Classic Mysteries

"The Hangman's Handyman," by Hake Talbot

June 04, 2018 00:43 - 6 minutes - 5.57 MB

A dinner party on a remote island turns deadly, when the words of an ancient curse apparently cause the immediate death of one person - and the nearly immediate decomposition of the body.

"Bats in the Belfry," by E.C.R. Lorac

May 28, 2018 11:37 - 5 minutes - 5.1 MB

When author Bruce Attleton disappeared - and so did his wife - friends were mystified. The secret appears to lie in a rundown artists' studio called "the Belfry" and a mysterious person who calls himself "Debrette"...

"Fire in the Thatch," by E.C.R. Lorac

May 21, 2018 02:55 - 6 minutes - 5.77 MB

Not everyone liked Nicholas Vaughan, though most people in Mallory Fitzjohn had at least a grudging respect for him. He certainly appeared competent, a man of few words, handy with his hands. It was a shock when a fire destroyed the thatched cottage Vaughan was renting and renovating. Nick Vaughan was trapped in the blaze. The coroner's jury said it was accidental. Others weren't so sure, and it would take Inspector Macdonald of Scotland Yard to come up with a motive and method for murder.

"In the Best Families," by Rex Stout

May 13, 2018 01:13 - 5 minutes - 5.45 MB

Arnold Zeck was probably the only man Nero Wolfe feared - with good reason. Confrontation was inevitable - and only one could survive.

"The Second Confession," by Rex Stout

May 07, 2018 14:45 - 6 minutes - 6.07 MB

Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin find themselves crossing swords with master criminal Arnold Zeck once again - and nearly lose their lives in the course of the battle, as Wolfe's brownstone home comes under attack.

"Death Sends for the Doctor," by George Bellairs

April 30, 2018 18:15 - 5 minutes - 4.68 MB

Who would want to kill the village doctor in Abbot's Caldicott?? Quite a few people, it would seem. Inspector Littlejohn would find a good deal of snobbery mixed in with more than a little violence.

"The Long Skeleton," by Frances and Richard Lockridge

April 22, 2018 22:48 - 5 minutes - 5.15 MB

Pam and Jerry North came back to their hotel room to find the corpse of a strange woman in their bed. When the corpse is identified, it's going to make the Norths prime suspects.

"The Case of the Monday Murders," by Christopher Bush

April 15, 2018 22:44 - 5 minutes - 10.6 MB

A mystery writer points out the astonishing number of unsolved murders in London - happening only on Mondays. Could a single person be responsible for all the bloodshed?

"Murder Isn't Easy," by Richard Hull

April 07, 2018 22:03 - 5 minutes - 4.67 MB

Nick Latimer had a murderous plan to get rid of his business partners. It didn't work quite the way Nick had expected...

"Beginning With a Bash," by Phoebe Atwood Taylor (writing as "Alice Tilton"

April 02, 2018 01:03 - 7 minutes - 13 MB

Half thriller and half screwball comedy, meet Leonidas Witherall, an absolute look-alike for William Shakespeare (in fact, everyone who meets him usually refers to him as "Bill"). Witherall gets involved with a young man whom police say is a murderer. Witherall says no - and proceeds to lead that young man, the police, and a whole group of characters on a merry chase to uncover the real villain.

"All But Impossible," stories by Edward D. Hoch

March 26, 2018 03:53 - 6 minutes - 12.5 MB

Dr. Sam Hawthorne may be a very good doctor, but he's really expert at solving seemingly impossible crimes. Another Crippen & Landru collection by Edward D. Hoch.

"The Misadventures of Ellery Queen," edited by Dale C. Andrews and Josh Pachter

March 18, 2018 23:57 - 5 minutes - 4.73 MB

It has been said that Ellery Queen IS the American Detective story. In this collection of short stories, parodies, and pastiches, dedicated to Frederick Dannay and Manfred B. Lee (the two men who were "Ellery Queen"), Josh Pachter and Dale Andrews have collected some fine examples of why EQ was (and remains) a figure of great importance to detective fiction.

