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R. Austin Freeman
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The Puzzle Lock Kindle Edition

by R. Austin Freeman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 80 ratings
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Richard Austin Freeman presents an ingenious case in this remarkable detective saga. When a store of priceless jewels vanishes without a trace, the brilliant Dr Thorndyke and his skilled associate Mr Polton are called in to chase a thief who leaves no trace. A mysterious stranger, incendiary bombs and intrigue weave a magnificently enjoyable trail through a great read.
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  1. Print length
    214 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Blackmore Dennett
  5. Publication date
    August 5, 2018
  6. File size
    686 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer' -- Raymond Chandler

About the Author

Deemed ‘the father of the scientific detective story’, Richard Austin Freeman enjoyed a prolific career that saw him gain qualifications as pharmacist and surgeon, pull off a diplomatic coup along the Gold Coast, work for Holloway Prison and then become a formidable writer of fiction. He was born in London, the son of a tailor who went on to train as a pharmacist. After graduating as a surgeon at the Middlesex Hospital Medical College, Freeman taught for a while and then joined the colonial service, offering his skills as an assistant surgeon along the Gold Coast of Africa. He became embroiled in a diplomatic mission when a British expeditionary party was sent to investigate the activities of the French. Through his tact and formidable intelligence, a massacre was narrowly avoided. His future was therefore assured in the colonial service. However, after becoming ill with black-water fever, Freeman was sent back to England to recover and finding his finances precarious, embarked on a career as acting physician in Holloway Prison. In desperation, he also turned to writing where he went on to dominate the world of British detective fiction, taking pride in testing different criminal techniques. So keen was he, part of one of his best novels was written in a bomb shelter. For the first twenty-five years of his writing career, Freeman was to dominate and remain unrivalled in the world of detective fiction, introducing the well-loved and highly memorable 'Dr Thorndyke'. The continued success of this character has affirmed Richard Austin Freeman’s place amongst the finest of crime writers.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07G5RJTJW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Blackmore Dennett (August 5, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 5, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 686 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 214 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 80 ratings

About the author

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R. Austin Freeman

R. Austin Freeman

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R. Austin Freeman (1862–1943) was a British author of detective stories. A pioneer of the inverted detective story, in which the reader knows from the start who committed the crime, Freeman is best known as the creator of the "medical jurispractitioner" Dr. John Thorndyke. First introduced in The Red Thumb Mark (1907), the brilliant forensic investigator went on to star in dozens of novels and short stories over the next decades.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
80 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

vmpunjems
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written -- the stories all great examples of the type to keep you guessing not ...
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2017
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Very well written -- the stories all great examples of the type to keep you guessing not about the who did it, but about how they did it. The stories are laced with mystery and even intrigue despite clear clues pointing to who did it. I have purchased three more by the same author and am finding them as interesting as this one.
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Vivienne
4.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection of Short Mysteries
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2017
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This book of short stories featuring Dr Thorndyke is the first I have read. I enjoyed the first one, “The Puzzle Lock”, with its rather ingenious chronogram lock. The case of the “Green Check Jacket" involves analysis of dirt and chalk to discover the murder scene. The resolution of “Nebuchadnezzar’s Seal” hinges on walking sticks and their peculiarities that come from use. In “Phyllis Annesley’s Peril” I had a glimmer of the truth, and this story shows just how unreliable eyewitness testimony can be, even from upright citizens. I concur with the solicitor in the story when he said at the end, “And yet it was so obvious – when you knew.”! (Exclamation mark mine)

“A Sower of Pestilence” is very strange and even when explained, it seemed a senseless crime. In “Rex v. Burnaby” we have a very unusual poisoning case. It is not hard to figure out how the poison was administered, but it is, nevertheless, a very clever crime. “A Mystery of the Sand-hills” shows how mundane things such as footprints on a beach can be the beginning of a rather tortuous reasoning out of a murder. I found this story to be both rather interesting and rather tedious, a contradiction I know, but there it is. “The Apparition of Burling Court” is very similar to several stories I have read before, and it is obvious very early in the story what is going on, but is still an interesting one to read, especially if you haven’t read others like it. In “The Mysterious Visitor” we have a case of an heir vanishing just as he receives an unexpected legacy. This story has an unusual twist and is very cleverly thought-out. This last story is out of sequence as can be seen by a remark by Thorndyke to Jardine.

