
A quiet summer evening in London turns unsettling when the narrator’s study window shatters, announcing an unseen intrusion. Three shadowy figures slip through a hidden courtyard, silently dragging a struggling, diminutive man away, leaving only a crumpled stone wrapped in a hastily scribbled sheet of music. Intrigued and baffled, the seasoned investigator Martin Hewitt is drawn into a case that promises more than a simple burglary—there’s a cryptic clue, an odd “flitterbat” connection, and a sense that the city’s underbelly hides unexpected motives.
As Hewitt begins to untangle the strange evidence, the story unfolds with a blend of Victorian atmosphere and sharp wit. The mystery invites listeners into a maze of narrow alleys, whispered conspiracies, and the peculiar logic that nothing in London is ever wholly ordinary. It’s a perfect entry point for fans of classic detective tales who enjoy a puzzle that feels both intellectual and oddly theatrical.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (341K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Stephen Lins
Release date
2019-04-20
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1863–1945
Best known for vivid stories of London's East End, he wrote fiction that brought working-class neighborhoods and street life into sharp focus. His best-known books include Tales of Mean Streets and A Child of the Jago, works still remembered for their unsentimental realism.
View all books
by Arthur Morrison

by Arthur Morrison

by Arthur Morrison

by Arthur Morrison

by Arthur Morrison

by Dorothy L. (Dorothy Leigh) Sayers

by Agatha Christie