"Foreign Bodies," edited by Martin Edwards

March 12, 2018 11:37 - 5 minutes - 5.16 MB

Fifteen classic mystery stories translated from their original languages into English, some for the first time.

"Black Orchids," by Rex Stout

March 05, 2018 01:23 - 6 minutes - 5.48 MB

Nero Wolfe and Archie Goodwin find themselves in the middle of two murder investigations, both concerning exotic and rare black orchids.

"Sleeping Murder," by Agatha Christie

February 25, 2018 21:00 - 5 minutes - 4.74 MB

Gwenda knew the old house felt familiar. Had she once witnessed a murder there? And was it safe to know that secret?

"Murder in a Nunnery," by Eric Shepherd

February 18, 2018 21:56 - 5 minutes - 4.89 MB

Everyone had detested the old woman, but that was no excuse for murder. It took the best efforts of police and the nuns living at the convent to solve a most unusual case.

"Murder at Fenwold," by Christopher Bush

February 11, 2018 23:19 - 6 minutes - 11.5 MB

Cosmo Revere was killed when a tree fell on him while he was cutting it down. Only Ludovic Travers believed that the "accident" was really deliberate murder.

"Raffles, The Amateur Cracksman," by E. W. Hornung

February 04, 2018 19:31 - 5 minutes - 5.25 MB

A burglar as hero? That's what readers in 1899 discovered in Raffles, a clever thief and safe-cracker and a most likeable criminal.

"Seven Dead," by J. Jefferson Farjeon

January 28, 2018 02:43 - 5 minutes - 5.27 MB

The small-time burglar thought his luck was in, when he found the apparently deserted house. And then he found the bodies...

"Have His Carcase," by Dorothy L. Sayers

January 22, 2018 12:08 - 5 minutes - 4.68 MB

Harriet Vane was on vacation when she discovered the body. The victim's throat had been cut - but the killer left no footprints in the sand.

"The Sunken Sailor," by Patricia Moyes

January 15, 2018 00:34 - 5 minutes - 4.97 MB

Chief Inspector Henry Tibbett and his wife, Emmy, go for a sailing holiday - but, for the inspector, there's no holiday for murder.

"Death of Anton," by Alan Melville

January 07, 2018 21:42 - 5 minutes - 4.96 MB

It certainly seemed as if Anton the lion tamer had been mauled by the seven ferocious Bengal tigers who shared his circus act. Detective Inspector Minto isn't so sure. He sees a human hand behind the murder.

"The Long Arm of the Law," ed. by Martin Edwards

January 01, 2018 01:06 - 7 minutes - 6.82 MB

An anthology of 15 short stories spotlighting police detectives whose intelligence and understanding make them the nemesis of would-be criminals.

"Death Makes a Prophet," by John Bude

December 24, 2017 17:56 - 5 minutes - 4.62 MB

The cult calling itself the Children of Osiris - COO or just COO-ism for short - finds itself battling over its High Prophet and the question of who should succeed him - a battle that will prove to be quite deadly.

"Dancing Death," by Christopher Bush

December 18, 2017 11:49 - 6 minutes - 5.74 MB

The party ended early, as guests ran to escape a powerful blizzard. But they couldn't escape a determined killer.

"Behold, Here's Poison," by Georgette Heyer

December 11, 2017 02:16 - 5 minutes - 4.83 MB

Gregory Matthews was a singularly nasty and unpleasant person - but was that motive enough for somebody to poison him?

"Somebody at the Door," by Raymond Postgate

December 04, 2017 01:40 - 5 minutes - 4.76 MB

When Councillor Henry Grayling got off the train, he was carrying a payroll. When he got to his house, the payroll was missing - and the councillor was dying, apparently of poison.

Episodes