21 Mystery & Romance Novels gathers Robert Barr's lively experiments in detection, adventure, courtship, and social comedy, revealing a writer alert to the pleasures of plot and the ironies of modern life. Moving between crime puzzles, transatlantic intrigue, and romantic entanglement, the collection displays the crisp pacing and urbane wit characteristic of late-Victorian popular fiction, while engaging the same expanding readership that embraced Conan Doyle, Stevenson, and the magazine s...

The second volume of our Victorian Mystery series presents 38 more classic mysteries, including series by Andrew Lang, August Groner, and Robert Barr. Included are: IN THE HOUSE OF SUDDHOO, by Rudyard KiplingTHE CRIME CLUB, by William Holt-WhiteTRACES OF CRIME, by Mary FortuneTHE STAR OF THE "GRASMERE," by E. W. HornungMR. BOVEY'S UNEXPECTED WILL, by L. T. Meade and Robert EustaceTHE ADVENTURES OF SHERLAW KOMBS, by Robert BarrTHE AFFAIR OF THE "AV...

The Triumphs of Eugène Valmont by Robert Barr is a witty and engaging collection of detective stories that follows the clever investigations of Eugène Valmont, a brilliant but often self-assured French private investigator. Blending mystery, humor, and satire, the book offers a playful take on the detective fiction genre that was rapidly gaining popularity in the late 19th century. Eugène Valmont is a self-proclaimed master of deduction who approaches each case with confidence, theatrical ...

"The Face and the Mask" features a variety of stories spanning different genres, including mystery, crime, adventure, and romance. Each story presents a unique premise and characters, often with unexpected plot developments or surprising twists at the end.The collection's title story, "The Face and the Mask," explores the theme of duality and deception. It follows the tale of a gentleman thief named "The Lone Wolf," who operates in high society using his charm and cunning to commit audacio...

IT was a nasty night, with a drizzling rain nearly as thick as a fog—a rain which obscured the signals and left the rails so slippery that a quick stop was almost impossible—yet just the sort of night to make a quick stop imperative if disaster were to be averted. Young John Steele, station-master, telegrapher, ticket-agent, and man-of-all-work in the lone shanty known on the railway map as Hitchen’s Siding, ignored by all other maps, stood beside the telegraph instrument wondering whether...

The novel is set in a fictional town in England and revolves around the life of Henry Merrivale, a wealthy industrialist and factory owner, who is deeply entrenched in the social and economic fabric of the town. Merrivale is portrayed as a self-made man who believes in the power of hard work and individual effort, but who also holds a somewhat paternalistic view of the working class. He prides himself on the prosperity of his factory and the loyalty of his workers, whom he believes to be c...

IN the public room of the Sixth National Bank at Bar Harbor in Maine, Lieutenant Alan Drummond, H.M.S. “Consternation,” stood aside to give precedence to a lady. The Lieutenant had visited the bank for the purpose of changing several crisp white Bank of England notes into the currency of the country he was then visiting. The lady did not appear to notice either his courtesy or his presence, and this was the more remarkable since Drummond was a young man sufficiently conspicuous even in a c...

The office of Monkton & Hope’s great factory hung between heaven and earth, and, at the particular moment John Sartwell, manager, stood looking out of the window towards the gates, heaven consisted of a brooding London fog suspended a hundred feet above the town, hesitating to fall, while earth was represented by a sticky black-cindered factory-yard bearing the imprint of many a hundred boots. The office was built between the two huge buildings known as the “Works.” The situation of the of...

The story is set against the backdrop of espionage and international intrigue in the late 19th century. It follows the adventures of the main character, Peter Klein, a journalist who becomes involved in a complex plot involving spies, political intrigue, and a mysterious rock in the Baltic Sea. The novel combines elements of mystery, suspense, and romance as Klein unravels the secrets and conspiracies surrounding the enigmatic rock.Robert Barr was known for his ability to write engaging an...

The novel centers on Lord Stranleigh, a young and immensely wealthy nobleman who is known for his easy-going and carefree attitude. Despite his privileged position, Stranleigh is not your typical aristocrat; he is curious, adventurous, and often finds himself involved in unusual and sometimes risky situations.At the beginning of the novel, Stranleigh is portrayed as a man of leisure, enjoying the comforts that his wealth affords him. However, his boredom with the idle life of the aristocra...

WHEN I say I am called Valmont, the name will convey no impression to the reader one way or another. My occupation is that of private detective in London, but if you ask any policeman in Paris who Valmont was he will likely be able to tell you, unless he is a recent recruit. If you ask him where Valmont is now, he may not know, yet I have a good deal to do with the Parisian police. For a period of seven years I was chief detective to the Government of France, and if I am unable to prove my...

The story revolves around the protagonist, Jennie Baxter, a young woman aspiring to become a journalist during a time when it was unconventional for women to pursue such careers. The novel follows Jennie's journey as she navigates the challenges, obstacles, and prejudices she faces in the male-dominated field of journalism.Robert Barr was known for his entertaining and often humorous storytelling. In "Jennie Baxter, Journalist," he addresses societal issues and challenges stereotypes by de...