, drawing attention to his intellectual background and the cultural currents of the 1920s and 30s that shaped his writing. Van Dine himself was a part of the literary and artistic avant-garde of his time, and this collection positions his detective fiction within the broader context of his contributions to early 20th-century American literature. Through this compilation, the reader gains insight into the transformation of the detective genre and the social and literary movements that influenced Van Dine and his contemporaries. 'The Greatest Works of S. S. Van Dine (Illustrated Edition)' offers an unparalleled opportunity to explore the confluence of mystery, intellectual challenge, and literary artistry. It is an essential volume for those who wish to delve into the golden age of detective fiction and appreciate the intricate relationship between a genre and its cultural backdrop. Readers are encouraged to engage with this collection, not only for its entertainment value but for its educational insight into a pivotal era of literary history. The dialogue fostered between Van Dine's work and the broader literary movements of his time provides a rich field of study and enjoyment for enthusiasts of mystery, literature, and history alike.




The Kennel Murder Case


Book Description

When Archer Coe, a collector of Chinese ceramics, is found dead in his bedroom with the door bolted on the inside, everybody from the district attorney to the medical examiner regards it as suicide. But detective Philo Vance suspects a sinister and carefully crafted murder. Although the circumstances surrounding the death of Archer Coe are so mysterious and contradictory that for a time no solution seems possible, the brilliant Philo Vance brings the case to an unexpected but satisfying conclusion in the end. The Kennel Murder Case, first published in 1933, moves swiftly with one mystery following another until the clever resolution. It is considered one of the best of Philo Vance novels in the series for its interesting characterization and gripping action and suspense.







The Traitor's Gate


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The Ringer


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The Publishers Weekly


Book Description