by Sexton Blake (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Two classic adventures from the golden age of Britain's master detective.

In 1923, Sexton Blake was at the height of his popularity, thrilling readers with a unique blend of mystery, action, suspense, and international adventure. This volume brings together two remarkable novels from that celebrated year, showcasing the detective's talent for uncovering secrets, exposing villains, and triumphing against seemingly impossible odds.

Included in this collection:

The Mystery of Glyn Castle by Leonard H. Brooks

A storm, a shipwreck, and a lonely Welsh castle set the stage for a gripping tale of hidden identities, lost memories, family secrets, and long-buried crimes. When a young veteran is drawn to the mysterious Glyn Castle, strange coincidences lead Sexton Blake into a labyrinth of deception where the truth has been concealed for years.

In Darkest Madras by H. Gregory Hill

Called to British India, Blake confronts one of his most dangerous enemies in a thrilling adventure of espionage, secret societies, conspiracy, and intrigue. Amid ancient temples, political unrest, and deadly plots, the detective must outwit a ruthless criminal mastermind before disaster engulfs an empire.

This edition features:

• Two complete Sexton Blake novels from 1923

• A substantial new introduction exploring Blake's golden years

• Notes on the authors behind the famous detective

• Classic mystery, adventure, and espionage fiction

• Authentic examples of early twentieth-century popular storytelling

With loyal assistant Tinker at his side and danger around every corner, Sexton Blake faces shipwrecks, secret passages, conspiracies, impostors, hidden inheritances, and deadly enemies in stories that capture the excitement and imagination of a bygone age.

Perfect for readers of Sherlock Holmes, John Buchan, Edgar Wallace, Sapper, and classic British adventure fiction, More Golden Years: Sexton Blake, 1923 offers a fascinating journey into one of the most enduring detective series ever created.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 245p.

by Sexton Blake (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Three classic adventures from the golden age of Britain's greatest detective.

Long before modern crime fiction dominated bookshelves, millions of readers followed the exploits of Sexton Blake, the master detective known throughout the English-speaking world as "the poor man's Sherlock Holmes." Intelligent, courageous, and endlessly resourceful, Blake combined brilliant deduction with a taste for danger, carrying his investigations from the streets of London to the farthest reaches of the British Empire.

This volume brings together three thrilling adventures from the years 1921 to 1923, a period widely regarded as one of the high points of the Sexton Blake saga.

Included in this collection:

The Idol's Eye by Gregory Hille
A priceless ruby known as the Eye of Kali becomes the centre of a baffling murder mystery. When a respected society woman is accused of a brutal crime, Sexton Blake uncovers a web of long-buried secrets stretching from England to India, involving stolen treasure, religious fanaticism, blackmail, and a sacrifice made for love.

Gun-Runner by Cecil Hayter
Blake, Tinker, and Pedro embark on a perilous mission to South America, where revolution, espionage, and betrayal threaten an entire nation. Packed with smugglers, saboteurs, mutiny, and high adventure on land and sea, this is Sexton Blake at his most daring.

The Adventure of the Renegade Spy by H. Gregory Hill
In British India, a master criminal plots rebellion while an impostor steals vital imperial secrets. Confronting secret societies, disguises, hypnotic intrigue, and deadly conspiracies, Blake must prevent a catastrophe that could shake the foundations of the Empire.

Inside this edition:

• Three complete Sexton Blake novels from 1921–1923

• An extensive new introduction

• Background on the authors behind the adventures

• Classic detective fiction blended with action, espionage, and international intrigue

• A fascinating glimpse into the world of early twentieth-century popular literature

Featuring unforgettable villains, exotic settings, hidden identities, daring escapes, and the loyal companionship of Tinker and Pedro the bloodhound, these stories showcase Sexton Blake at the height of his popularity.

For fans of Sherlock Holmes, Bulldog Drummond, Edgar Wallace, John Buchan, and Golden Age detective fiction, Sexton Blake: The Golden Years 1921–1923 offers an exciting return to one of the most beloved heroes of classic British adventure literature.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 252p.

Sexton Blake (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Three classic adventures from the golden age of British popular fiction

Before James Bond, before Hercule Poirot became a household name, there was Sexton Blake—the tireless detective whose adventures thrilled generations of readers across Britain and the Empire.

