In the shadowed corners of Paris, Inspector Jules Maigret is on the hunt for a merciless gang led by the elusive Stan the Killer. The stakes are high as Maigret and his team conduct a tense stakeout at the Barrel of Burgundy café, determined to catch the ruthless criminals terrorizing Northern France. When a desperate Polish man named Michael Ozep offers his help, Maigret faces a dilemma. Can Ozep be trusted, and what drives him to risk everything? As the investigation unfolds, unexpected...

 "Crooked Souls" is an early short story by Dashiell Hammett, the master of hard-boiled detective fiction. First published in 1923 under the title "The Gatewood Caper," this tale introduces us to the unnamed Continental Op as he investigates a seemingly straightforward kidnapping case that quickly unravels into a web of family secrets, deceit, and twisted motives. Set against the backdrop of a prosperous lumber company and featuring a cast of morally complex characters, "Crooked Souls"...

A Sherlock Holmes mystery. When an eccentric collector named Nathan Garrideb is entangled in a curious challenge involving an alleged inheritance, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are swept into a deceptive whirlwind in early 20th-century London. Nathan is promised a part of a grand estate, but only if he can find others with his rare surname to claim his share. As Holmes delves deeper, the deceit unfolds, leading to perilous implications. John Garrideb, an American lawyer with a questionable...

In the serene village of St. Mary Mead, Miss Marple is presented with a curious case of domestic disturbance. Her maid's cousin, Gladys, is accused of stealing a valuable brooch, prompting Miss Marple to investigate what appears to be a simple misunderstanding. However, the situation with the Skinner sisters, both beset by their own troubles, complicates matters as they replace Gladys with a new maid who is absolutely perfect. Full of wit and keen observation of human frailties, Miss Marple's...

Dive into the murky depths of Los Angeles in Raymond Chandler's classic noir tale, "Goldfish." Originally penned for *Black Mask* magazine in 1936, this gripping short story introduces a detective as cunning and charismatic as Chandler's legendary Philip Marlowe. Tasked by the enigmatic Kathy Horne—a woman as alluring as she is mysterious—the detective is plunged into a shadowy chase for the legendary Leander pearls, jewels whose allure is matched only by the danger they bring. When a key...

Step into the intriguing world of Dorothy L. Sayers' "The Footsteps That Ran." Set within the confines of 24 Great James Street, London, this gripping tale follows the discerning detective Lord Peter Wimsey as he grapples with a puzzling mystery. The echoing footsteps from the room above become a perplexing clue in this riveting narrative, guiding Wimsey along a path fraught with suspense and intrigue. With Sayers' masterful storytelling and keen eye for detail, listeners are in for a...

Agatha Christie, born in 1890 in Torquay, Devon, England, was a pioneering and prolific writer who revolutionized the crime fiction genre. Best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections featuring iconic characters like Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, Christie became one of the most influential authors of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction. Her personal life was marked by a mysterious 11-day disappearance in 1926 and two marriages, including a long and happy union with...

Ellery Queen is a pseudonym created in 1928 by the American detective fiction writers Frederic Dannay and Manfred Bennington Lee. It is also the name of their main fictional detective, a mystery writer in New York City who helps his police inspector father solve baffling murder cases. From 1929 to 1971, Dannay and Lee wrote around forty novels and short story collections featuring Ellery Queen as a character. "The Adventure of the Emperor's Dice" was originally written as a script for the...

Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was an English crime novelist, short story writer, and playwright. She is best known for her 66 detective novels and 14 short story collections, particularly those featuring her famous characters Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time, with her works having sold over two billion copies worldwide. Her innovative plots, clever misdirection, and surprising twists have earned her the title of the Queen of Crime. "Sing a Song...

Guest Narrator: Michael Rutland, Austin, Tx. James M. Cain (1892-1977) was an American novelist, journalist, and screenwriter best known for his hardboiled crime fiction. Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Cain began his career as a journalist, working for The Baltimore Sun and The New Yorker. His experiences as a reporter heavily influenced his writing style, which was characterized by its directness, realism, and unflinching exploration of human nature's darker aspects. Cain's life was marked by...

R. Austin Freeman (1862-1943) was a British writer best known for his detective fiction featuring the medico-legal forensic investigator Dr. Thorndyke. Born in London, Freeman studied medicine and became a physician, serving as a colonial surgeon in West Africa. However, ill health forced him to return to England, where he eventually abandoned his medical practice. Freeman held conservative political views and supported the eugenics movement, expressing these views in his non-fiction book...

Guest Narrator: Matthew Jones My name is Matthew Jones, I used to have a channel 'MJam from London' which sadly got taken down. Ah, well... I've risen from the ashes with the channels below https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAIykVoygG4Y7hj2oou3sgA https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCV_d51P8y35TqoT2N7FpMjA    (my own material) and most importantly my website which has everything from my old channel https://mjam-from-london.webnode.co.uk Emund Crispin Born as Robert Bruce Montgomery on October 2,...

