At Friocksheim, a bridge party sparkles with wit and social polish while concealing private desperation. Douglas Fairmile's charm masks his thoughts of Cynthia Pennard, and Eileen Cressage, playing dummy, is preoccupied not with the cards but with mounting debts, fragile pride, and the humiliations of living on too little money. Around them, the wealthy guests are sharply drawn: Mrs. Caistor Scorton's comfort, Conway Westenhanger's quiet intelligence, and Rollo Dangerfield's uneasy manner ...

Nordenholt's Million by J. J. ConningtonAs a new bacteria strain emerges and causes the collapse of the world's food supply, wealthy and powerful Stanley Nordenholt steps forward with a plan to try to save a small, select portion of the British population. Sequestered in Scotland, he leads the group in a race between their dwindling food supply and their effort to reverse the damage caused by the bacteria as the outside world descends into chaos and starvation. Blending ecological ...

J. J. Connington's Mystery at Lynden Sands features Chief-Constable Sir Clinton Driffield investigating a series of enigmatic events at a seaside resort. The plot weaves together elements of impersonation, secret marriages, and murder, challenging Driffield's deductive skills. Connington crafts a classic detective story, rich in atmosphere and logical intricacies, that keeps readers engaged until the final revelation.

The Two Ticket Puzzle, first published in 1930, is a traditional British murder mystery; the victim is killed by a gunshot aboard a local train; however, the autopsy reveals that the fatal bullets were of differing calibers. Several suspects are immediately evident: his wife's lover, an employee with a grudge, and a young heiress. Police Superintendent Ross sets out to methodically solve the mystery based on a number of clues and pieces of evidence. J. J. Connington is a p...

The Sweepstakes Murders, first published in 1931, is the 7th book in author J. J. Connington's series featuring chief-constable Sir Clinton Driffield. From the dustjacket: "Mr. Connington's new detective story opens at the end of a bridge-party, when one of the players suggests the formation of a small syndicate to have a flutter in a coming sweepstake. Winnings are to be pooled and divided among the members. Most of the bridge-players join, on terms proposed and accepted ...

AS THE TRAIN glided into the wayside station, Jim Brandon lifted his well-worn suitcase and a shabby leg-of-mutton guncase down from the rack. Through the windows he caught successive glimpses of fresh-painted white palings, trim flwer-beds dripping from a recent shower, a girl’s figure on a broad sweep of gravelled platform, a tiny station-house, a handful of waiting travellers by the overhead bridge, and a ticket-collector at the gate giving egress into the station yard.

Grim Vengeance, first published in 1929, is the fifth book in author J. J. Connington's series featuring chief-constable Sir Clinton Driffield. From the dustjacket of the first edition: "Two murders at night, both the victims foreigners; and when Sir Clinton Driffield, visiting his sister, is forced to suspect the South American whom his niece has just married, he finds himself faced with a problem in morals and psychology. Finally, a third murder takes place, this one in ...

The Eye in the Museum, first published in 1930, is the first book in author J. J. Connington's series featuring Superintendent Ross of Scotland Yard. This 'golden-age' mystery centers on a young woman, Joyce Hazlemere, and her wealthy Aunt Evelyn. The aunt, who can become violent when drunk, stands to inherit the Hazlemere estate instead of Joyce. Miss Hazlemere speculates on the possibility of her aunt's death when the next day Evelyn is found murdered, and Superintendent...

AS PHILIP CASTLEFORD came down the broad stairs, a faint burst of laughter reached him through the closed door of the drawing room. At the sound of his wife’s shrill titter rising above the bass of the two men’s voices, he winced and gave vent to his spleen in an ejaculation, all the more vehement because it was uttered under his breath.“Damn those people!”In that concise imprecation he included his wife, the two brothers of her first husband, and her companion, Constance Lin...

MARK BRAND turned into the door of an Oxford Street office building, past the indicator-board which bore: “THE COUNSELLOR, Second Floor,” among the names of other concerns. He was a shade below middle height, wiry, quick-stepping, with a sparrow-like alertness; and his taste in fabrics favoured the louder varieties for his clothes. There was a hint of raffishness about him, a faint indefinable air of horsiness, though he seldom attended a race-meeting.

Mystery At Lynden Sands, first published in 1928, is the fourth book in author J. J. Connington's series featuring chief-constable Sir Clinton Driffield. Set on the English seaside, Driffield encounters the return of a missing heir (who is possibly an impostor), an accidental bigamist, secret marriages and impersonations, embezzlement of trust funds, a kidnapping, and two murders. As is typical of Connington's detectives, Sir Clinton is able to deduce impressive insights f...

There is something about the number 3.The Ancient Greeks believed 3 was the perfect number, and in China 3 has always been a lucky number, and they know a thing or two.Most religions also have 3 this and 3 that and, of course, in these more modern times, three’s a crowd may be too many, except when it’s a ménage à trois. It seems good things usually come in threes. Whatever history and culture says WE think 3, a hat-trick of stories, is a great number to explore themes and ...