This first volume of The Best Years collects three outstanding stories from the early twentieth century:

• In the Shadow of Siberia (1912)

• In the Kaiser's Service (1913)

• The Rajah's Revenge (1915)

Set against the backdrop of an anxious Europe edging toward war, these fast-paced tales find Blake confronting ruthless master criminals, foreign agents, political conspiracies, and deadly international intrigues. Alongside his loyal assistant Tinker and the famous bloodhound Pedro, Blake pursues murderers from the streets of London to the frontiers of empire.

These are stories of relentless action, cliff-hanger suspense, hidden documents, secret prisons, stolen fortunes, and daring rescues—exactly the kind of adventures that made Sexton Blake one of the most popular fictional heroes of the twentieth century.

Sexton Blake—and the “Pretenders”

One of the unique features of the Sexton Blake phenomenon is that the detective was not the creation of a single author. After the character's introduction in 1893, dozens—and eventually hundreds—of writers contributed adventures under the famous house name “Sexton Blake.”The result was a literary institution that lasted for more than eighty years and produced thousands of stories.

This volume highlights some of those talented “pretenders” behind the Blake legend. Andrew Murray authored In the Shadow of Siberia and The Rajah's Revenge, while William Shaw Rae, one of the earliest and most prolific Blake writers, penned In the Kaiser's Service. Together they demonstrate how different authors helped shape, expand, and enrich the world of Britain's great detective.

Featuring a new introduction by Colin Heston, this edition places these adventures in their historical context and explores the remarkable publishing phenomenon that made Sexton Blake a cultural icon.

A must-read for fans of classic mysteries, pulp adventures, Sherlock Holmes, vintage detective fiction, and Edwardian thrillers.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 285p.

Sexton Blake (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Three classic adventures from the golden age of British popular fiction

Before James Bond, before Hercule Poirot became a household name, there was Sexton Blake—the tireless detective whose adventures thrilled generations of readers across Britain and the Empire.

This first volume of The Best Years collects three outstanding stories from the early twentieth century:

• In the Shadow of Siberia (1912)

• In the Kaiser's Service (1913)

• The Rajah's Revenge (1915)

Set against the backdrop of an anxious Europe edging toward war, these fast-paced tales find Blake confronting ruthless master criminals, foreign agents, political conspiracies, and deadly international intrigues. Alongside his loyal assistant Tinker and the famous bloodhound Pedro, Blake pursues murderers from the streets of London to the frontiers of empire.

These are stories of relentless action, cliff-hanger suspense, hidden documents, secret prisons, stolen fortunes, and daring rescues—exactly the kind of adventures that made Sexton Blake one of the most popular fictional heroes of the twentieth century.

Sexton Blake—and the “Pretenders”

One of the unique features of the Sexton Blake phenomenon is that the detective was not the creation of a single author. After the character's introduction in 1893, dozens—and eventually hundreds—of writers contributed adventures under the famous house name “Sexton Blake.”The result was a literary institution that lasted for more than eighty years and produced thousands of stories.

This volume highlights some of those talented “pretenders” behind the Blake legend. Andrew Murray authored In the Shadow of Siberia and The Rajah's Revenge, while William Shaw Rae, one of the earliest and most prolific Blake writers, penned In the Kaiser's Service. Together they demonstrate how different authors helped shape, expand, and enrich the world of Britain's great detective.

Featuring a new introduction by Colin Heston, this edition places these adventures in their historical context and explores the remarkable publishing phenomenon that made Sexton Blake a cultural icon.

A must-read for fans of classic mysteries, pulp adventures, Sherlock Holmes, vintage detective fiction, and Edwardian thrillers.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 315p.

by Sexton Blake (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

Before Sexton Blake became Britain's most famous detective, he was many detectives.

Early Blake: The Pretenders returns to the formative years of the great detective's career, presenting a remarkable collection of rare stories from 1893–1905 that reveal how the character evolved through the hands of multiple pioneering writers. Long before the standardized Blake of later decades, these adventures show a hero who could be detective, adventurer, spy, scientist, actor, and globe-trotter—sometimes all within the same story.

From inheritance conspiracies and criminal secret societies to hypnotism, imposture, international manhunts, theatrical murders, and bizarre scientific mysteries, these tales capture the extraordinary imagination of turn-of-the-century popular fiction. Readers will follow Sexton Blake across London, India, South America, the Mediterranean, and beyond as he unmasks killers, exposes frauds, rescues kidnapped heirs, and defeats some of the era's most ingenious villains.

