By Dick Donovan (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

From the shadowed corridors of imperial power to the hidden networks of revolution and intrigue, The Russian Assassin and Other Bond-Like Stories by Dick Donovan delivers a gripping collection of high-stakes crime fiction that bridges the worlds of classic detection and early espionage.

At the heart of this volume is the unforgettable tale of Egor Treskin—a hunted man, a political exile, and an avenger forged by injustice. When a powerful Russian official is assassinated under mysterious circumstances, the pursuit that follows stretches across borders, drawing in spies, informants, and detectives in a tense international manhunt. But as the truth unfolds, the question becomes unavoidable: is Treskin a cold-blooded killer, or the product of a brutal and oppressive system?

Surrounding this powerful opening narrative are a series of equally compelling stories—ingenious schemes, daring conspiracies, and criminal plots that hinge on deception, chance, and razor-sharp intelligence. Donovan’s storytelling combines vivid atmosphere with tightly constructed mysteries, while anticipating the global intrigue and psychological complexity that would later define modern spy fiction.

Written at a time when political unrest, anarchist movements, and international surveillance were reshaping the nature of crime, these stories feel strikingly contemporary. Disguises, coded messages, secret alliances, and relentless pursuit drive narratives that move from the streets of Britain to the shadowy machinery of foreign powers.

This Read-Me.Org edition, introduced by Graeme R. Newman, brings together these thrilling and thought-provoking tales in a carefully prepared modern format. It preserves the energy of Donovan’s original storytelling while highlighting its lasting relevance to readers of crime, history, and espionage fiction.

For fans of classic detectives, early spy thrillers, and authors like Arthur Conan Doyle and Edgar Wallace, The Russian Assassin and Other Bond-Like Stories offers a rare and compelling glimpse into the origins of modern crime fiction—where justice is uncertain, motives are complex, and danger is never far from view.

A classic collection of intrigue, intelligence, and international suspense.

.Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 269 p.

By Dick Donovan. Introduction by Graeme R. Newman

A brilliant mind. A new way of solving crime. A detective unlike any other.

In The Criminologist as Detective, Victorian master storyteller Dick Donovan introduces Fabian Field—a daring and unconventional investigator who challenges the limits of traditional policing. At a time when Scotland Yard relies on routine methods and rigid procedures, Field brings something radically different to the pursuit of justice: psychological insight, analytical daring, and a fearless willingness to follow reason wherever it leads.

This collection of gripping detective stories showcases some of Field’s most remarkable cases, from the sensational disappearance of a wealthy heiress to chilling murders concealed behind layers of deception. Each mystery unfolds with vivid drama, but what sets these stories apart is their intellectual edge. Field does not simply gather clues—he interprets human behavior, exposes hidden motives, and reconstructs crime through logic, intuition, and bold inference.

Blending suspense with early criminological thinking, Donovan’s stories anticipate the modern detective genre while retaining the atmosphere and richness of late nineteenth-century fiction. Here, crime is not merely a puzzle to be solved, but a window into the complexities of human nature—greed, ambition, fear, and betrayal.

This new Read-Me.Org edition, introduced by Graeme R. Newman, brings these classic tales to contemporary readers in a carefully prepared and accessible form, preserving their original energy while highlighting their lasting significance.

For readers of Sherlock Holmes, Edgar Wallace, and classic detective fiction, The Criminologist as Detective offers a compelling journey into the origins of modern crime-solving—where reason triumphs, perception sharpens, and every case is a battle of minds.

A classic reborn for a new generation of readers.

.Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 273 p.

by Dick Donovan (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

See all formats and editions

In an age before forensic certainty and tidy solutions, crime was a shadowy affair—driven by passion, greed, jealousy, and chance. In Mysteries of Death and Poison, Dick Donovan—one of the great pioneers of detective fiction—invites readers into a world where truth is elusive and justice is never guaranteed.

These gripping tales range from domestic intrigue to international adventure, from quiet drawing rooms to perilous frontiers. A young woman vanishes into scandal and suspicion. A death by poison defies explanation. A secret, buried in the wreckage of empire, threatens to surface with deadly consequences. Across each story, Donovan’s investigators confront not only cunning criminals, but the deeper uncertainties of human motive and moral responsibility.

Unlike the neatly solved puzzles of later detective fiction, these mysteries resist easy answers. Evidence is incomplete, witnesses unreliable, and the line between guilt and innocence dangerously blurred. The result is a collection that is as unsettling as it is compelling—where the question is not merely who committed the crime, but whether the truth can ever be fully known.

