Messrs. Frobisher & Haslitt, the solicitors on the east side of Russell Square, counted amongst their clients a great many who had undertakings established in France; and the firm was very proud of this branch of its business."It gives us a place in history," Mr. Jeremy Haslitt used to say. "For it dates from the year 1806, when Mr. James Frobisher, then our very energetic senior partner, organised the escape of hundreds of British subjects who were detained in France by the edict o...

Filmed three times, At the Villa Rose is Mason and his cunning detective Hanaud at their best.In this gripping classic mystery, a quiet villa in the French spa town of Aix-les-Bains becomes the scene of a shocking crime. When a wealthy woman is found murdered and her jewels disappear, suspicion falls quickly—but the truth is far more elusive than it first appears. Enter Inspector Hanaud, the brilliant and unconventional French detective whose sharp mind cuts through fear, g...

They Wouldn't Be Chessmen is one of A.E.W. Mason's late Inspector Hanaud mysteries, a polished work of Golden Age detection in which crime is imagined as strategy—only to reveal that human beings refuse the neat logic of the board. Mason blends the puzzle structure of the classic detective novel with theatrical pacing, urbane dialogue, and psychological nuance, placing Hanaud's patient intelligence against deception, social performance, and emotional impulse. The result belongs to the inte...

Published in 1924, The House of the Arrow is one of A.E.W. Mason's most accomplished detective novels, a deftly engineered mystery set amid provincial French respectability and private greed. Centered on Inspector Hanaud's investigation into a disputed inheritance and a death that may be murder, the novel combines the puzzle mechanics of Golden Age crime fiction with Mason's taste for atmosphere, theatrical misdirection, and psychological unease. Its prose is urbane and measured, less flam...

This issue features a pair of original tales: a mystery from Kaye George (thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken) and a fantasy from Adrian Cole (written especially for this Halloween issue).On the mystery front, we have a pair of great modern tales by William Dylan Powell (thanks to acquiring editor Barb Goffman) and James Holding, plus a classic novel by British master A.E.W. Mason, who is best known for his tale of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers...

In 'They Wouldn't Be Chessmen,' A.E.W. Mason weaves a gripping tale that explores the intricacies of human motives against the backdrop of espionage in World War I. Set amidst the chaotic landscape of international politics and personal ambition, Mason employs a captivating narrative style filled with rich characterization and vivid descriptions. The novel is marked by its clever dialogue and suspenseful pacing, drawing readers into a world where loyalty and treachery intertwine, making it...

A.E.W. Mason's "Dilemmas" is a captivating exploration of moral quandaries and intricate human relationships set against the backdrop of early 20th-century societal norms. The narrative unfolds in a richly descriptive style, characterized by Mason's signature blend of sharp dialogue and psychological depth. As characters grapple with ethical dilemmas, the novel emphasizes the tension between personal desires and societal expectations, inviting readers to ponder the complexities of human mo...

The second volume in the Detective Fiction Collection!Featuring:The Affair at the Semiramis Hotel, by A. E. W. MasonThe Mysterious Card, by Cleveland MoffettThe Mysterious Card Unveiled, by Cleveland MoffettThe Double Four, by Edward Phillips OppenheimThe Evil Shepherd, by Edward Phillips OppenheimThe Experiences of Loveday Brooke, Lady Detective, by Catherine Louisa PirkisThe Fall of the House of Usher, by Edgar Allan PoeThe ...

In 'At the Villa Rose' we meet French Inspector Gabriel Hanaud for the first time. Hanaud is a towering figure in the history of genre mystery fiction as he is the obvious inspiration for Hercule Poirot. Whilst on holiday in Aix-les-Bains Inspector Hanaud is approached by Harry Wethermill to help investigate the murder of wealthy Madame Dauvray. Wethermill is in love with the prime suspect, Celia Harland. His unshaking faith in Harland moves inspector Hanaud to the case. Intrigue and myste...

The Four Corners of the World, a 1917 short-story collection by A. E. W. Mason.Alfred Edward Woodley Mason 1865 – 1948) was an English author and politician. He is best remembered for his 1902 novel of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers and is also known as the creator of Inspector Hanaud, a French detective who was an early template for Agatha Christie's famous Hercule Poirot.His prolific output in short stories and novels were frequently made and remade int...

In a family where courage is a sacred duty, Harry Feversham’s decision to resign his commission on the eve of war brands him a coward. Shamed by three fellow officers and by the woman he loves, he receives four white feathers—the mark of disgrace. But in the deserts of the Sudan, far from home and recognition, Harry begins a dangerous journey to redeem his name. Blending military adventure, psychological tension, and emotional depth, The Four Feathers is a gripping classic of hono...

Book 2 In THE INSPECTOR HANAUD SERIES, in which we again join Ricardo and Hanaud, this time in an ambiguous situation. A young, wealthy vagabond English man, Calladine, whom Ricardo knew before, hastily comes to Ricardo's London home in the morning, while Hanaud happens to be visiting. Calladine, very agitated, still dressed formally as for an evening ball, tells his disturbing story...Alfred Edward Woodley Mason (1865 – 1948) was an English author and politician. He is best rememb...