Included are classic early adventures by William Shaw Rae, Hal Meredith, Arnold Grahame, F. H. Evans, and other influential contributors whose distinctive voices helped shape the detective's legend. These stories showcase the full range of the early Blake phenomenon: Gothic mystery, high adventure, melodrama, proto-thriller, scientific romance, and traditional detective fiction.

More than a collection of exciting mysteries, Early Blake: The Pretenders is a window into the creation of one of popular literature's greatest fictional institutions. The volume demonstrates how Sexton Blake's extraordinary versatility emerged through collaboration, experimentation, and the fertile imagination of numerous authors writing under a shared character.

For readers of Sherlock Holmes, Victorian and Edwardian detective fiction, pulp adventures, and literary history, this collection offers both thrilling entertainment and an important chapter in the development of modern popular fiction.

Note on the "Blake Pretenders"

The title The Pretenders operates on two levels.

Within the stories, Blake repeatedly confronts pretenders to wealth, titles, inheritances, identities, and social position. Impostors, masqueraders, false heirs, criminal doubles, and master deceivers drive many of the plots, making questions of identity central to the early Sexton Blake canon.

But there is a second meaning. The real "Blake pretenders" were the many authors who, over the years, stepped into the role of creating Sexton Blake himself. Unlike Sherlock Holmes, who remained associated with a single creator, Sexton Blake became a collaborative literary phenomenon. Each writer brought a different vision of the detective—more adventurous, more scientific, more theatrical, more mysterious, or more action-oriented. Rather than diminishing the character, these successive "pretenders" transformed Blake into one of the most adaptable heroes in popular fiction.

This volume celebrates those early contributors and reveals how their diverse interpretations combined to create the enduring legend of Sexton Blake.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 327p.

by Nick Carter (Author), Colin Heston (Editor), Graeme Newman (Introduction)

Strange Clues is the thrilling first volume in a six-book series collecting the classic adventures of America’s legendary detective, Nick Carter.

Long before modern crime fiction, Nick Carter was solving impossible mysteries, infiltrating criminal gangs, exposing master swindlers, and bringing dangerous killers to justice through a combination of daring action, brilliant deduction, and masterful disguise.

In this volume, three gripping detective novels place Carter against some of the most cunning criminals of the early twentieth century:
Following a Chance Clew
A seemingly random street attack leads Nick Carter into a deadly web of robbery, deception, and murder. As clues point toward the mysterious criminal mastermind known as Doc Helstone, Carter must unravel a conspiracy involving stolen diamonds, secret hideouts, and hidden identities before more lives are lost.

A Cigarette Clew
What begins with an ordinary cigarette becomes the key to exposing a sophisticated fraud worth millions. With swindlers, forged evidence, desperate pursuits, and clever traps, Nick Carter follows the smallest clue to uncover a massive criminal scheme.

The Four-Fingered Glove
A murder, a missing heir, a forged identity, and a fortune at stake. Facing one of his most complex investigations, Carter must untangle a maze of circumstantial evidence, family secrets, deception, and betrayal before an innocent person pays the price.

Filled with hidden passages, criminal masterminds, daring escapes, undercover operations, and ingenious clues, Strange Cluesshowcases the detective who helped define American mystery fiction.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

• Sherlock Holmes

• Golden Age mysteries

• Classic detective fiction

• Vintage pulp adventures

• Clever clues and locked-room puzzles

• Historical crime stories

Step into the world of Nick Carter—where even the strangest clue can reveal the truth.

Edited and introduced by Colin Heston, this volume launches a six-book series celebrating one of the most influential detectives in American popular fiction.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 327p.

by Colin Heston (Author),/editor J. S. Fletcher (Author)

Three Classic Mysteries by J. S. Fletcher: The Markenmore Mystery • The Paradise Mystery • The Copper Box

Secrets, deception, hidden identities, and murder lie at the heart of these three masterful mysteries from one of Britain's finest Golden Age crime writers.

J. S. Fletcher was a pioneer of the modern detective novel, renowned for weaving intricate plots, memorable characters, and surprising revelations into stories that keep readers guessing until the final page. In Secret Crimes, three of his most engaging mysteries are brought together in a single volume.

In The Markenmore Mystery, a seemingly ordinary country-house murder uncovers a web of family secrets, concealed motives, and long-buried truths. As investigators delve deeper into the case, they discover that the victim's past may hold the key to solving the crime.