Sir Basil Thomson (1861–1939) was a British colonial administrator and prison governor, born in Oxford. He hailed from an esteemed background, with his father, William Thomson, serving as the provost of The Queen's College in Oxford before later becoming the Archbishop of York. Basil Thomson received his education at New College, Oxford, where he crossed paths with Montague John Druitt, a figure later implicated in the Jack the Ripper case. Despite starting his career in colonial service,...

Eric Ambler (1909-1998) was a distinguished English writer renowned for his gripping spy and thriller novels. Born on June 28, 1909, in London, England, Ambler hailed from a family with a background in entertainment; his father was a music hall comedian, while his mother worked as a dressmaker. His early education took place at University College School in London, and later he pursued engineering studies at London University, although he opted to abandon his academic pursuits to embark on a...

"The Story of the Spaniards, Hammersmith," published in 1898, marked the debut of Flaxman Low, the pioneering psychic detective of fiction. This story, written by the joint authors Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard and his mother, Kate O'Brien Ryall Prichard, set the stage for a series of supernatural investigations that captivated readers of the late Victorian era. Hesketh Hesketh-Prichard, born on November 17, 1876, was a multifaceted individual renowned for his contributions to literature,...

Joyce Porter was a British mystery author known for her witty and engaging crime novels. Born on February 17, 1924, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England, Porter's literary career primarily spanned from the 1960s to the 1970s. She attended Queen Anne's School in Caversham and later studied Modern Languages at Somerville College, Oxford. Porter gained recognition for her series of novels featuring the character Inspector Dover. The first book in the series, "Dover One," was published in 1964 and...

Stuart Palmer (1905–1968) was an accomplished American mystery novelist and screenwriter, best known for his creation of the beloved character Hildegarde Withers. Born on June 21, 1905, in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Palmer pursued various odd jobs before finding his calling in fiction. His literary journey began with contributions to Ghost Stories magazine in the late 1920s and early 1930s, sometimes writing under the pseudonym Theodore Orchards. Palmer's foray into murder mysteries began with "The...

Guest narrator is Brendan Sullivan Brendan is an illustrator, artist, and graphic designer from Florida who dabbles in audio storytelling. He’s worked across several industries, from themed attractions to product lines to architecture, and he has a love for using creative color palettes, interesting compositions, and whimsical shapes. He’s admittedly rather fond of oddities and monsters, and will gladly take a detour to study history’s more strange and intriguing paths. He has a a website...

Guest narrator: Caspar Stockhuyzen. Caspar says: Casper Stokhuyzen (pronunciation at your discretion) and link to the audio drama I am currently starring in (Leaving Corvat). https://open.spotify.com/show/2l0YaWqlom0DbGQ44haICu?si=e5f3c355058440c8  I have also worked on The Deca Tapes https://open.spotify.com/show/6S8iYgJibdA6xkVQnVVo7b?si=8104a08ddad44848 and live in Amsterdam. I also recently did a cameo in a Dracula retelling called Re:Dracula. Carroll John Daly, born on September 14,...

Arthur Conan Doyle's classic Sherlock Homes Story 'The Hound of the Baskervilles" here as a full free audiobook. Embark on a gripping auditory journey with our full, free audiobook rendition of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's timeless classic, "The Hound of the Baskervilles." Immerse yourself in the eerie moors of Dartmoor as the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and his steadfast companion, Dr. John Watson, confront a chilling mystery that shrouds the ancient Baskerville family. As the howl of...

"With a fierce exclamation and a French gesture..." I'm very curious about both the exclamation and the gesture. This classic detective story was narrated by Ben Brinicombe, this week's guest narrator. Here are some links to Ben's work, including his podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/757040 Gilbert Keith Chesterton, born in West London in 1874, emerged as a versatile and prolific figure in English literature. The son of a prosperous estate agent, Chesterton received his education at St...

Narrated by Jeff Ronan http://www.jeffronan.com/ Catch him on Instagram at @jeff.ronan "Night Shots" - Hammett's Noir Intricacy: In Dashiell Hammett's story "Night Shots," the nameless detective of the Continental Detective Agency is thrust into a perplexing case that blends a domestic quagmire with an external mystery. The narrative unfolds as the Op receives an assignment to investigate an attempted murder on Talbert Exon, a cantankerous businessman recovering from pneumonia in his home in...

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a captivating and seminal work that holds a significant place in the history of detective fiction and particularly the locked room mystery subgenre. First published in Graham's Magazine in April 1841, this short story marks a crucial milestone in the evolution of mystery literature, laying the foundation for future detective stories. Set in Paris, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" introduces readers to the brilliant and analytical mind of C....

Narrated by Richard S. Rose. Richard S. Rose can also be heard, among other places, as the voice of Jarno in “Visionaries”, and the voice of Mac in “Mac (and Bonnie's)” (https://podcasts.apple.com/cy/podcast/mac-and-bonnie-s/id1591682328); he is also the voice of Walt Whitman in the documentary, “In Search of Walt Whitman” seen on PBS and elsewhere. You can hear him reciting Shakespeare in the Apple store (https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0BK3WB4SM).Contact: [email protected]. Dashiell...