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.

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.

MAY CONTAIN MARKUP

By Elizabeth George

FROM THE COVER: It is barely three months since the murder of his wife and Thomas Lynley has taken to the South-West Coast Path in Cornwall, determined to walk its length in an attempt to recover from his loss. On the forty-third day of this walk, he spies a body on the beach - a young cliff climber has suffered a fatal fall. The nearest house to the death site belongs to a woman veterinarian from Bristol, and this proximity makes her an automatic suspect, particularly as she seems to have no personal history before her thirteenth year. The case brings Barbara Havers from London and thrusts both detectives into the rugged beauty of out-of-season Cornwall, with its community of surfers and hoteliers. But the wild landscape is the scene of jealousy, betrayal and revenge, and Lynley and Havers must sift through all these human emotions in their search for the killer. Careless in Red marks the welcome return of Scotland Yard's Detective….”

London. by Hodder & Stoughton. 2008. 547p.