The Paradise Mystery begins with a shocking death in a quiet Yorkshire village. What appears at first to be a straightforward case soon develops into a complex puzzle involving hidden relationships, financial intrigue, and dangerous ambitions. Fletcher's skillful plotting leads readers through a maze of clues toward a startling conclusion.

In The Copper Box, a mysterious object becomes the center of an increasingly dangerous investigation. Murder, theft, and international intrigue combine as detectives seek to uncover the significance of a seemingly ordinary box whose contents could change everything.

Combining atmospheric settings, clever detective work, and expertly constructed mysteries, these three novels showcase Fletcher at the height of his powers. His stories capture the transition from Victorian sensation fiction to the detective fiction of the twentieth century, offering both historical charm and enduring suspense.

This new edition includes a specially written Preface by Colin Heston, placing Fletcher's work in the context of the development of modern crime fiction and examining why his mysteries continue to captivate readers today.

Perfect for fans of classic British detective fiction, Golden Age mysteries, and authors such as Arthur Conan Doyle, Freeman Wills Crofts, and Edgar Wallace, Secret Crimes is a compelling collection of hidden motives, dangerous secrets, and unforgettable crimes.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.403.

Colin Heston (Editor and Author), J. S. Fletcher (Author)

Two Classic Mystery Novels by J. S. Fletcher. The Middle Temple Murder & The Middle of Things.
Edited with a New Preface by Colin Heston

Step into the shadowy world of Edwardian crime with two compelling mysteries from one of Britain's greatest masters of detective fiction, J. S. Fletcher.

In The Middle Temple Murder, a respected barrister is found dead in London's historic legal district. What first appears to be a straightforward case soon reveals a web of hidden identities, long-buried secrets, and unexpected motives. As investigators follow a trail of clues through the chambers, courts, and corridors of the Middle Temple, Fletcher demonstrates why he became one of the most admired crime writers of his age.

In The Middle of Things, an apparently ordinary man suddenly finds himself at the centre of a baffling mystery. Drawn into a world of deception, intrigue, and danger, he must untangle a series of puzzling events whose significance becomes clear only when he discovers that he is standing in the very middle of a much larger scheme. Combining suspense, clever plotting, and memorable characters, Fletcher once again delivers a masterclass in classic detective storytelling.

Both novels showcase Fletcher's remarkable ability to blend traditional mystery, legal intrigue, and psychological suspense. His carefully constructed plots, vivid settings, and attention to detail helped shape the development of modern crime fiction and influenced generations of mystery writers.

This new edition includes a specially written preface by Colin Heston, exploring Fletcher's enduring appeal, his contribution to detective literature, and the continuing relevance of his mysteries in an age still fascinated by crime, justice, and hidden truths.

Perfect for readers who enjoy Golden Age detective fiction, courtroom mysteries, and the works of Arthur Conan Doyle, Freeman Wills Crofts, and G. K. Chesterton, Murder in the Middle offers two engrossing tales from one of the early twentieth century's most accomplished mystery writers.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.342.

J. S. Fletcher (author). Colin Heston (Editor and Preface).

Before modern crime thrillers and historical adventures captivated millions of readers, J. S. Fletcher was crafting tales of intrigue, danger, deception, and suspense that kept readers turning pages late into the night. Dark and Dangerous Mysteries brings together two of Fletcher's most compelling novels, revealing the remarkable range of one of Britain's most prolific and imaginative writers.

In Mistress Spitfire, Fletcher transports readers to the turbulent days of seventeenth-century England. Against a backdrop of political unrest, secret loyalties, and personal vendettas, a spirited and unforgettable heroine finds herself caught in a web of danger and adventure. Combining historical drama, romance, and high-stakes intrigue, this vivid tale evokes a world where courage and cunning often mean the difference between life and death.

In The Orange-Yellow Diamond, Fletcher turns his formidable talents to mystery and detection. A priceless gem, mysterious disappearances, hidden motives, and a trail of clues lead readers through a masterfully constructed puzzle. As secrets emerge and suspects multiply, Fletcher demonstrates why he became one of the leading architects of twentieth-century crime fiction.

Together, these two novels showcase Fletcher at his best: a writer equally at home in the shadowy corridors of mystery and the dramatic landscapes of historical adventure. Rich in atmosphere, populated by memorable characters, and driven by expertly crafted plots, these stories remain as entertaining today as when they first appeared.

Carefully edited by Colin Heston, Dark and Dangerous Mysteries offers modern readers an opportunity to rediscover a forgotten master of suspense whose influence can still be felt in contemporary crime and adventure fiction.