Vivid, atmospheric, and remarkably modern in its psychological insight, Mysteries of Death and Poison reveals the origins of the detective genre while challenging its assumptions. These are stories that linger—haunting in their ambiguity, and unforgettable in their portrayal of a world where justice is uncertain and danger is never far from the surface

.Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 273 p.

by Dick Donovan (Author), Graeme Newman (Introduction)

Long before the age of international spies, high-tech surveillance, and cinematic intrigue, there was the detective—patient, methodical, and relentless in the pursuit of truth.

Before 007 brings together a powerful collection of classic crime stories from the late Victorian era, drawn from A Detective’s Triumphs and In the Grip of the Law. These tales capture the origins of modern detective fiction, where every clue matters, every motive counts, and justice depends not on force, but on reason.

In these pages, readers will encounter murders concealed by cunning, thefts executed with precision, and criminals undone by the smallest of details—a footprint, a gesture, a forgotten inconsistency. The detectives who pursue them rely not on gadgets or spectacle, but on observation, logic, and experience. Their world is one of gaslit streets, quiet drawing rooms, and hidden dangers beneath respectable society.

This new edition has been carefully modernized for today’s reader. Language has been streamlined, structure clarified, and pacing refined—while preserving the distinctive voice and atmosphere of the original texts. The result is a collection that reads with clarity and immediacy, yet retains the depth and character of its time.

More than historical curiosities, these stories reveal the foundations of the modern whodunnit. The techniques, tensions, and narrative strategies that define contemporary crime fiction are already present here in their earliest form.

For readers of classic mysteries, criminology, and detective fiction—from Sherlock Holmes to modern thrillers—Before 007offers a compelling return to where it all began.

Step into the world of detection—before the spy, before the spectacle—when solving the crime was the story.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 272 p.

by Dick Donovan (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Investigating Terror – More Stories of Dick Donovan gathers a wide-ranging collection of late Victorian crime and mystery tales in which detection merges with dread and rational inquiry confronts the unknown. In these stories, investigation is never merely the solving of a puzzle; it is an encounter with uncertainty, where crime, psychology, and the uncanny are tightly entwined.

From the eerie Edinburgh mystery of The Clue of the Dead Hand to the unsettling medical case of The Woman with the ‘Oily Eyes’, Donovan leads readers through gripping narratives told by detectives, physicians, and eyewitnesses. Presented through layered forms—official records, personal testimonies, and recovered papers—these stories achieve a striking sense of immediacy while deepening their atmosphere of unease. Whether confronting spectral legends, violent crimes, or inexplicable events, Donovan’s investigators move through worlds in which logic alone cannot fully account for what they encounter.

Spanning settings from Britain to continental Europe and beyond, these tales reveal a writer of remarkable versatility and imaginative reach. Rich in suspense, gothic tension, and psychological insight, they anticipate many of the themes of modern crime and horror fiction while retaining the vivid drama of their time.

This edition is enhanced by a substantial introduction by Colin Heston, which situates Donovan’s work within the broader evolution of detective and terror fiction and explores its continuing relevance for contemporary readers. Together, the stories and introduction offer both a compelling reading experience and a deeper understanding of a formative moment in the history of crime literature.

For readers of classic mysteries, gothic fiction, and early detective stories, Investigating Terror is an essential rediscovery—where every investigation opens onto something darker, and every answer leads further into the unknown.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 248 p.

by Colin Heston (Editor), Dick Donovan (Author)

Cops and Criminals in Russia, edited by Colin Heston, brings together a gripping collection of early detective fiction set within the shadowy world of imperial Russia’s secret police. Featuring Dick Donovan’s celebrated tales—The Chronicles of Michael Danevitch of the Russian Secret Service this volume offers readers a rare glimpse into a world where crime, espionage, and state power are inseparably entwined.

At the center of these stories stands Michael Danevitch, a master investigator navigating a landscape of conspiracies, political intrigue, and dangerous secrets. Unlike the gentleman detectives of Victorian England, Danevitch operates within the machinery of the Russian state itself, where justice is often subordinate to necessity and truth is obscured by layers of deception. His cases take him from dimly lit backstreets to the inner circles of power, confronting assassins, spies, and criminals whose motives are as complex as the society they inhabit.

