We rely on your support to help us keep producing beautiful, free, and unrestricted editions of literature for the digital age. Will you support our efforts with a donation ? When Mrs. Endicott discovers a threatening note left on her husband's desk, she summons Lieutenant Valcour to investigate. Upon his arrival, he discovers Herbert Endicott's lifeless body stuffed in a cupboard. They call for the family physician, who tries one last-ditch effort to revive him: a shot of epinephrine to t...

Ann Lebrick cheerfully accepted an assignment to photograph the ocelots of Miss Estelle Marlow. On arrival at the Marlow estate, Black Tor, where she was to stay for a week, she found herself in a brooding atmosphere of great wealth, guarded isolation from the rest of mankind, and black clouds of suspicion. She became uneasy at Miss Marlow's apparent lack of interest in photographs of her ocelots. She was worried when her fiance telephoned her, imploring her to leave at once. She was liter...

"Sketches of St. Augustine" by Rufus King Sewall offers a vivid portrayal of the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida, capturing its unique charm and rich cultural heritage. Through detailed descriptions and engaging narratives, Sewall invites readers to explore the city's colonial architecture, lush landscapes, and vibrant community life. The book serves as both a travelogue and a historical account, providing insights into the city's past while celebrating its enduring beauty. Sewall'...

Here for your reading delectation, are 25 outre tales of crime. Since history has proven that there is nothing unusual or unexpected about the human (or inhuman) drive to break the law, it should come as no surprise that the weird, the strange, the supernatural, and the just plain odd often, in fictional form, manifest themselves allayed to the criminal element. Included are:INTRODUCTION, by Shawn GarrettTHE WINDOW OF HORRORS, by H.L. MenckenTHE FOOTSTEPS ON THE STAIR...

Rufus King (1893–1966) was an American author of Whodunit crime novels. He created four series of detective stories: the first one with Reginald De Puyster, a sophisticated detective similar to Philo Vance; the second one with his more famous character, Lieutenant Valcour; Colin Starr, who appeared in four stories in the Strand Magazine during 1940/41; and Detective Bill Duggan, who appeared in three stories in 1956/57. The Bill Duggan stories include King's most famous short work, “Malice...

An extortionist's note, demanding $20,000 in cash and threatening the kidnapping of Kate Willett's two mentally unbalanced sons, sent Lieutenant Valcour rushing up to the Willetts' Adirondacks camp.There, death struck with slashing suddenness while Valcour was talking to young Arthur Willett, who was sprawled on a sofa smoking a cigarette. Listening to the crackling roar of flames in the fireplace, Valcour detected the odor of burning cloth. He glanced at Arthur to find the cigaret...

Lt. Valcour did not object to interrupting his vacation in order to help Chief Goodfriend of the Miami detective force solve the oddly similar murders of two distinctly dissimilar women. For one thing, the cases, or case as Valcour felt it to be, interested him and he felt a distinct apprehension that unless somebody solved it there would be more deaths to come. And Goodfriend appeared in desperate need of assistance. Consequently Valcour felt as though he were conducting a demonstration c...

NYPD's Lieutenant Valcour investigates how a philandering husband could have been murdered twice in one night in this Jazz Age whodunit.The body of Herbert Endicott is discovered by his wife at 8:37 PM, dead in his walk-in closet. The circumstances seem suspicious but there is no evidence of foul play, so Lieutenant Valcour, New York’s most astute investigator, orders an autopsy on site. The doctor discovers a faint heartbeat and, with an injection of adrenaline, E...

Dive into the thrilling world of "Murder By The Clock" by Rufus King, an anthology that captivates with its gripping tales of crime and mystery. In the standout story, "Murder by the Clock," set in the vibrant 1920s New York society, we meet Mrs. Endicott, whose worries about her husband Herbert's safety lead her to the astute Lieutenant Valcour. This mild-mannered yet keen detective begins unraveling a complex web of secrets after a body is shockingly discovered in Herbert's room. The sus...

Rufus King returns to the maritime mystery genre with "Murder on the Yacht." A lawyer disappears from a taxi cab on the way to join a party aboard the giant luxury yacht "The Crusader." Where did he go and what happened to him? Lt. Valcour joins the cruise to find out, mixing with a varied bunch of eccentric guests and crewmen, including a psychic. But will she provide clues or a smokescreen for the culprits? Another thrilling Lt. Valcour mystery!

When a wealthy New Yorker with a young bride is shot in his Manhattan mansion, then a blackmailing valet perishes in Easthampton, only Lt. Valcour can unravel the mystery."A clever solution...[the] tale has more than usual amount of chipper chatter." -- The Saturday Review

The Sturm House has an atmosphere of the unpleasant. The shooting of Alice Tribeau only adds to the that impression for Lt. Valcour, as he arrives in the midst of a storm to begin his investigation. Wealthy socialite Mrs. Sturm claims the gun was fired by someone outside the house -- but Valcour had other ideas... The second volume in the classic Lt. Valcour mystery series!