Episodes

  • Wisdom of Father Brown-G. K. Chesterton

    Wisdom of Father Brown-G. K. Chesterton
    Nov 13 2026
    Wisdom of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton.

    This is the second of five books of short stories about G. K. Chesterton’s fictional detective, first published in 1914. Father Brown is a short, nondescript Catholic Priest with shapeless clothes and a large umbrella who has an uncanny insight into human evil. His methods, unlike those of his near contemporary Sherlock Holmes, although based on observation of details often unnoticed by others, tended to be intuitive rather than deductive. Although clearly devout, he always emphasizes rationality: despite his religiousness and his belief in God and miracles, he manages to see the perfectly ordinary, natural explanation of the problem. He is a devout, educated and "civilized" clergyman, who is totally familiar with contemporary and secular thought and behavior. His character was thought to be based on Father John O'Connor (1870 - 1952), a parish priest in Bradford, Yorkshire.

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    7 hrs and 16 mins
  • Club of Queer Trades-G. K. Chesterton

    Club of Queer Trades-G. K. Chesterton
    Nov 12 2026
    Club of Queer Trades by G. K. Chesterton.

    A collection of six wonderfully quirky detective stories, featuring the 'mystic' former judge Basil Grant. Each story reveals a practitioner of an entirely new profession, and member of the Club of Queer Trades.

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    4 hrs and 46 mins
  • Tales of Terror and Mystery-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

    Tales of Terror and Mystery-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
    Nov 11 2026
    Tales of Terror and Mystery by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

    Though Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is best known for his detective stories, he also wrote other short stories which are masterpieces of mystery and suspense. In some of the stories in "Tales of Terror and Mystery", a suppressed uneasiness gradually builds up and evolves into sheer terror. In others, the story line unexpectedly changes and comes to a horrific conclusion. Sit back in the comfort of your armchair and let yourself be transported to the strange but compelling world created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    7 hrs and 33 mins
  • Staircase at the Heart's Delight-Anna Katharine Green

    Staircase at the Heart's Delight-Anna Katharine Green
    Nov 10 2026
    Staircase at the Heart's Delight by Anna Katharine Green.

    Detective Ebenezer Gryce tells the story of the case with which he begun his career in 1840. Several wealthy men were drowned and washed ashore in New York City, and the first clue leads to a dubious money lender...

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    54 mins
  • Ashton-Kirk, Investigator-John Thomas McIntyre

    Ashton-Kirk, Investigator-John Thomas McIntyre
    Nov 9 2026
    Ashton-Kirk, Investigator by John Thomas McIntyre.

    Ashton-Kirk, who has solved so many mysteries, is himself something of a problem even to those who know him best. Although young, wealthy, and of high social position, he is nevertheless an indefatigable worker in his chosen field. He smiles when men call him a detective. "No; only an investigator," he says. He has never courted notoriety; indeed, his life has been more or less secluded. However, let a man do remarkable work in any line and, as Emerson has observed, "the world will make a beaten path to his door." Those who have found their way to Ashton-Kirk's door have been of many races and interests. Men of science have often been surprised to find him in touch with the latest discoveries, scholars searching among strange tongues and dialects, and others deep in tattered scrolls, ancient tablets and forgotten books have been his frequent visitors.

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    8 hrs
  • True Detective Stories from the Archives of the Pinkertons-Cleveland Moffett

    True Detective Stories from the Archives of the Pinkertons-Cleveland Moffett
    Nov 8 2026
    True Detective Stories from the Archives of the Pinkertons by Cleveland Moffett.

    In his true crime collection, True Detective Stories: From the Archives of the Pinkertons , Cleveland Moffett details some of the more fascinating stories pulled from the archives of the Pinkertons Detective Agency. The Pinkertons were one of the most famed detective agencies in America during the late 19th century. Jump into another era and follow along as the detectives investigate train robberies, bank robberies and more!

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    3 hrs and 47 mins
  • Mark of Cain-Carolyn Wells

    Mark of Cain-Carolyn Wells
    Nov 7 2026
    Mark of Cain by Carolyn Wells.

    Murder mystery #8 by the prolific American author Carolyn Wells, featuring her famous detective, Fleming Stone (though that detective isn’t brought into the case until it’s almost too late). The novel features a heroine resisting pressure to marry a man she doesn’t love, detectives and police who keep chasing clues in the wrong directions, a teenage wanna-be detective who’s also an inveterate liar, and a host of other interesting characters, most of whom merely serve to redirect the course of justice until Fleming Stone shows up to set them all straight.

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    7 hrs and 38 mins
  • Kidnapping of President Lincoln, and Other War Detective Stories-Joel Chandler Harris

    Kidnapping of President Lincoln, and Other War Detective Stories-Joel Chandler Harris
    Nov 6 2026
    Kidnapping of President Lincoln, and Other War Detective Stories by Joel Chandler Harris.

    While detective work always makes for exciting stories, the circumstances under which the detective works play a huge role in the thrill. The stories in this collection follow detectives as they unravel mysteries in times of war, where danger awaits them at every turn.

    Featured on Fifty Years a Detective: 35 Real Detective Stories.

    Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    5 hrs and 55 mins