In the heart of London's literary world, a brutal murder shatters the quiet charm of Charing Cross Road. Mr. Richard Dodsley, a well-known second-hand bookseller, is found dead in his shop—shot in cold blood amidst the dusty shelves and rare first editions. The scene is baffling: no sign of forced entry, no apparent motive, and a clientele made up of respectable writers, collectors, and publishers. Enter Inspector Wilkins of Scotland Yard, a thoughtful and methodical detective determined t...

This illustrated sgathers six of John Alexander Ferguson’s finest detective novels—from moody psychological mysteries to sharp London whodunits—showcasing why Ferguson remains a notable voice of the Golden Age. Featuring The Man in the Dark, Death of Mr Dodsley, The Dark Geraldine, plus three others, this collection invites readers into shadowy corridors, remote Scottish moors and bookshops fraught with secrets. In The Man in the Dark, amateur detective Francis MacNab investigates a sinist...

There is something about the number 3.The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two.Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these more modern times, three’s a crowd may be too many, except when it’s a ménage à trois. It seems good things usually come in threes.Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore them...

Alec Maitland, recently returned from abroad and down on his luck in London, finds himself drawn into intrigue when an old acquaintance, Charles Biddulph — a high‑ranking government official — offers him a covert assignment. Tasked with investigating strange and unsettling occurrences threatening a British Crown colony in Africa, Maitland accepts—but soon discovers that the work is far more dangerous and complex than he expected. Living modestly over a Soho tobacco shop and eking out a liv...

Set in 1920s colonial India, The Secret Road by John Ferguson is a gripping tale of espionage, danger, and high-stakes intrigue. John Neville of the Indian Secret Service is sent to steal the legendary Bumali diamond—a symbol of rebellion that could ignite an uprising against British rule. As Neville infiltrates the Rajah’s domain, he faces betrayal, ancient loyalties, and deadly pursuit. Blending fast-paced action with moral complexity, Ferguson explores the tensions of empire, identity, ...

John Ferguson was born on the 18th August 1881 in Stirling in Scotland.He attended the High School there and little other information is available.It is known that he worked primarily in the banking industry.His literary canon is exceedingly small, this being the only volume of his poems ever published. What is known is that he suffered from ill-health and these poems were written whilst in a sanitorium.The book itself was very successful after its publicati...

The Detective has been a mainstay of fiction writing ever since we can remember.Their deductive powers, their intuition and fleet-footed grasp of every detail can often turn the unlikeliest situation, or bunch of red herrings, into a breakthrough to capture even the most ingenious and dastardly of criminals.In this series our classic authors explore not only various themes, such as Occult Detectives, Female Detectives, Curious Crimes and a whole host more, but also bring a ...

When the First World War looms over Europe in 1914, young Scottish medical student Hugh Abercromby finds himself entangled in danger after a dying stranger thrusts a cryptic document into his hands. What seems a chance encounter quickly reveals itself as the opening move in a dangerous German plot to invade England. From Berlin to Hamburg, across Scotland, and finally to the quiet cliffs near Dover, Hugh is relentlessly pursued by enemy agents. Betrayals, shadowy figures, and impersonation...

The opening chapter of this work was prepared during the recent presidential campaign. It was the idea of the author that it should appear in one of the leading newspapers or magazines before the election, but maturer reflection brought about a change of purpose. He realized that its publication at that time, might, not altogether unreasonably, be looked upon as a political move having as its object the election or defeat of a particular candidate for office, whereas he had no desire to pl...

Set in the remote village of Gart, hidden in the folds of the West Perthshire hills, The Dark Geraldine is a “Golden Age” mystery‑thriller, rich in atmosphere, intrigue, and unexpected peril. The story begins with two suspicious deaths: one accidental and one apparently suicide. The first vicitm is a respected villager in Gart, and the second is his employer—Robert Lawson—whose behavior leading up to his death has been increasingly strange and troubling. Then the plot thickens when Peter G...

A sinister shadow looms over the quiet Scottish countryside in this eerie and intelligent Golden Age mystery by John Ferguson, author of Death of Mr. Dodsley. When a reclusive and wealthy landowner is found murdered in his remote Highland estate, the case seems to be more than just a simple crime of greed or revenge. The local authorities are baffled—not just by the killing, but by the strange, almost spectral figure reportedly seen wandering the grounds at night. Rumors swirl: Who is the ...

The Rosarium philosophorum or Rosary of the philosophers, originally written in the 16th century, is one of the most important texts of European alchemy.