Perfect for readers who enjoy classic mysteries, historical adventures, vintage detective fiction, and the timeless storytelling of the golden age of popular fiction.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. p.302.

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

As a classic reprint under its new title, "For the Love of Guilt," this volume revives a seminal work of Victorian crime fiction originally published in 1891 as The Man from Manchester. Authored by the prolific Dick Donovan—the pseudonym for Joyce Emmerson Preston Muddock—the novel serves as a fascinating bridge between the sensationalist mid-Victorian "Newgate" novels and the more structured detective fiction popularized by contemporaries like Edgar Wallace.

The story begins on a dark, fog-laden November afternoon at Manchester’s London Road Station. It is here that fate intertwines the lives of two men of contrasting character: Josiah Vecquerary, a prosperous and "frank-speaking" Manchester warehouseman, and Richard Hipcraft, a "sparse and shrunken" London solicitor with a voice described as "harsh and unpleasant". Their chance meeting in a first-class carriage, soon joined by the beautiful and mysterious Mrs. Neilsen (later revealed as Sabena Tortolini) and her niece Muriel, sets in motion a "drama of real life" that will lead to scandal, betrayal, and eventually, murder.

Dick Donovan’s narrative explores the rigid social boundaries and the "British reserve" of the era, while simultaneously delving into the darker psychological impulses of his characters. Josiah Vecquerary represents the "better type of the true 'Manchester Man'"—upright and hospitable—yet he finds his stable life unraveling after a series of encounters with Hipcraft and the enigmatic Mrs. Neilsen. The conflict between Vecquerary and Hipcraft, which begins with a petty dispute over a train compartment, escalates into a bitter legal battle and a "strange and startling theory" involving the detective Farabin Tindal.

As the plot shifts from the busy streets of "Cottonopolis" to the grim fog of London and the stark cliffs of Hastings, the novel transforms into a "ravelled skein" of circumstantial evidence. The reappearance of characters like the "sleuth-hound" Slark and the tragic Tortolini highlights Donovan’s mastery of the procedural thriller, long before the genre had acquired its modern form.

This 2026 edition, introduced by Colin Heston, invites a new generation of readers to experience a tale where "true love endureth forever," yet where the shadows of guilt are never far behind. For the Love of Guilt remains a compelling study of human nature, described by Donovan as "a riddle and a mystery," proving that the themes of justice, revenge, and redemption are truly timeless.

.Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 205 p.

by Rolf Boldrewood (Author), Graeme Newman (Introduction)

In an age of empire, ambition, and moral certainty, one young Englishman sets out to remake the world—and instead discovers how little he understands it.

In The British Crusades: A Colonial Reformer, Rolf Boldrewood delivers a sharply observed and quietly ironic portrait of colonial life in nineteenth-century Australia. Through the journey of Ernest Neuchamp—an idealistic reformer who arrives in the colonies armed with lofty principles and untested theories—the novel explores the collision between abstract ideals and lived reality.

Convinced that he is destined to elevate and refine colonial society, Neuchamp quickly finds himself outmatched by the practical knowledge, hard-earned experience, and subtle skepticism of those who already call the land home. From the bustling streets of Sydney to the harsh uncertainties of the interior, his “crusade” becomes a lesson in humility, survival, and the limits of imported wisdom.

Rich in detail, wit, and psychological insight, this novel is more than a story of colonial adventure. It is a penetrating critique of the reforming impulse itself—of the belief that societies can be reshaped by conviction alone. Boldrewood captures both the grandeur and the folly of empire, revealing a world where fortunes are made and lost, where appearances deceive, and where understanding must be earned, not assumed.

This Read-Me.Org edition, introduced by Graeme R. Newman, restores A Colonial Reformer with the expanded title The British Crusades, highlighting its enduring relevance to modern debates about cultural influence, reform, and the unintended consequences of idealism.

For readers of classic colonial fiction, historical realism, and works that bridge literature and social thought, this volume offers a compelling and surprisingly modern narrative—one that speaks as clearly today as it did over a century ago.

Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 413p.

by James Edward Muddock (Author), Graeme Newman (Introduction)

Death and Vengeance in Australia by James Edward Muddock is a gripping colonial drama that fuses romance, frontier survival, and high-stakes adventure into a powerful narrative of love tested by fate and ambition.