These stories are more than classic detective adventures. They capture a moment in history when Russia’s system of policing was evolving into a powerful instrument of political control—an evolution whose echoes can still be felt today. Through Donovan’s vivid storytelling, readers encounter a world in which surveillance, infiltration, and intrigue shape both crime and its investigation, offering a perspective that feels strikingly modern.

Expertly edited and introduced by Colin Heston, this new edition situates Donovan’s work within its broader historical and contemporary context, making it essential reading for anyone interested in crime fiction, Russian history, or the enduring relationship between law enforcement and state power.

Rich in atmosphere, suspense, and historical insight, Cops and Criminals in Russia is both a compelling literary rediscovery and a timely exploration of policing in one of the world’s most enigmatic societies.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 211p.

Edited by Graeme R. Newman

Step out of the shadow of 221B Baker Street and into the gaslit world of the "Great Detectives."

While Sherlock Holmes reigned supreme in the pages of The Strand, he was far from the only mind at work in the fog-choked streets of Victorian London. "Beyond Sherlock Holmes: The Rivals, Rogues, and Rationalists of the Golden Age" is a definitive collection of public domain masterpieces that defined the evolution of the modern thriller.

From the "ratiocination" of Edgar Allan Poe to the forensic laboratories of Dr. Thorndyke, this anthology gathers the brilliant specialists who refined, subverted, and occasionally haunted the detective genre. These are the stories that gave Holmes his fiercest competition—characters who used logic, science, and even the occult to solve the "impossible."

Inside this collection, you will discover:

• The Forensic Pioneers: Join Dr. Thorndyke as he utilizes the first true "mobile crime lab" to solve murders through microscopic analysis.

• The Logic Masters: Witness The Thinking Machine prove that "two and two make four" by thinking his way out of an inescapable prison cell.

• The Shadow Detectives: Meet Max Carrados, the blind investigator whose heightened senses allow him to observe truths that even Holmes would miss.

• The Occult Investigators: Follow Thomas Carnacki as he bridges the gap between science and the supernatural to hunt "monsters" through the lens of logic.

• The Mastermind Villains: Face the terrifying ambition of Dr. Nikola, the Victorian "supervillain" whose global reach predates Bond villains by half a century.

• The Gentleman Thieves: Cross the line with A.J. Raffles and Arsène Lupin, the brilliant "cracksmen" who prove that the detective’s mind is just as effective when applied to the perfect heist.

A Must-Have for Fans of Classic Mystery

Whether you are a scholar of criminology or a lover of "Victorian Shockers," this volume offers a panoramic view of an era defined by gaslight, cobblestones, and the birth of forensic science. Curated with an extensive introduction detailing the history and impact of these "Rivals of Sherlock," this book is more than a collection—it is a journey through the evolution of the human mind at work.

Stories included in this edition: THE MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, Edgar Allan Poe-- THE CASE OF LAKER, ABSCONDED, Arthur Morrison-- THE CASE OF THE DIXON TORPEDO, Arthur Morrison-- THE PROBLEM OF CELL 13, Jacques Futrelle-- THE SILENT BULLET, Austin Freeman-- THE COIN OF DIONYSIUS, Ernest Bramah-- THE GATEWAY OF THE MONSTER, Wiliam Hope Hodgson-- THE RED LODGE, Russell Wakefield-- THE ADVENTURE OF THE SPECKLED BAND, Arthur Conan Doyle-- THE IDES OF MARCH, E.W.Hornung-- THE ARREST OF ARSÈNE LUPIN, Maurice Leblanc.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 330p.

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman

The Flying Squad by Edgar Wallace is a fast-paced and compelling crime novel that captures the excitement of modern policing at a time when organized crime was becoming more daring and sophisticated.

At the heart of the story is the Metropolitan Police’s elite Flying Squad, a special unit created to respond swiftly to robberies and high-stakes criminal operations. When a series of bold and carefully planned crimes begins to unsettle London, the Squad is called into action. Moving quickly across the city, they pursue a network of criminals whose intelligence and audacity make them a formidable adversary.

As the investigation unfolds, secrets emerge, alliances shift, and danger lurks at every turn. Wallace’s trademark storytelling—sharp, direct, and filled with tension—drives the narrative forward with relentless energy. The novel blends action, mystery, and suspense, offering readers both the thrill of the chase and the intrigue of a cleverly constructed plot.

Written during the golden age of crime fiction, The Flying Squad reflects a turning point in detective storytelling, where teamwork, rapid response, and coordinated strategy replace the lone investigator. Wallace’s vivid depiction of London and his insight into both criminal enterprise and police procedure give the novel a sense of realism that remains engaging today.

