
Returning to England after a life in the Australian bush, James Rigby narrates his own story with a clear, unpretentious voice. He sketches a childhood marked by distant parents, a missing family history, and a harrowing episode in Naples where his father's guide turned assassin, only to be stopped by a revolver hidden in a hip‑pocket. That early brush with danger sets the tone for a series of puzzling investigations that will occupy his keen mind.
The collection unfolds as Rigby tackles a variety of baffling cases—from a mysterious Janissary to the enigmatic “Mirror of Portugal” and a curious matter involving an avalanche bicycle company. Each episode is linked by the elusive Dorrington deed‑box, a relic that promises hidden secrets and forces the narrator to confront both personal doubts and the darker corners of Victorian society. Listeners will be drawn into a world of meticulous sleuthing, atmospheric settings, and the quiet humor of a man who questions his own courage.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (326K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2016-10-22
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.
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