Classic Detective Stories

Latest Episodes:

A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle Feb 08, 2025

Show notes

In the shadowy streets of Victorian London, Sherlock Holmes faces a challenge unlike any other. A monarch's past threatens to shatter the delicate balance of European politics. A single photograph holds the power to ruin reputations and topple a throne. At the centre of this intrigue stands the enigmatic Irene Adler, a woman whose wit and resolve may rival Holmes's own. As the great detective delves into the case, he finds himself drawn into a world of high-stakes deception and unexpected twists. With time running out and the fate of a kingdom hanging in the balance, Holmes must navigate a labyrinth of clues and misdirections. Will his legendary skills be enough to unravel this most delicate of puzzles?

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Light Fingers by Francis Durbridge Jan 25, 2025

Show notes

A quiet New Year's drive takes an unexpected turn for Paul Temple, when a speeding car nearly tosses him and his wife, Steve, into darkness. Yet, beneath the chill of the winter night, a hidden pursuit beckons—more than just a collision on a lonely road. When an old acquaintance in uniform appears, revealing the chase for the assailant is well underway, Temple feels the familiar pull of intrigue. His mind sharpens, and an investigation begins. A tale of clues, deception, and the obscured paths of truth unfolds, inviting you to wander deeper into the enigma alongside Temple. Join as pieces of the mystery align, and see if you, too, can unravel the threads within this puzzling escapade.

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Rumpole and The Hanging Judge by John Mortimer Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

In "Rumpole and the Hanging Judge," the echoes of an unresolved past reverberate as Horace Rumpole meets Lord Justice Truscott, a formidable hanging judge. Their paths cross once more, reigniting old tensions and stirring memories of a case that haunts Rumpole deeply. Truscott, now at the twilight of his career, seeks Rumpole’s company for lunch, exuding an unsettling confidence that reveals layers of complexity beneath his authoritative exterior.

With a veneer of geniality, he shares personal reflections, yet his past decisions loom large in the conversation, creating a charged atmosphere rife with unspoken truths. As Rumpole navigates this peculiar reunion, the themes of justice, guilt, and the burden of choice take centre stage.

It is one of the otherwise unpublished stories but David McKinley has collected these and produced a pdf which you can get here https://www.davidmckinlay.com/rumpole/uncollected.html

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You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month.

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The Woman In The Big Hat (1910) by Baroness Orczy Jan 11, 2025

Show notes

In a Regent Street tea room in the heart of Edwardian London, a man lies dead. The only clue: a woman wearing an enormous hat. As Scotland Yard's finest struggle to unravel the mystery, Lady Molly Robertson-Kirk steps forward. With her keen eye for fashion and uncanny ability to see what others miss, she delves into a world where appearances deceive and class tensions simmer. But even Lady Molly may find herself outmatched as she pursues a killer who wields fashion as deftly as any weapon. Will her vaunted intuition be enough to unmask the murderer, or will the woman in the big hat elude justice? Join us for a tale of intrigue, where every sip of tea may be laced with danger, and every polite conversation might conceal a deadly secret.

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The Boscombe Valley Mystery by Arthur Conan Doyle Jan 04, 2025

Show notes

In the tranquil countryside of Boscombe Valley, a shocking murder shatters the peace, and all evidence points to an obvious suspect. But Sherlock Holmes, with his keen eye and brilliant mind, senses a deeper mystery lurking beneath the surface. As he delves into the case, Holmes uncovers a web of long-buried secrets and hidden motives that challenge everything Scotland Yard believes. With each step, the great detective draws closer to a truth that will test not only his deductive skills but also his understanding of justice itself. Watch as Holmes navigates through a maze of misleading clues and conflicting testimonies, proving once again why he is London's most celebrated consulting detective. Join us for "The Boscombe Valley Mystery," a tale that showcases Holmes at his most perceptive and morally complex.

