Classic Detective Stories

In the hushed halls of the British Library Reading Room, a sanctuary of knowledge hides a chilling secret. When an elderly professor is found murdered amidst at his desk, the scholarly calm of the Reading Room is shattered. Enter Mrs. Craggs, a humble charwoman with a sharp eye and a knack for uncovering truths others overlook. Overlooked herself by a world of scholars and "whizzers," she carries a quiet determination that surprises everyone—even herself. When Mrs. Craggs stumbles upon the crime, she finds herself drawn into a labyrinth of smooth-talking ambition and deceit. With the authorities sceptical and the suspect eager to cast blame elsewhere, can the stakes grow higher? Can Mrs. Craggs, armed with little more than her mp and her working-class common sense, expose the murderer before the wrong person is condemned? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is patriotism worth the cost? In the volatile landscape of 1980s Britain, this question haunts every counter-terrorism operative.  Michael Gilbert's "The Killing of Michael Finnegan" draws you into a high-stakes game where loyalty is fleeting and deception is currency.  As seasoned agents Calder and Behrens race to thwart an IRA plot, they navigate a maze of half-truths and double-crosses. With each revelation, the line between ally and enemy blurs further. Gilbert's razor-sharp prose and intricate plotting keep you guessing until the final moment.  The clock is ticking, lives hang in the balance, and no one is above suspicion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can perfect manners mask a murderer? In Victorian London, Charles Dickens crafted a tale of calculated evil lurking behind a respectable smile. A gentleman whose perfectly groomed appearance and cultured conversation conceal something far more sinister. In the gaslit streets and elegant drawing rooms, a deadly game unfolds. Someone watches from the shadows - but nothing is quite what it seems. Dickens knew the dark corners of London, walked with real detectives, studied the faces of criminals. In "Hunted Down," he reveals what he learned about evil wearing a gentleman's mask. Join me for Dickens's only pure detective story, where appearances can be fatally deceptive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the glittering world of Edwardian London, where wealth flaunts itself shamelessly, a brash American boxer throws down an irresistible gauntlet. Barney Maguire, flush with prize money and sporting gaudy trophies, boasts of an unbeatable trap for thieves in his opulent Half-moon Street residence. Enter A.J. Raffles, gentleman thief extraordinaire, whose code of honor is matched only by his appetite for challenge. When Maguire's ostentatious display of riches collides with Raffles' unquenchable thirst for adventure, the stage is set for a battle of wits that will test the limits of cunning and audacity. ⭐ Join my Patreon ⭐ https://patreon.com/barcud Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out.  You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month.  Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible? Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work https://buymeacoffee.com/10mn8sk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices