When the Wall Street giant Sigsbee Manderson is found dead, the local newspaper sends in Philip Trent, its favorite contract journalist/amateur detective, to investigate and report on the case. Trent encounters a paucity of facts on the ground, but the ones he does find leads him to a conclusion he's unsure of how to handle.E. C. Bentley was a close friend of G. K. Chesterton, to whom he dedicated this book (in response to Chesterton's dedicating The Man Who Was Thursday t...

“Another gripping novel from Classic Detective Presents”…Trent's Last Case is a detective novel written by E.C. Bentley and first published in 1913. Its central character reappeared subsequently in the novel Trent's Own Case (1936) and the short-story collection Trent Intervenes (1938).Trent's Last Case is actually the first novel in which gentleman sleuth Philip Trent appears. The novel is a whodunit with a place in detective fiction history because it is the first major s...

Trent's Last Case (1913) is a landmark detective novel that both inhabits and gently subverts the conventions of the early "Golden Age" mystery. Its plot follows Philip Trent, artist-journalist and amateur sleuth, as he investigates the apparent murder of the American financier Sigsbee Manderson. Bentley combines lucid plotting with urbane wit, psychological nuance, and a distinctive skepticism toward infallible detection. The result is a work that anticipates later, more self-conscious cr...

A lift built to be beyond failure becomes the scene of an audacious crime in E. C. Bentley's Trent and the Fool-Proof Lift, a witty Golden Age puzzle for the artist-detective Philip Trent.Collected in Trent Intervenes (1938), this ingenious short mystery pits human cunning against supposedly perfect engineering. Called to explain how a machine that could not go wrong became the instrument of wrongdoing, the wry, humane Trent looks past the mechani...

Embark on a delightful journey through the lives of notable figures with "Biography for Beginners" by E. C. Bentley and G. K. Chesterton. This charming collection offers an engaging introduction to the biographies of historical figures, providing readers with fascinating insights into the lives and achievements of extraordinary individuals.As Bentley and Chesterton delve into the lives of these remarkable figures, questions arise: What experiences shaped their des...

The first of a series of detective novels featuring "gentleman sleuth Philip Trent," later published under the title "Trent's Last Case."

The story features Philip Trent, a talented and unconventional artist who also works as an amateur detective. Trent is called upon to investigate a complex murder case involving the death of a wealthy financier, Sigsbee Manderson. The case initially appears straightforward, with all evidence pointing to Manderson's wife as the prime suspect. However, as Trent delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers a web of deceit, hidden motives, and surprising twists that challenge his deductiv...

The story follows the investigation of a mysterious and dangerous criminal organization known as the "Black League" by the protagonist, Philip Trent, who is a private investigator. The title, "The Woman in Black," refers to a key figure in the organization who plays a significant role in the plot.E. C. Bentley was a British author known for his detective fiction, particularly his creation of Philip Trent, one of the early examples of the amateur sleuth in detective literature. "The Woman i...

In "Trent's Last Case," E. C. Bentley presents a pioneering work in the detective fiction genre that masterfully intertwines social commentary with a gripping whodunit narrative. This novel, first published in 1913, is characterized by its sharp wit and satirical tone, as Bentley deftly critiques the conventions of traditional detective storytelling. The protagonist, Philip Trent, finds himself embroiled in a perplexing murder case that challenges both his instincts as a detective and his ...

100 Masterpieces of Mystery maps the extraordinary breadth of mystery writing, from Gothic terror, sensation fiction, and locked-room puzzles to espionage, psychological unease, hard-boiled realism, and tales of the uncanny. Its selections place canonical investigations alongside atmospheric narratives of crime, deception, and suspense, revealing how mystery continually borrows from romance, adventure, social satire, and horror. Standout traditions include the deductive detective tale, the...

E. C. Bentley's "Trent's Last Case" is a groundbreaking detective novel that deftly blends traditional mystery with elements of social commentary and psychological depth. Published in 1913, it revolves around Philip Trent, an unconventional detective who is brought into a perplexing murder case that challenges his moral compass. Bentley employs a witty, conversational style while weaving intricate plotlines that question the nature of justice, morality, and human fallibility, reflecting th...

The Greatest Mystery Classics of All Time maps the evolution of mystery fiction from Gothic unease and sensation plotting to the analytic detective tale, espionage thriller, hard-boiled investigation, and psychological suspense. Its range embraces locked-room puzzles, criminal confessions, uncanny apparitions, conspiracies, and social mysteries, revealing how the genre repeatedly tests the limits of evidence, perception, and moral certainty. Particularly striking are the juxtapositions of ...