In most of the mysteries Thorndyke shared the clues with his colleague, Jervis, and thus with the reader. His conclusions or speculations he kept to himself, but indicated that as Jervis had the same information, he could arrive at the same results that Thorndyke had. Jervis usually failed in this and, sadly, so did this reader. Really, it should have been easy, as we had that same knowledge, and once Thorndyke explained everything the clues (and solution) were obvious. Clearly, I would not make an investigator.

This is a great collection of short stories that can be read one after another, or dipped into when you feel like a short mystery or two to read.
3 people found this helpful
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Pamela AP Boyette
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story marred by errors.
Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2018
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While the short stories in this book are excellent as usual, the electronic transcription of the books has several errors. In 2 places, Several paragraphs are repeated and numerous times the wrong words are used. A better editing job is needed.
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Aurora Tarot
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Terrific Thorndyke mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2014
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There is an indescribable charm to Freeman's writing and his protagonist, Dr. John Thorndyke, never fails to impress. By now, thanks to Kindle, I have been able to read all Freeman's mysteries. The seemingly-unrelated clues from which Thorndyke always assembles his explanation are present, but would you, the reader, have come to the same conclusion? I shall reveal no more.
One person found this helpful
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C. Hoving
5.0 out of 5 stars Puzzle Lock by R. Austin Freeman
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2012
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All the Dr Thorndyke books are outstanding. This one is no exception. You'll be surprised how far forensics had gotten when these books were written (circa 1910). Very well written, too, w. flashes of humor. My favorite is the novella "The Penrose Monkey"--a hilarious send-up of modern "art."
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alane farmer
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent collection of Dr. Thorndyke shorts
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2017
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This is the first time I have come across this collection of stories. The perfect length. No unfair outcomes. Dr. Thorndyke at his best
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Gerry OLoughlin
5.0 out of 5 stars good
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2017
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2 ** rating. Good stories, rather easy to assess the mysteries but enjoyable never the less. Would read more by this author.
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MW-Pittsburgh
1.0 out of 5 stars The problem was: Something about this version of the ...
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2014
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The problem was: Something about this version of the book messed up my Kindle and froze it so that it wouldn't go forward and wouldn't go back. So: I am not complaining about the story by Freeman, rather, I am complaining about the software. Beware.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

ceric7
4.0 out of 5 stars A mixed bag
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 3, 2023
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This consists of nine short stories of Dr Thorndyke’s investigations:-

I. THE PUZZLE LOCK II. THE GREEN CHECK JACKET III. THE SEAL OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR IV. PHYLLIS ANNESLEY'S PERIL V. A SOWER OF PESTILENCE VI. REX V. BURNABY VII. A MYSTERY OF THE SAND-HILLS VIII. APPARITION OF BURLING COURT IX. THE MYSTERIOUS VISITOR

Some of these have been anthologised and a few are notably weak - I found the Apparition of Burling Court and A Sower of Pestilence especially dire, the one for the obviousness of its solution and the other as it was unbelievable and simply a vehicle for Freeman’s ideas on revolutionaries, East European immigrants and the poor.

The best are Rex v Burnaby and A Mystery of the Sandhills which I had read elsewhere.

Again I state my undoubted preference for novel length Thorndykes. Although some readers find the lengthy explications trying for me they are the satisfying conclusion of a testing read.

3.5 stars
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Karl Schneider
5.0 out of 5 stars Maximum of Tension
Reviewed in Germany on April 2, 2011
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R. Austin Freeman is probably one of the most skilled and most underestimated writer of detective stories. Though the team of Thorndyke and Jervis reminds a bit of Holmes and Watson, the making of the stories is differen and always most interesting.
This collection of short stories is a "must" for those who are fond of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot, and a good start to go for more of R. Austin Freeman.
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Dave L
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 27, 2014
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Ingenious detective stories; I rate them higher than Sherlock Holmes.
One person found this helpful
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Lacey Green
1.0 out of 5 stars It was too much of a puzzle to access it
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 31, 2013
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I have liked the other Freeman books but this one crashed every time I tried to read it. Unfortunately, I had left reading it till last of the Freeman books I'd ordered, so it was too late to reclaim payment. The others, that I had read first, are great, so it's not Freeman or his hero, Thorndyke that let me down...
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