Search Results: Vincent Starrett from I Cannot Live Without Books

Dead Man Inside (American Mystery Classics) by Vincent Starrett
1930s Chicago is a rough town, but the most recent rash of crime is unusual even by the Windy City's standards. First, a haberdasher whose corpse is discovered on display one morning, dressed as a mannequin in his store's window. Next, the unveiling of a Civil War statue reveals the dead body of a known gambler instead of the bronze likeness of General Burke. As more strange crime scenes follow, it becomes clear that a killer with a sick sense of humor is on the loose and that anyone could be his next victim.
It's a perfect case for scientist, explorer, former intelligence officer, and reluctant detective Walter Ghost, who just happens to be in town to visit the Newberry Library for research. While the local authorities are left scratching their heads, Ghost leaps into action with deductive reasoning aided by unorthodox methods (including consulting an Ouija board). But will his amateur detection be quick enough to find the culprit before… Read More

The Great Hotel Murder (American Mystery Classics) by Vincent Starrett
When a New York banker is discovered dead from an apparent morphine overdose in a grand Chicago hotel, the circumstances surrounding his untimely end are suspicious to say the least. The dead man had switched rooms with a stranger he met in the hotel bar, where he'd registered under a fake name and invented a story about the purpose of his visit. Adding to the mystery is the fact that he made no effort to contact his wife, who happened to be in town performing in a local show.
Enter theatre critic and amateur sleuth Riley Blackwood, who, at the request of a friend at the hotel, endeavors to untangle the puzzling death as discretely as possible. But despite his efforts, the investigation soon makes a splash among Chicago society, and Blackwood finds that every clue uncovered brings with it another baffling turn.
Vincent Starrett (1866 - 1974) was a Chicago books columnist and one of the world's foremost experts on Sherlock Holmes. A… Read More

Murder on "B" Deck (American Mystery Classics) by Vincent Starrett
For the passengers aboard the Latakia, the transatlantic journey from New York to Cherbourg promises weeks of rest and relaxation, no matter what ticket class they have. But after an Italian baroness is found strangled in her luxury cabin, fearful speculation floods the decks, hallways, and dining rooms. The main suspect soon goes overboard, creating more questions than answers: Did a guilty conscience spur a suicidal act, or was he a witness silenced by the actual killer, still at large on the liner?
Enter former intelligence officer Walter Ghost, tapped by the ship's captain to play detective and solve the murder. He's joined by his friend Dunstan Mollock, a mystery novelist whose writing career provides helpful insights into the case. It seems the duo have plenty to work with with clues including an amateur film, a doll, and a card from Memphis, Tennessee. But can they sort through false leads and solve the crime before the ship… Read More