The Best Dr. Thorndyke Detective Stories

R. Austin Freeman was an Edwardian surgeon and author famous as the originator of the inverted detective story; we're given the crime and the narrative is built around catching the criminal instead of a traditional "whodunit".
He wrote a number of other fiction and nonfiction works, but is rightfully remembered best for his Dr. Thorndyke novels and stories.
The stories included in this collection have weathered remarkably well. They're still readable and compare favorably with other period works. All 8 of the included stories have aged very well, and he manages to write without ìnfusing his work with his personal philosophy and beliefs (which haven't stood the test of time).

I was familiar with most of the stories in one format or another but was thankful that Dover has collected them together and re-released them in a new edition with a nice forward/intro by E.  F. Bleiker.  This edition also includes  source notes for the original publications.

Well worth a reread if you've read them before, and if you haven't you're in for a real treat.

Even the great Raymond Chandler said of Freeman "This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer. He has no equal in his genre..."

Five stars for the stories and supporting information in this edition.



Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher.