Showing results by author "Robert Barr" in All Categories

"Bluebeard's Bathtub" by Margery Allingham read by Derek Jacobi. Ronald Torbay has his eye set on Edith, a former teacher whose father has recently died leaving her a tidy sum. "Who Killed Zebedee?" by Wilkie Collins read by Patrick Malahide. Priscilla, the cook at a Lodging House reports the...

In 'Revenge!', Robert Barr captivates listeners with a gripping collection of 20 short stories that delve into the dark side of human nature. Each tale weaves a narrative centered on the theme of revenge, where characters face moral dilemmas and unexpected twists. From cunning detectives to vengeful adversaries, Barr's masterful storytelling draws you into a world where justice is often served in surprising ways. You’ll find echoes of Alfred Hitchcock’s thrilling style throughout these narratives, adding a layer of intrigue that keeps you on the edge of your seat. As you navigate through ...

Ex-policeman Galbraith is caught up in mystery and murder in these two gripping, fast-paced detective dramas. After a long career in the Flying Squad, veteran copper Bill Galbraith is hanging up his truncheon and saying goodbye to the police force. He's looking forward to a quiet life on civvy street - but his best friend, private investigator Tommy Evans, has other ideas.

They were married, but they hated and couldn't stand each other. Why not a divorce? Not that easy when there is a lot of money involved. Perhaps they could work things out on a trip to the Swiss Alps.

John Bodman and his wife are polar opposites who have grown to hate each other. But without grounds for divorce, they are tied together till death. So, in a state of despair, Bodman sets his mind on murder.

Robert Barr (1849-1912) was a Scottish-Canadian short story writer and novelist, born in Glasgow, Scotland. 'The Hour-Glass' is a mysterious ghost story. An avid antique collector buys an ancient and defective hourglass from a curiosity shop. When he takes it home and starts to examine it, he is startled by a strange visitor who claims to be the real owner of the hourglass. His story is a very bizarre one.

Unable to divorce his wife, a man resolves to murder her instead. “Marriage at best is but a compromise,” the author notes, “and if two people happen to be united who are of an uncompromising nature, there is trouble.” This trouble takes a surprising turn when the man leads his wife out to an outlook to do the deed.

"The Absent-Minded Coterie", a short story published in 1906, tells of a cunning scam devised by crooked counterfeiters. But, of course, French detective Eugene Valmont eventually discovers the truth. "The Absent-Minded Coterie" is widely recognized as one of the best crime stories of the time.

Progenitore letterario di Hercule Poirot, Eugène Valmont è il protagonista di otto racconti. Ma se anche fosse comparso solo nella Compagnia dei distratti, sarebbe ugualmente un immortale. Così scrisse Ellery Queen a proposito di questa storia del 1906, che ha dato al protagonista e al suo creatore fama imperitura. E la cosa singolare è che lo scozzese Robert Barr è arrivato a tanto inventando un personaggio del tutto fuori linea con i geniali e infallibili investigatori alla Sherlock Holmes di moda ai suoi tempi.

DS Dave Brook is a long-serving, ducking-and-diving police officer who takes armed robberies and violent crime in his stride. But then he is teamed up with young 'grammar school boy' DC Blair Maxton from sleepy Epsom. How will Max cope with the mean streets of his new patch? Among the thrilling cases in these four series, the detectives tackle an armed gang, confront a notorious crime family, search for a missing wife, investigate a gruesome ax murder and the death of a reclusive young woman, and assist ‘The Sweeney’ flying squad.

Inspector Lestrade of Scotland Yard was made to look a fool in the Sherlock Holmes stories. Now he gets his own back, introducing 16 tales of detectives whose abilities rival that of the great Sherlock Holmes.

Robert Barr approaches romance in two short stories in his engaging and subtly humorous style. In One Day's Courtship, British artist John Trenton visits Quebec and tries to slip in a quick canoe trip on his last day in town to photograph the scenic Shawenegan Falls. In The Heralds of Fame, a freshman novelist heads to America with his suitcase packed with copies of his new book. Before heading out, he panic buys an extra copy of his own book at a bookstand to buoy sales after observing someone pass it up. This sets off a chain of events. - Summary by Nat Spratt

The incredible true story of the French Resistance plot to destroy the Atlantic Wall in Normandy, dramatised in six parts for BBC Radio Adapted from Richard Collier’s 1958 novel Ten Thousand Eyes, this riveting vintage drama by Robert Barr tells the story of the heroes and heroines of the...

In the struggling city of Frankfort, despair hangs heavy in the air—defeated in war, burdened by weak leadership, and facing trade blockades, the citizens are restless and hungry. Yet, amidst the turmoil, three master sword-makers unite to form a guild, determined to devise a plan to revive their citys fortunes. Their fortunes take a turn when an enigmatic stranger arrives, an instructor in both swordsmanship and the ancient art of sword-making. Although he lacks a license to wield a sword in Frankfort, he boldly claims he can guide the guild to prosperity and lead the city out of its dire ...

Dive into the whimsical world of Eugene Valmont, a comrade of Jerome K. Jerome and a friend of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. This delightful collection features short stories that showcase Barrs wit, including what is likely the first-ever parody of Sherlock Holmes. A co-editor of The Idler alongside Jerome, Barrs charm and humor shine through in every tale. (written by Czechchris)

Dive into the enchanting world of Robert Barrs A Prince of Good Fellows, published in 1902. This delightful collection of historical fiction stories follows the spirited young James V, King of Scots (1512 – 1542). With a perfect blend of humor and adventure, each chapter brings to life a wise and daring king, making for an engaging and entertaining read. (Summary by Lars Rolander)

A double serving of thrilling vintage spy drama featuring the tenacious Captain Jim Nicholson "These productions are pure ‘Boys Own'-style entertainment...I found them to be thoroughly engrossing, with the actors conveying earnestness throughout." - Entertainment Focus A treat from the archive...

Robert Barr was born in Glasgow, Scotland on the 16th September 1849. Five years later the family emigrated to a farm near Muirkirk in Upper Canada. Although a number of his crime novels and short stories are parodies on Sherlock Holmes and other best-selling detectives of the time, he also wrote short stories across a whole range of subjects and genres usually with intriguing ideas and many laced with wit and humour.

Throughout the long centuries of human history is the want, and the need, to share information, to exchange ideas and for that knowledge and experience, for curiosity and learning, to be the basis of a civil society. In this volume we offer up a small selection of talents from the literary landscape of 1800 to 1849 and its male authors whose time has now come again.

In this series we explore the many facets of love through literary talents that span both time and country. Love is good. It’s positive, a source of joy, nourishment and all over goodness. But sometimes other more malevolent forces come to play. They infect that love, they see their form as better. Instinctively we would shy away but sometimes its pull is too powerful, almost attractive. We are drawn closer into the shadows.