''Death in Harley Street'' (1946) is widely celebrated by genre historians and critics as the author's ultimate masterpiece of Golden Age detective fiction. Dr. Priestley is a retired, eccentric mathematics professor who operates as an armchair forensics specialist. He leaves the physical footwork to Scotland Yard's Inspector Jimmy Waghorn while he solves cases purely through logical deduction. The premise centers on the sudden, violent death of an eminent medical specialist, Dr. Richard E...

''Twice Dead'' by John Rhode is a classic Golden Age mystery where the eccentric Sir Francis Yordale fakes his own death to test his heirs' affection, only to be found genuinely dead soon after, leading Superintendent Jimmy Waghorn and Dr. Priestley to investigate his real murder by carbon monoxide poisoning, revealing hidden family secrets and ingenious criminal methods.

The John Rhode Detective Library brings together sixteen of the most compelling and ingeniously plotted mysteries featuring Dr. Lancelot Priestley, one of the most distinctive sleuths of the Golden Age of detective fiction. Created by Cecil John Charles Street, writing as John Rhode, Dr. Priestley is a logician, a scientist, and an armchair detective whose calm reasoning and analytical mind unravel even the most baffling of crimes. This illustrated collection includes standout titles such ...

A night of revelry ends with a perplexing death in the first novel featuring one of the greatest detectives of the Golden Age of Mystery.In the early hours of a wintery morning, Harold Merefield returns home from a festive little party at The Naxos, a popular nightclub in Paddington. But just as he tries to get some much-needed sleep, he is startled by a gruesome discovery on his bed: a corpse.There is no way to identify the dead man or the cause of his death...

The Vanishing Diary (1961) by John Rhode (Miles Burton) is the last installment in the Dr. Lancelot Priestley series, featuring Superintendent Jimmy Waghorn. The plot centers on a family dispute over a historic diary, locked in a double-sealed box, which vanishes, followed by the murder of a family member. Test pilot Freddie Hapton becomes involved with the feuding Greystoke family in Alderscar, North East England, after his plane crashes. The family, split into two factions, holds keys to...

“The Hanging Woman” (1931) is a classic mystery novel by John Rhode (Miles Burton) featuring his recurring detective, Dr. Lancelot Priestley. It centers on an investigation into a suspicious death at a supposedly haunted house.

“Men Die at Cyprus Lodge” (1943) by John Rhode (Miles Burton) is a classic Golden Age mystery featuring Dr. Priestley investigating a series of murders at a reputedly haunted house in the English village of Troutwich. The plot centers on a "haunted" house where victims are killed by poison (aconitine) via a booby-trap.

“Dead of the Night” (1942) is a mystery by John Rhode (Miles Burton) featuring his recurring investigator Dr. Priestley. Written during WWII, the plot reflects the atmosphere of the British Home Guard preparing for a potential invasion. The story involves a murder that occurs during a Home Guard training exercise (a "night exercise").

Death at the Helm (1941) is a Golden Age detective novel featuring recurring amateur sleuth, Dr. Lancelot Priestley, where Inspector Waghorn investigates the poisoning of two people on a grounded motor cruiser, a complex "howdunnit" rich in botanical details about poisons, set against a backdrop of wartime England. The book is praised for its well-clued puzzle, detailed detection, engaging characters, and poignant ending, balancing the technical mystery with emotional depth.

Dr. Priestley Lays a Trap, first published in 1933 (and also known by the title The Motor Rally Mystery), is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961.From the dustjacket: The death of Lessingham and his companion, Purvis, was, indeed, a tragic affair; but ...

In Death at Breakfast, John Rhode presents another thrilling Dr. Priestley mystery that unfolds within a seemingly ordinary setting—a country house where an unexpected tragedy occurs. The story begins with the peculiar death of Victor Harleston, a wealthy businessman, who is found dead at the breakfast table under circumstances that defy explanation. Initially thought to be a sudden, natural death, closer inspection by Dr. Priestley reveals signs that hint at something more sinister. The c...

Death on the Boat Train, first published in 1940, is book no. 32 in the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley and Scotland Yard's Superintendent Hanslet and Inspector Jimmy Waghorn. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: Fair blew the wind from France, and the Channel steamer Isle of Jethou rolled ...