This classic edition invites modern readers to experience one of Edgar Wallace’s most dynamic works—a gripping tale of crime, pursuit, and justice that continues to influence the thriller genre nearly a century after its first publication.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.213..

BEYOND SCOTLAND YARD

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman

The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace — More Than Scotland Yard — Volume 7 brings together three of Edgar Wallace’s most gripping and atmospheric crime novels: The Clue of the Twisted Candle, The Crimson Circle, and The Dark Eyes of London. Each story reveals a different facet of Wallace’s extraordinary ability to craft suspenseful, fast-moving narratives filled with mystery, danger, and unforgettable characters.

In The Clue of the Twisted Candle, a baffling locked-room murder sets the stage for a clever and intricate investigation where appearances deceive and every clue leads deeper into uncertainty. The Crimson Circle introduces a shadowy organization operating beyond the reach of the law, weaving a tense story of blackmail, secrecy, and hidden power that keeps readers guessing until the final page. In The Dark Eyes of London, Wallace delivers one of his most chilling tales, exposing a sinister criminal scheme concealed beneath a façade of respectability, where vulnerability is exploited with ruthless precision.

Together, these novels move beyond the traditional boundaries of Scotland Yard detection and into a wider world of conspiracy, psychological tension, and hidden networks of crime. Wallace’s trademark style—swift pacing, sharp dialogue, and ingenious plotting—drives each story forward with relentless energy.

This volume offers a powerful showcase of Edgar Wallace at his most compelling, blending classic mystery with darker, more complex themes that continue to resonate with modern readers. For fans of vintage thrillers, detective fiction, and suspenseful storytelling, Volume 7 delivers three unforgettable journeys into the heart of crime and intrigue.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.417..

Edited by Sir Hugh Greene

The Further Rivals of Sherlock Holmes is the third volume in Hugh Greene’s celebrated series of anthologies that revive lesser‑known detective fiction from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. First published in 1973, this collection focuses particularly on crime and mystery stories set outside London, offering a contrast to the urban investigations associated with Sherlock Holmes.

Greene gathers an eclectic mix of authors—from C. L. Pirkis to Ernest Bramah, Arthur Morrison, Fergus Hume, Jacques Futrelle, and others—presenting detectives with distinct personalities, investigative styles, and moral shades. The volume features a blend of traditional detection, espionage, psychological mystery, and even touches of the gothic. Stories include cases solved by women detectives like Dora Myrl and unusual protagonists such as Judith Lee, a young lip‑reader who cracks crime through observation and intuition.

What defines this anthology is its sense of variety and rediscovery. Greene chose stories that had been overshadowed by Conan Doyle’s dominance but which reveal the richness and diversity of early crime fiction—full of ingenuity, twisted plots, and vivid period atmosphere. Together, these tales expand the world of detective literature, showcasing that Holmes was only one among many fascinating sleuths of his time.

If you’d like, I can also summarize individual stories, compare this volume with the rest of the series, or help locate a cover image.

New York.. Pantheon. 1973. 318p.

Edited by Hugh Greene

The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes is a classic anthology compiled by Hugh Greene that showcases a wide range of lesser‑known detective stories from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras. Greene sought to highlight the vibrant landscape of crime and mystery fiction that flourished alongside, and sometimes even before or beyond, Conan Doyle’s famous detective. The collection illustrates that Sherlock Holmes, while dominant today, once stood among many competing sleuths created by equally imaginative writers.

The stories Greene selected feature diverse detectives—amateur investigators, professional policemen, scientific detectives, con‑artists‑turned‑sleuths, and eccentric specialists—reflecting the creativity of the period’s crime fiction. The settings also vary widely, from London fog to rural estates, bustling streets, and exotic locales, providing a vivid panorama of the era. The anthology’s purpose is not only entertainment but also a historical reminder: Doyle was not alone in shaping detective fiction, and readers once had many “rivals” to choose from.

The cover of this edition visually underscores its period atmosphere. It depicts two men in period clothing—one standing, one lying across a cart—set against a Victorian street scene marked by signs such as “Bottle Water” and “Cork Board,” evoking the gritty, textured world these early detectives inhabited. [amazon.com]

New York.. Pantheon. 1970. 352p.

