Edited by Colin Heston. Three classics of British crime and detective fiction: The Lodger by Marie Belloc Lowndes, The Woman in Black by E. C. Bentley, and Tracked by a Tattoo by Fergus Hume.

Three celebrated mysteries—carefully condensed and abridged for the modern reader in one substantial volume.

The original novels are substantial works written in the expansive style of their period. For this special edition, each has been carefully condensed and abridged, removing repetition, lengthy exposition, incidental description, and passages that do not materially advance the mystery. The aim is not to summarize or rewrite the novels, but to provide a more concentrated reading experience while retaining the essential storylines, principal characters, important clues, suspense, atmosphere, memorable scenes, and complete solutions of the originals.

In The Lodger, respectable but impoverished Robert and Ellen Bunting take a mysterious stranger into their London home. Mr. Sleuth brings desperately needed money, but his peculiar habits and nocturnal excursions coincide with a terrifying series of murders committed by the killer known as The Avenger. Gradually Mrs. Bunting is forced to contemplate an appalling possibility: has she given sanctuary to a murderer?

In The Woman in Black, wealthy American financier Sigsbee Manderson is found murdered at his English country residence. The brilliant Philip Trent sets about reconstructing the crime from apparently persuasive evidence. Yet E. C. Bentley has something more ingenious in mind. What appears certain may be false, and even the detective's most convincing deductions can lead him dangerously astray.

In Tracked by a Tattoo, Fergus Hume sends Scotland Yard detective Fanks into a labyrinth of murder, disguise, secret identities, suspicious characters, and misleading evidence. Among the bewildering clues is a physical mark—a tattoo—that may provide the thread capable of leading the detective to the truth.

Together, these three novels explore a theme at the heart of classic mystery fiction: the dangerous difference between appearance and reality. A respectable exterior may conceal guilt; an apparently decisive clue may deceive; and a murderer may remain hidden even while standing in plain sight.

This condensed and abridged edition allows readers to experience three substantial classics in a single accessible volume, preserving the mystery and character of the originals while moving more rapidly through their stories.

With an Introduction by Colin Heston, The Mark of Murder offers both longtime enthusiasts and newcomers an inviting way to rediscover three distinctive works from the formative age of crime and detective fiction.

Three classic mysteries—shortened, sharpened, and brought together in one volume, with the murder, mystery, characters, clues, and surprises intact.

.Read-Me.Org Inc. New York-Philadelphia-Australia. 2026. 294p.

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.

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.

 SCOTLAND YARD AND BEYOND

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

From the shadowed streets of London to the secret worlds of spies and master criminals, Edgar Wallace delivers the kind of high-speed storytelling that made him one of the most widely read writers of his age.

The Spies and Criminals of Edgar Wallace — Volume 1 gathers a thrilling selection of Wallace’s most entertaining tales of intrigue, deception, and daring adventure. Within these pages readers encounter brilliant detectives, elusive thieves, secret societies, and dangerous conspiracies that challenge the keenest minds of Scotland Yard. Each story unfolds with Wallace’s trademark pace—swift, suspenseful, and filled with surprising twists.

A master of popular fiction, Wallace combined sharp dialogue, vivid characters, and ingenious plots to create stories that remain as gripping today as when they first captivated readers in the early twentieth century.

This exciting new edition invites modern readers to rediscover a classic voice of crime fiction and experience the suspense, wit, and adventure that made Edgar Wallace a legend of the thriller.

By Wilkie Collins. .

A Novel . Two of the characters which appear in these pages -- "Rosamond," and "Uncle Joseph" -- had the good fortune to find friends everywhere who took a hearty liking to them. A more elaborately drawn personage in the story -- "Sarah Leeson" -- was, I think, less generally understood. The idea of tracing, in this character, the influence of a heavy responsibility on a naturally timid woman, whose mind was neither strong enough to bear it, nor bold enough to drop it altogether, was a favorite idea with me, at the time, and is so much a favorite still, that I privately give "Sarah Leeson" the place of honor in the little portrait-gallery which my story contains.

London: Bradbury and Evans, 1857. 322p.