The magic casket by R. Austin Freeman
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"The magic casket" by R. Austin Freeman is a collection of detective stories written in the early 20th century. The tales follow the brilliant forensic sleuth Dr. John Thorndyke—narrated by his colleague Dr. Jervis—as he unravels intricate crimes through scientific observation, legal acumen, and cool logic in and around London. Expect methodical investigations, subtle clues, and puzzles that hinge on precise technical details rather than melodrama. The opening of the book presents
two complete Thorndyke cases and the start of a third. In The Magic Casket, Thorndyke traces a years-old pearl theft and a menacing Japanese-made trinket to a hidden message revealed by the “magic mirror” effect in shakudo bronze, leading to the recovery of the pearls concealed inside a public pump. In The Contents of a Mare’s Nest, he exposes a forged cremation and a fictitious death: forged certificates, a sealed coffin no undertaker was allowed to view, and ashes made from butchered mutton rather than human bone, culminating in the embezzler’s capture. The Stalking Horse begins with a railway-carriage murder of a prominent anti-suffrage figure, a scented handkerchief, and a militant circular left as apparent clues, setting up a politically charged mystery. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Freeman, R. Austin (Richard Austin), 1862-1943 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 27013650 |
| Title | The magic casket |
| Original Publication | London: Hodder and Stoughton Limited, 1927. |
| Contents | The magic casket -- The contents of a mare's nest -- The stalking horse -- The naturalist at law -- Mr. Ponting's alibi -- Pandora's box -- The trail of Behemoth -- The pathologist to the rescue -- Gleanings from the wreckage. |
| Credits | an anonymous Project Gutenberg volunteer |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Thorndyke, Doctor (Fictitious character) -- Fiction |
| Subject | Detective and mystery stories, English |
| Subject | Short stories, English |
| Category | Text |
| eBook-No. | 76919 |
| Release Date | Sep 23, 2025 |
| Copyright | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 5195 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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