BEYOND SCOTLAND YARD

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman

THE SHADOW OF THE YARD

From the fog-bound labyrinth of a madman’s lair to the sun-drenched deception of the Riviera, Volume 6 of The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace brings together three masterclasses in suspense. Here, the "King of the Thriller" pits the unassuming brilliance of Scotland Yard’s allies against the most cold-blooded predators of the jazz age.
Terror Keep
The genius of the "criminal mind" returns. J.G. Reeder—the mild-mannered investigator with the tightly furled umbrella—faces his deadliest foe: a homicidal mastermind escaped from Broadmoor and hungry for revenge. It is a race through a house of traps where death waits behind every door.
The Angel of Death
She has the face of a saint and the soul of a sociopath. Jean Briggerland is a predator who uses her beauty to mask a trail of broken lives and stolen fortunes. Can justice touch a woman who makes the law her accomplice?
The Melody of Death
A haunting tune signals a countdown to doom. Driven by a desperate secret, a man plunges into the underworld to secure a future for the woman he loves. But in Wallace’s London, every crime has a rhythm, and every rhythm has a price.
Three novels. Two legendary detectives. One master of mystery. "Whether it’s a master forger or a murderous socialite, Wallace never misses a beat."

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.373..

BEYOND SCOTLAND YARD

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman
Welcome to the fifth volume of The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace — Beyond Scotland Yard., Volume 5. As we continue our journey through the vast, thrilling archives of the man who once had a book on every bedside table in England, we move away from the procedural confines of the Yard and into the shadowy territories of global conspiracies and nocturnal terrors. Edgar Wallace was never just a writer of "whodunnits." He was a pioneer of the "thriller" in its most visceral form—a master of the ticking clock, the hidden organization, and the villain whose reach spans continents.
The Fourth Plague (1913). One of Wallace’s most ambitious early works, The Fourth Plague introduces us to the "Red Hand," a sinister Italian secret society that holds London in a grip of terror. This isn't a mere case of theft or individual murder; the Red Hand threatens the very fabric of society with a biological ultimatum. Wallace masterfully blends the tropes of the "Yellow Peril" and Italian vendetta narratives of his era into a high-stakes race against time. It is a proto-techno-thriller that showcases Wallace’s fascination with how easily modern civilization can be brought to its knees by a dedicated few.
A King by Night (1925). Written at the height of his fame and dedicated to his close friend P.G. Wodehouse, A King by Night is a different beast entirely. When a young woman from Sacramento arrives in London searching for her missing uncle, she is swept into a nightmare involving a mysterious, legendary criminal known as "The King." Set against a backdrop of fog-drenched streets and eerie country estates, this novel highlights Wallace’s ability to create a sense of mounting dread. It is a classic example of his "terror" novels—where the villain is not just a man, but a looming, almost supernatural presence.
Why "Beyond Scotland Yard"? While the "Blue Eyed Boy" of the C.I.D. often made appearances in Wallace’s work, these stories remind us that the most dangerous criminals don't always leave a trail the police can follow. Sometimes, it takes an adventurer, a victim’s desperate relative, or a rogue investigator to venture into the places where the law fears to tread.
In Volume 5, the stakes are higher, the villains are bolder, and the mysteries are shrouded in the dark corners of the world. Turn the page, and prepare to meet the criminals who thought they were beyond the reach of justice—only to find that Edgar Wallace was waiting for them.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.395..

BEYOND SCOTLAND YARD

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman

The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace: Scotland Yard and Beyond — Volume 4 brings readers two of Edgar Wallace’s most entertaining and unusual adventure novels: Bones and Bones in London. Blending humor, mystery, and crime with the author’s trademark pace and vivid storytelling, these stories reveal a lighter but no less thrilling side of Wallace’s imagination.

At the center of both novels is the unforgettable character Bones, a well-meaning but wildly unpredictable figure whose adventures unfold amid colonial intrigue, bureaucratic mishaps, and unexpected encounters with criminals and conspirators. In Bones, readers travel to the colorful and often chaotic world of colonial Africa, where the enthusiastic but frequently misguided Bones attempts to prove his courage and competence while stumbling into one outrageous situation after another.

In Bones in London, the action moves to the heart of the British capital. Far from the jungles and rivers of Africa, Bones finds himself navigating the complexities of metropolitan life, where his talent for attracting trouble follows him wherever he goes. What begins as a simple visit soon becomes entangled with crime, deception, and the watchful presence of Scotland Yard.

