Reggie Fortune is a highly skilled surgeon who functions as a special medical and forensic consultant for Scotland Yard. On the surface, Fortune is eccentric, talks with a unique, clipped, and elliptical style, and has rather whimsical, upper-class mannerisms. However, beneath his soft and occasionally childish exterior lies an extraordinarily sharp, fearless, and sometimes ruthless investigator. Unlike many of the light-hearted cozy mysteries of the Golden Age, Bailey’s Reggie Fortune sto...

This showcases Fortune’s unique style of forensic and psychological deduction. As fellow Golden Age titan Agatha Christie once noted, the appeal lies in Reggie's ability to deduce "a whole malignant growth from one small isolated incident". The collection has eight mysteries, including: The Rock Garden -- A mystery centered on an ill-situated rock garden and a deeply haunted man. The Silver Cross -- A tale concerning a rigidly saintly clergyman suspected of a trivial, out-of-character thef...

''Mr. Fortune’s Practice'' is the second collection of detective short stories written by Golden Age crime novelist H. C. Bailey. The book features his most famous series character, Mr. Reginald "Reggie" Fortune, a cheerful yet brilliant surgeon who acts as a scientific and medical advisor to Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Department. While Reggie Fortune's drawling speech and dapper aesthetic draw immediate comparisons to Lord Peter Wimsey, the mysteries themselves are notably dar...

''Case for Mr. Fortune'' features the author's most famous series protagonist, Reginald "Reggie" Fortune. As a prominent figure among the "Big Five" authors of the Golden Age of detective fiction, Bailey constructed these mysteries to highlight both intricate deduction and dark psychological realism. Medical doctor serves as an independent scientific consultant for Scotland Yard. Features a deceptive, chubby, boyish appearance paired with an elliptical, drawling speech pattern. Combines ex...

The collection here consists of six interconnected novellas (roughly 40 to 50 pages each) that showcase Reggie's distinct forensic skills and psychological acuity: "The Dead Leaves" – Explores dark themes regarding an academic who learns from his professor to marry strictly for money. "The Hole in the Parchment" – Follows Reggie and his wife, Joan, during a vacation in Florence, Italy, where they become entangled in a complex case of theft and forgery. "The Holy Well" – A atmospheric and f...

''Shadow on the Wall'' notably, is the first full-length novel to feature the author's most famous character, the medically-qualified amateur detective Reggie Fortune, following dozens of highly successful short stories. Mr. Reginald "Reggie" Fortune is a plump, drawling, luxury-loving Harley Street surgeon who serves as a special advisor to Scotland Yard. Billed as Fortune's longest and most dangerous case, the story begins deceptively with the apparent suicide of a Mrs. Poyntz and an ups...

This book features nine short mystery stories starring Bailey's highly popular series protagonist, Reginald "Reggie" Fortune, a brilliant and independently-minded surgeon who acts as a scientific and medical advisor to Scotland Yard's Criminal Investigation Department. Reggie Fortune is famously depicted as having a plump, cherubic appearance and a drawling, eccentric manner of speech—often drawing structural character comparisons to Dorothy L. Sayers’ Lord Peter Wimsey. Despite Reggie's w...

Call Mr. Fortune is the first set of short stories featuring Reggie Fortune, a detective who solves mysteries using his medical talent and "unequaled sanity of judgment." The first case finds him suspecting that his patient might have been a victim of a failed assassination. In "The Hottentot Venus," Mr. Fortune's investigation into some incidents at his acquaintance's all-girls school leads him into a predicament; meanwhile, what seems to be an ordinary leak scandal in "The Busin...

My Lady of Orange by H. C. Bailey is an elegant and suspenseful work that weaves together intrigue, romance, and mystery within a richly atmospheric setting. Known for his refined storytelling and keen sense of narrative tension, Bailey crafts a tale in which secrets, loyalties, and hidden motives shape the destinies of his characters. At the center of the story is a mysterious and compelling figure known as the Lady of Orange, whose presence influences the lives of those around her in une...

The Fool by H. C. Bailey is a captivating and psychologically rich narrative that explores the fine line between innocence, perception, and hidden intelligence. With his signature blend of suspense, subtle wit, and character-driven storytelling, Bailey crafts a tale in which appearances are constantly questioned and truth is rarely as simple as it first seems. At the center of the story is a figure dismissed by many as naïve or insignificant—a "fool" whose quiet presence conceals unexpecte...

The Highwayman by H. C. Bailey is a gripping tale of danger, secrecy, and adventure set against a world where justice and lawlessness often exist side by side. With atmospheric storytelling and carefully crafted suspense, Bailey draws readers into a narrative filled with hidden identities, perilous encounters, and moral uncertainty. At the center of the story is the enigmatic figure of the highwayman—a bold and elusive outlaw whose actions inspire both fear and fascination. Moving through ...

The book introduces Mr. Fortune, an unconventional detective with a keen mind for solving intricate puzzles. Rather than a professional detective, Mr. Fortune is portrayed as a gentleman with a talent for deduction and a penchant for getting involved in mysterious cases.The stories in the collection revolve around Mr. Fortune's investigations into various crimes and mysteries. His approach to solving cases often involves using his intellect and understanding of human nature, rather than re...