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The Necklace of Pearls by Dorothy L Sayers Dec 21, 2024

Show notes

"Tinsel, trinkets, and... treachery? At Sir Septimus Shale's grand country house, where Christmas cheer blankets every nook and cranny, a string of precious pearls has vanished faster than a mince pie in a hungry caroler's mouth. Lord Peter Wimsey, our intrepid sleuth, finds himself knee-deep in Yuletide shenanigans and upper-crust eccentricities. As carols echo through holly-decked halls and the aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air, Wimsey must sort through a cast of characters more colorful than a box of Christmas crackers. Is the culprit lurking behind the Christmas tree, or hiding in plain sight among the festive finery? With wit as sharp as icicles and charm as warm as mulled wine, Wimsey races to solve the mystery before the last log on the fire turns to ash. Grab a cozy blanket and a steaming cup of cocoa – this Christmas puzzle is more delightful than finding an extra gift in your stocking!"

⭐ Join my Patreon ⭐

https://patreon.com/barcud

Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out.

You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month.

Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible?

Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work

https://buymeacoffee.com/10mn8sk

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Murder at Pentecost by Dorothy L Sayers Dec 07, 2024

Show notes

Whose hand strikes the fatal blow?

Within the ancient walls of Pentecost College a murder shatters the scholarly peace. Montague Egg, a sharp-eyed wine salesman, steps into a web of whispered secrets and hidden motives.

Confusion looms large as confessions echo through the halls, and lies mask truths yet to be uncovered.

Join us as we navigate a world where appearances deceive and academic knowledge conceal as much as it reveals.

Listen closely and perhaps you can work out who the murderer is before Egg does!

⭐ Join my Patreon ⭐

https://patreon.com/barcud

Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out.

You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month.

Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible?

Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work

https://buymeacoffee.com/10mn8sk

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The Oxford Way of Death by Robert Barnard Nov 30, 2024

Show notes

Would you kill for a glass of port?

Join us in The Oxford Way of Death, where the hallowed halls of St. Pothinus’s are alive with more than just dusty books. The Fellows, entangled in their routines and rituals, find their complacency disrupted with hilariously dark consequences. As new ideas ripple through, academic eccentricities give way to unexpected chaos—and even a touch of murder. Robert Barnard delivers a captivating comedic tale where mysterious mishaps meet sharp humor, turning scholarly life into a brilliant farce. Listen in for a story where wit, whimsy, and a hint of deadly intrigue redefine the academic experience.

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A Dangerous Thing by H R F Keating Nov 23, 2024

Show notes

In the hushed halls of the British Library Reading Room, a sanctuary of knowledge hides a chilling secret. When an elderly professor is found murdered amidst at his desk, the scholarly calm of the Reading Room is shattered.

Enter Mrs. Craggs, a humble charwoman with a sharp eye and a knack for uncovering truths others overlook. Overlooked herself by a world of scholars and "whizzers," she carries a quiet determination that surprises everyone—even herself.

When Mrs. Craggs stumbles upon the crime, she finds herself drawn into a labyrinth of smooth-talking ambition and deceit.

With the authorities sceptical and the suspect eager to cast blame elsewhere, can the stakes grow higher?

Can Mrs. Craggs, armed with little more than her mp and her working-class common sense, expose the murderer before the wrong person is condemned?

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The Killing of Michael Finnegan Nov 16, 2024

Show notes

Is patriotism worth the cost?

In the volatile landscape of 1980s Britain, this question haunts every counter-terrorism operative.

Michael Gilbert's "The Killing of Michael Finnegan" draws you into a high-stakes game where loyalty is fleeting and deception is currency.

As seasoned agents Calder and Behrens race to thwart an IRA plot, they navigate a maze of half-truths and double-crosses. With each revelation, the line between ally and enemy blurs further. Gilbert's razor-sharp prose and intricate plotting keep you guessing until the final moment.

The clock is ticking, lives hang in the balance, and no one is above suspicion.

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