Filled with sharp dialogue, comic mishaps, and moments of genuine suspense, these two novels showcase Edgar Wallace’s remarkable range as a storyteller. Famous for his crime thrillers and detective tales, Wallace was equally skilled at creating characters whose humanity and humor shine through even in the midst of danger.

Volume 4 of The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace offers readers another captivating installment in this series celebrating the work of one of the most widely read writers of the early twentieth century. For fans of classic adventure, crime fiction, and unforgettable characters, these lively stories remain as engaging and entertaining today as when they were first published.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.304..

SCOTLAND YARD AND BEYOND

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman

The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace: Scotland Yard and More — Volume 3 brings together two exciting works by one of the most prolific and entertaining masters of crime fiction. Edgar Wallace’s stories of clever criminals, daring investigators, and ingenious plots captivated millions of readers in the early twentieth century, and they continue to deliver suspense and adventure today.

This volume features The Adventures of Heine, a lively collection of tales centered on one of Wallace’s most intriguing characters. Moving through the underworld of international intrigue and high-stakes deception, Heine encounters spies, smugglers, and master criminals in stories filled with wit, danger, and unexpected twists. Wallace’s fast-paced storytelling and sharp dialogue make each episode a memorable adventure.

Also included is the gripping novel The Girl from Scotland Yard, a thrilling story that places a determined investigator at the center of a web of mystery and crime. As secrets unfold and danger closes in, the story showcases Wallace’s remarkable ability to blend suspense, clever plotting, and dramatic tension.

Together these works reveal the rich variety of Wallace’s crime fiction—from clever short adventures to full-length mystery. Filled with secret schemes, daring investigations, and the ever-present struggle between crime and justice, Volume 3 of The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace offers another exciting glimpse into the world of classic detective storytelling.

Perfect for readers who enjoy classic mysteries, Scotland Yard investigations, and the golden age of crime fiction, this collection continues the tradition of suspense and adventure that made Edgar Wallace one of the most widely read thriller writers of his time.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.373..

SCOTLAND YARD AND BEYOND

By Edgar Wallace. Edited and Introduced by Graeme R. Newman

The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace — Volume 2 brings together one of Edgar Wallace’s most intriguing crime novels alongside the stories that introduced one of his most famous creations. At the center of this volume is the gripping novel The Black, a tale of mystery, intrigue, and shadowy power in which a secretive criminal force challenges the authority of the law and tests the ingenuity of those determined to bring it down. Filled with unexpected twists, daring schemes, and Wallace’s trademark rapid pacing, the novel showcases the author at the height of his storytelling powers.

Complementing the novel are the classic stories of The Law of the Three Just Men, the remarkable vigilante trio who became one of Wallace’s most celebrated inventions. Acting outside the formal machinery of government, the Three Just Men intervene when justice fails. Their warnings are precise, their judgments uncompromising, and their reach seems limitless. Governments tremble when they speak, for their word is always followed by action.

Together, The Black and the stories of The Law of the Three Just Men reveal Wallace’s extraordinary ability to create suspenseful plots and unforgettable characters. His world is one where spies, secret societies, and daring investigators move through a landscape of danger and intrigue, where justice may come from unexpected quarters, and every page brings a new surprise.

In this second volume of The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace, readers are invited to rediscover the excitement, ingenuity, and narrative brilliance that made Wallace one of the most widely read thriller writers of his time—and whose stories continue to entertain audiences around the world.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 299p.

