The Wrong Letter

When the Home Secretary is found shot dead in his own study, the case falls to Superintendent Sinclair, who soon finds himself out of his depth. Walter S. Masterman pairs the dogged policeman with Sylvester Collins, an amateur detective whose unconventional methods cut straight through the official muddle. A locked study, a misdirected letter, and a cast of suspects with secrets to guard build toward a solution few readers will guess. First published in 1926 with an admiring preface by G. K. Chesterton, the novel earned a reputation for its audacious twist and its willingness to break the genre’s unwritten rules. Anyone who enjoys the puzzles of Golden Age crime writing will find a sharp, brisk example here. This free edition is available as a PDF and EPUB download.