Volume VI contains the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth Thorndyke novels, published in 1927, 1928, and 1930, respectively.
A Certain Dr. Thorndyke - Unique among the Thorndyke narratives, this story is as much an adventure tale as a mystery. A man falsely accused finds a new, exciting, and dangerous life on the African coast. But when he's ready to return home to England, only Dr. Thorndyke can clear his name.
As a Thief in the Night - What seems to be a routine death uncovers a trail to a past heartbreaking murder - and a most surprising killer who is willing to hide old secrets, even if it means killing Dr. Thorndyke as well!
Mr. Pottermack's Oversight - A good man is driven by blackmail to terrible extremes. And by the slimmest of clues, he finds Dr. Thorndyke upon his trail . . . .
When Sherlock Holmes began his practice as a "Consulting Detective", his ideas of scientific criminal investigations caused the London police to look upon him as a mere "theorist". And yet, through his work, the science behind catching criminals became so important that it's hard to now imagine the world without them.
Many famous Great Detectives followed in Holmes's footsteps - Nero Wolfe and Ellery Queen, Hercule Poirot and Solar Pons - but before they began their careers, and while Holmes was still in practice in Baker Street, another London consultant - Dr. John Thorndyke - opened his doors, using the scientific methods developed and perfected by Holmes and taking them to a whole new level of brilliance.
Between 1905, with his first appearance in a nearly forgotten novella (see below), to 1942, and through the course of twenty-one novels and over forty short stories, Dr. Thorndyke, often with the assistance of his friend Dr. Christopher Jervis, unraveled some incredibly complex puzzles. Besides providing very satisfying mysteries - some of which turned the literary form inside out - these adventures present vivid pictures of England in the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras, ranging from the doctor's own vividly drawn chambers at 5A Kings Bench Walk in the Temple to the surrounding London streets, and beyond into the villages and towns of the countryside.
Many of the Thorndyke volumes have been difficult to obtain for decades. MX Publishing is proud to announce the return of Dr. Thorndyke in a collection of omnibus editions, bringing these masterful adventures of one of the world's greatest detectives together in an easily available format for modern readers.
"Thorndyke will cheerfully show you all the facts. You will be none the wiser . . . ."
- Dorothy L. Sayers, Chronicler of Lord Peter Wimsey