“Men Die at Cyprus Lodge” (1943) by John Rhode (Miles Burton) is a classic Golden Age mystery featuring Dr. Priestley investigating a series of murders at a reputedly haunted house in the English village of Troutwich. The plot centers on a "haunted" house where victims are killed by poison (aconitine) via a booby-trap.

No two men could have been more opposite in every way than Wilfred and Clarence Cheriton. Wilfred, forever immersed in some engineering experiment, had little use for people and business activities, whereas Clarence was a sociable man with a gift for selling the products of the Cheriton Engineering Works, of which he and his cousins were partners. If only the two cousins could have made allowances for their differences, it was a partnership which should have worked well. But they couldn't,...

The novel takes place in rural Kent during the hop-picking season. A burglary takes place and the complex circumstances surrounding it led to Sergeant Wragge of the local force calling in Scotland Yard. It is only through the deductions of Priestley, however, that it is realised that his is a case of murder.

Death on the Boat Train, first published in 1940, is book no. 32 in the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley and Scotland Yard's Superintendent Hanslet and Inspector Jimmy Waghorn. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: Fair blew the wind from France, and the Channel steamer Isle of Jethou rolled ...

Murder at the Motor Show first published in 1935 (published in the U.K. as Mystery at Olympia). A dense crowd surrounded the new Comet car that was fully expected to be the sensation of the great Motor Show at Olympia. Suddenly one of the eager spectators, an elderly man, lurched forward and collapsed in what appeared to be a dead faint on the ground. But Nigel Pershore was dead, and it was his death that provided the real sensation of the show. A post-mortem examination revealed no visibl...

At his residence in Beckenham in Kent on the outskirts of London, Sir Andrew Wiggenhall the chairman of the board of directors of a large firm of ironmongers is killed by an explosion that largely wrecks the house. Investigating officer Superintendent Hanslet is not convinced his death was an accident, particularly when another member of the firm's board is found dead. With the help of Priestley he sets out to solve the mysterious incidents that have left the remaining members of the board...

In Death at Breakfast, John Rhode presents another thrilling Dr. Priestley mystery that unfolds within a seemingly ordinary setting—a country house where an unexpected tragedy occurs. The story begins with the peculiar death of Victor Harleston, a wealthy businessman, who is found dead at the breakfast table under circumstances that defy explanation. Initially thought to be a sudden, natural death, closer inspection by Dr. Priestley reveals signs that hint at something more sinister. The c...

''Twice Dead'' by John Rhode is a classic Golden Age mystery where the eccentric Sir Francis Yordale fakes his own death to test his heirs' affection, only to be found genuinely dead soon after, leading Superintendent Jimmy Waghorn and Dr. Priestley to investigate his real murder by carbon monoxide poisoning, revealing hidden family secrets and ingenious criminal methods.

There was motive enough for the murder of Fred Dunstable, but when Inspector ‘Jimmy’ Waghorn is sent down to the little village of Cradwell to investigate his death, he finds it difficult to be satisfied with any of the solutions offered by the local police. Whose was the half-smoked cigarette found near the body? Why did Kenneth Neasden want £100 so desperately? It is not until further violence has been done that the answers to these and many other questions are found. An ingeniously cont...

After the inquest that the death of Major Walter Bedworthy was an accident due to drowning, his friend summons in Priestley due to his belief that it was in fact murder. This proves to be the case when the dead man's brother is also found drowned a few days later. Assisted by Superintendent Hanslet and Inspector Waghorn of Scotland Yard, Priestley sets out to unmask the cunning killer.

During an overnight thousand mile motor rally an accident to one of the cars leads to the death of the two occupants. The local police are far from convinced that everything is above board and call in Scotland Yard. Inspector Hanslet leads the case but the real work is done by the criminologist Priestley, who retraces the entire journey of care in order to solve the mystery.

The next time you visit Olympia, take a good look around and see if you think it would be possible to murder someone in the middle of the crowd there without being seen.The new Comet was fully expected to be the sensation of the annual Motor Show at Olympia. Suddenly, in the middle of the dense crowd of eager spectators, an elderly man lurched forward and collapsed in a dead faint. But Nahum Pershore had not fainted. He was dead, and it was his death that was to provide the real se...