by Guuy Boothby (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

In this combined edition, readers are presented with two quintessential examples of the late Victorian "shocker" from the pen of Guy Boothby, a writer who defined the era’s taste for fast-paced, sensational mystery. The first novel in this volume, The Mystery of the Clasped Hands, originally published in 1901 by F.V. White & Co., serves as a dark exploration of the macabre and the forensic. The story begins with a truly visceral hook: a wedding gift that contains the severed, preserved hands of a woman. It is a classic example of the Victorian obsession with reputation and the legal system, as the protagonist, Godfrey Tring, finds himself trapped in a web of circumstantial evidence. Boothby expertly depicts how quickly a gentleman’s life can be dismantled by a single accusation, making the legal system itself a source of mounting dread. This work highlights Boothby's skill in using sensational artifacts to drive a plot that forces the reader to question whether innocence alone is enough to survive a vengeful conspiracy.
Published just a year later in 1902, The Childerbridge Mystery shifts the focus toward the "sins of the father" trope and the intersection of colonial wealth and domestic stability. When wealthy Australian squatter William Standerton returns to England to establish himself at Childerbridge Manor, he brings with him a fortune that carries the shadow of his past. The mystery is not merely a puzzle of logic but a psychological examination of how the "New World" of the colonies—often viewed by Victorians as a place of lawless opportunity—inevitably catches up with the refined "Old World" of the English gentry. Boothby uses the tranquil setting of a country estate to highlight the tension between a man’s desire for a respectable future and the inescapable reach of his history.
Bound together, these two novels illustrate the common threads of Boothby’s literary legacy: the fragility of social identity, the weight of previous associations, and a relentless narrative pace that bridges the gap between 19th-century Gothic horror and the structured detective fiction of the 20th century. Whether dealing with a grisly forensic artifact or a haunted family legacy, Boothby provided his audience with a perfect blend of the familiar and the shocking. This edition serves as a testament to a writer who, though often overlooked today, once stood as a master of the mystery genre, capturing the collective anxieties of a world on the brink of change.

By Arthur Train. Introduction by Graeme R. Newman

The transition of the American legal system from the rough-and-tumble nineteenth century into the more structured, investigative era of the early twentieth century is nowhere more vividly captured than in Arthur Train’s True Stories of Crime from the District Attorney’s Office. As an Assistant District Attorney for New York County during a period of rapid urbanization and social upheaval, Train occupied a unique vantage point that allowed him to witness the collision of old-world criminal archetypes with the emerging complexities of modern life. This collection of narratives serves as a clinical yet deeply compelling autopsy of the era’s most notorious legal battles, offering readers a rare glimpse into the machinery of justice at a time when forensic science was in its infancy and the power of the prosecutor’s office was expanding into new, uncharted territories.

Train’s work is particularly significant for its early exploration of what would eventually be termed white-collar crime. While the public imagination of 1908 was often captured by tales of blunt violence and physical daring, Train directs his focus toward the "super-criminal"—the manipulative mastermind who utilized the administrative and financial structures of the city as their primary tools of exploitation. Through these accounts, we see the emergence of a new kind of threat that required a equally sophisticated response from the legal establishment. Train describes a landscape where economic desperation and social isolation were the primary drivers of criminal behavior, yet he also highlights the systemic vulnerabilities that allowed institutional fraud to flourish. By documenting these cases, he provides a foundation for the study of victimology, illustrating how the legal system often struggled to keep pace with the evolving ingenuity of those who sought to undermine it.

Beyond their historical and legal value, these stories possess a narrative vitality that reflects the tension between the sensationalism of early tabloid journalism and the rigorous demands of the courtroom. Train’s prose is informed by his experiences on the front lines of the District Attorney’s office, where the outcome of a trial often hinged as much on rhetorical flair and personal intuition as it did on physical evidence. In revisiting these cases today, we are invited to consider the persistent challenges of defining and delivering justice within a complex bureaucracy. Train does not shy away from the moral ambiguities of his profession, and his reflections on the nature of guilt and the limitations of the law remain strikingly relevant. This volume stands not only as a record of forgotten crimes but as an enduring meditation on the social fabric of a metropolis in flux, capturing the moment when the modern era of criminal justice truly began.

Read-Me.Org Inc. 2026. 184p.

By S. Carleton. Introduction by Colin Heston.

The 1920 publication of The La Chance Mine Mystery by S. Carleton, the pseudonym for Susan Morrow Jones, represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of the North American thriller. By weaving the Victorian Gothic tradition into the rugged landscape of the Canadian wilderness, Carleton created a narrative that serves as a sophisticated precursor to modern psychological suspense. In contemporary literature, this work remains highly relevant as a masterclass in atmospheric isolation, where the "frozen North" acts not merely as a setting but as a primary antagonist. This technique mirrors modern "Environment as Character" tropes seen in current survivalist fiction, reminding readers that the primitive fear of being trapped in a vast, uncaring wilderness transcends technological advancement and remains a powerful literary hook.

From a criminological perspective, the novel offers a compelling study of frontier anomie. In the absence of formal state policing, the isolated mine becomes a vacuum where white-collar crimes like corporate fraud and title theft inevitably devolve into violence. This lack of social control forces characters into a state of informal justice, predating modern investigative frameworks through "bushcraft forensics." In an era before chemical analysis or DNA, Carleton’s characters rely on environmental reconstruction—analyzing the crust of snowdrifts or the set of a footprint—to determine the timing of a crime. This reliance on natural preservation within a crime scene provides a proto-historical look at how physical environment shapes both criminal opportunity and the subsequent forensic analysis used to untangle it.