Set against the vast and unforgiving landscapes of nineteenth-century Australia, the novel follows Harold Preston, a young settler whose fortunes are shattered by relentless drought. As ruin closes in and his future with the spirited Mary Gordon hangs in the balance, an unexpected discovery—a dying prospector’s secret of a fabulously rich gold field hidden deep in the western wilderness—offers a last, desperate hope.

But in a land where distance, danger, and desire shape every decision, fortune comes at a cost. As Harold prepares to risk everything on a perilous expedition into the unknown, friendship begins to fray, rivalries deepen, and darker motives emerge. What begins as a story of devotion and resilience steadily transforms into a tense struggle where trust is uncertain, and vengeance may prove as powerful as love.

Blending vivid descriptions of the Australian bush with psychological tension and moral conflict, this novel captures the harsh realities and seductive promises of colonial life. First published as Out There: A Romance of Australia, this newly retitled edition highlights the novel’s deeper themes of betrayal, survival, and retribution.

This Read-Me.Org edition includes a modern introduction by Graeme R. Newman, placing the work in historical and literary context for contemporary readers.

A compelling rediscovery for fans of classic adventure, historical fiction, and early crime narratives, Death and Vengeance in Australia reveals how quickly hope can turn to peril—and how, in the wilderness, every choice carries consequences

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

By Guy Boothby (Author), Colin Heston (Introduction)

An Aristocratic Conspiracy. A Vile Betrayal. A Life Erased in the Shadows of Europe.

Lord Carminster is not a typical Peer. He is an intellectual, an artist, and a recluse who prefers painting in Vienna to the hunting fields of England. After four years abroad, he returns to the stately Carminster Park with a new wife, only to find the beautiful estate smothered by a historic fog.

This homecoming, thick with tension, is only the beginning of a nightmare.

Within days, the "Stolen Peer" becomes the victim of a sophisticated conspiracy. Abducted and drugged on his own lands, Lord Carminster is spirited away on a desolate railway and held captive on a yacht, while his identity and family honour are stolen by his enemies. Back in London, the clubs are rife with scandal, systematically dismantling his reputation until even his friends question his existence.

This definitive new edition, based on the complete text of the original 1906 edition, is the ultimate classic Victorian thriller. It has been meticulously processed to:

• Remove all background noise and aged artifacts for superior readability.

• Preserve the original 19th-century British English spelling.

• Offer the first-ever 6 x 9 inch trade edition.

If you love the gothic suspense of Wilkie Collins or the master-criminals of early espionage fiction, discover why Guy Boothby (1867–1905) was one of the defining architects of the modern thriller. Experience The Kidnapped Lord (formerly known as A Stolen Peer) exactly as a contemporary audience would have: as a gripping, cutting-edge exploration of how easily a life of privilege can be erased in the shadows of the British Empire..Read-Me.Org Inc.

New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 182 p.

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

Step into the shadowed world of Victorian crime, where deception is an art, identity is a weapon, and justice depends on the sharpest of minds.

The Great Diamond Frauds and Other Criminal Mysteries by Dick Donovan brings together a gripping collection of true-to-life detective stories drawn from the golden age of early criminal investigation. These tales follow the exploits of a seasoned investigator navigating a society where elegance and corruption often walk hand in hand.

At the heart of the volume is the astonishing case of the Great Diamond Frauds—a brilliantly orchestrated swindle involving forged identities, counterfeit jewels, and a criminal network bold enough to prey upon the highest levels of society. From there, the collection unfolds into a series of equally compelling mysteries: cunning cardsharpers operating on railway lines, tragic tales of love and law entangled, and elaborate schemes that expose the vulnerabilities of both wealth and respectability.

What sets Donovan’s work apart is its striking realism. These are not merely puzzles to be solved, but vivid reconstructions of crime as it was lived and pursued in the nineteenth century. With a keen eye for human psychology and a deep understanding of investigative method, Donovan reveals how criminals think—and how they are ultimately brought to justice.

Rich in atmosphere and historical detail, this collection will appeal to readers of classic detective fiction, true crime enthusiasts, and anyone fascinated by the origins of modern policing. It is a window into a world where the stakes are high, the disguises are convincing, and the truth is never quite what it seems.

Carefully restored and presented as a Read-Me.Org classic edition, this volume preserves the integrity of the original texts while making them accessible to contemporary readers. For readers of Sherlock Holmes, true crime history, and classic Victorian mystery

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

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 (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)

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.