The social dynamics of the mine also provide deep insights into early 20th-century victimology. Carleton highlights a hierarchy of vulnerability, focusing on how marginalized laborers and isolated individuals are targeted by those with institutional power. In this setting, victims are often chosen specifically because their disappearances can be conveniently blamed on the harsh climate rather than foul play. This exploration of "invisible victims" and structural exploitation resonates with modern social justice themes regarding labor and corporate overreach. By subverting the "hard-boiled" male tropes of her time, Carleton used her unique perspective as a female author to provide an emotional depth and keen eye for power imbalances that continue to inform the DNA of modern suspense and elevated horror.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 192p.

By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS. Introduction by Colin Heston

When The King in Yellow appeared in 1895, it slipped quietly into a literary world already saturated with decadence, occult enthusiasms, and the fin-de-siècle’s peculiar blend of anxiety and intoxication. Yet Robert W. Chambers’s strange mosaic of tales—united by a fictional forbidden play that unhinges those who read it—swiftly distinguished itself from its contemporaries. In the decades since, this slim volume has grown into one of the foundational works of the American weird tradition, prefiguring H. P. Lovecraft, influencing generations of modern horror writers, and unexpectedly resurfacing in the twenty-first century as a cultural touchstone.

What makes Chambers’s book so unusual is its deliberate blurring of boundaries: between reality and hallucination, sanity and delusion, art and contagion. The collection opens with “The Repairer of Reputations,” a tale set in an imagined New York of 1920—an unsettling mixture of futurism, authoritarian regulation, and manic delusion. It is here that the mysterious “King in Yellow” first exerts his influence. The narrator, a deeply unreliable figure, is convinced of his noble birthright and guided by an enigmatic “repairer” who traffics in scandal and blackmail. The narrative unfolds as a case study in self-deception, political paranoia, and the fragility of identity—yet nothing in the story is easily dismissed as mere fantasy. Reality itself buckles under the weight of the narrator’s convictions.

The Mask, perhaps the most haunting of the early tales, shifts the setting to the Latin Quarter of Paris, where art, science, and obsession converge. The grotesque beauty of Boris Yvain’s alchemical solution—capable of transforming living beings into flawless marble—creates a collision of aesthetics and mortality that typifies Chambers’s most powerful work. The story’s dreamlike quality reflects the decadent movement’s fascination with artificiality, transformation, and the erotic pull of the inanimate. Throughout, the shadow of the forbidden play hovers, never fully seen but always felt.

Other sections—“In the Court of the Dragon,” “The Yellow Sign,” and additional sketches—extend the book’s architecture of dread. Chambers never provides the text of the play itself, only its aftershocks, its “second act” whispered about as a psychic abyss from which there is no return. This structural absence is one of the book’s great innovations: The horror lies not in spectacle but in suggestion, in the void where meaning should be. The King in Yellow, the Pallid Mask, and the Lost City of Carcosa are not fully explained but instead exist as fragments of a mythology the reader assembles intuitively, as though the stories themselves are encoded with an infectious idea.

The power of The King in Yellow endures because it is not simply a collection of supernatural tales—it is a meditation on contagion: of ideas, of aesthetics, of inner instability. Chambers’s fictional play does not merely frighten; it corrodes. It reveals hidden fractures in those who encounter it and amplifies their darkest impulses. In this sense, the book mirrors its age. The 1890s were marked by the collapse of old certainties, the rise of new sciences of the mind, and an artistic fascination with decadence, degeneration, and the beautiful ruin of the self. Chambers captured that atmosphere with uncanny acuity.

Today, amidst digital conspiracies, fractured identities, and a renewed cultural fascination with alternate realities, The King in Yellow feels more relevant than ever. It invites the reader to step into a world where truth is unstable, where art is dangerous, and where the boundaries of perception are mercilessly thin. The book’s whispered mythology has become larger than the text itself, seeding later works, reappearing in unexpected media, and reminding us that the most enduring horrors are those we cannot fully see.

To open these stories is to risk a glimpse of the Yellow Sign—a symbol of beauty, madness, and forbidden knowledge. Chambers offers no assurances. He only extends an invitation to enter Carcosa, where twin suns sink over black waters and where, once the play begins, the mask cannot be removed.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026 p.209