What do you think?
Rate this book
Inspector Crewe #1
The Hampstead Mystery
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
217 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1916
106 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Arthur J. Rees
75 books6 followersArthur John Rees was an Australian mystery writer.
Born in Melbourne, he was for a short time on the staff of the Melbourne Age and later joined the staff of the New Zealand Herald.
In his early twenties he went to England.
His proficiency as a writer of crime-mystery stories is attested by Dorothy Sayers in the introduction to Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror, 1928. Two of his stories were included in an American world-anthology of detective stories. Some of his works were translated into French and German.
Born in Melbourne, he was for a short time on the staff of the Melbourne Age and later joined the staff of the New Zealand Herald.
In his early twenties he went to England.
His proficiency as a writer of crime-mystery stories is attested by Dorothy Sayers in the introduction to Great Short Stories of Detection, Mystery and Horror, 1928. Two of his stories were included in an American world-anthology of detective stories. Some of his works were translated into French and German.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
May 11, 2016
This was an interesting read. It did not just deal with a murder but involved 2 separate court proceedings which was different from the other such mysteries I have read in recent times.
Here we see a trial for the culprit(s) and the whole business comes to a definitive end.
A Judge is murdered in his own home. There is a shady butler, a heist planned, question on the moral character of the victim and suspicious behavior from close friends.
Scotland Yard and a Private detective carried out parallel investigations (and on reading each perspective they are utmost convincing).
There are large hints dropped as to the culprit but a twist at the end leads the investigation into a different direction.
Overall this is a good suspense. It could have been a bit more crisper and hence the 3 stars.
Here we see a trial for the culprit(s) and the whole business comes to a definitive end.
A Judge is murdered in his own home. There is a shady butler, a heist planned, question on the moral character of the victim and suspicious behavior from close friends.
Scotland Yard and a Private detective carried out parallel investigations (and on reading each perspective they are utmost convincing).
There are large hints dropped as to the culprit but a twist at the end leads the investigation into a different direction.
Overall this is a good suspense. It could have been a bit more crisper and hence the 3 stars.
November 12, 2012
I enjoyed this classic murder mystery. All the elements for great mysterious entertainment here exist, lets see, there's the inspector, his assistant, a private detective, the unfortunate victim who also had a bit of a bad reputation, his angry offspring, the 'other' woman (or women!), the scoundrel turned 'honest' butler, and the angry employee; all these characters comprise a most interesting tale with a court proceeding the verdict of which is a bit of a surprise, and its all here carefully detailed by Rees and Watson...
February 27, 2025
An old classic mystery. It was interesting to read an older mystery. Lots of clues and many suspects to keep you guessing up until the end. More of a police/court procedural than I usually prefer with ongoing investigations and two separate trials. Unfortunately none of the characters were particularly sympathetic or likeable.
November 18, 2017
Full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing all the way through. The facts are placed before numerous times with slight variation with each telling depending on who tells them and who repeats them. One doesn't always catch the clues till much later when attitudes in presentation alters. The competition between police detectives, and then between private detectives and police is, at times, almost as hindering as it is helpful, depending on the individuals involved.
August 13, 2010
Although I missed the character detective - my nosy Miss Marple or cantankerous Nero Wolf - this was still a rather good mystery. The story comes out in layers, like an onion, with one small revelation after another to change the tone and send your suspicions elsewhere. The trick of this one is in the way it is told, and that is done very skilfully indeed.
October 18, 2020
For a murder mystery that had such an interesting victim, the solving of the crime was pretty bland. The constant competition between the police and the private detective served only as an excuse to draw out the conclusion of what would have been a quick and easy solve. I was appreciative of the twist at the end though, but still a shame it didn't make it any less bland.
I think I'm going to desist on reading reading anymore of Arthur J Rees. Having read others of his murder mysteries, it was easy to pick out his writing style and habit of constantly summarising the clues and I'm just not a fan.
I think I'm going to desist on reading reading anymore of Arthur J Rees. Having read others of his murder mysteries, it was easy to pick out his writing style and habit of constantly summarising the clues and I'm just not a fan.
June 20, 2020
Arthur Rees will entertain the mystery lover in you for all 267 pages! Published in 1916, this story begins like many others - a respected English judge, Sir Horace Fewbanks, is killed at home in his library. That is where the similarity to many other books ends. The book doesn't open with the murder scene. An anonymous letter is sent to Scotland Yard in the first few pages of the book. Someone thinks that no one has discovered the murder. They are right! The detectives think the letter is a scam - until the murder scene proves it is all too real. Rees gives us characters with enough quirks to make them memorable. For example, Detective Inspector Chippendale of Scotland Yard is only concerned that people view him favorably. Solving the case is secondary to him. His assistant on the case, Detective Rolfe, finds Chippendales's personality a bit much to deal with on a daily basis. How can he ever tell the Inspector that he is wrong about the case? Much to both detectives chagrin, Judge Fewbanks' daughter has hired a private investigator to "help" them with the case. Readers like to talk about the great twists and turns in mystery books - but I have never read a book with the number of viable murder suspects and the number of unexpected twists. It's the timing of the twists that is creative. I can't say anymore without spoiling the book for you - and I don't write spoiler reviews. Trust me - run and get this book. Happy Reading!
February 26, 2023
Dating from 1916, and apparently written with the help of a retired Scotland Yard detective, this tale of the murder of a judge with an unedifying "secret life" is both fascinating and frustrating.
It is frustrating due to the writing style, expansive, repetitive and prolix even for its time, which mires the plot in unnecessary descriptive matter and stifles appreciation of its ingenuity and, I think, originality. Frustrating, too, is the depiction of obstinate and wrongheaded professional detectives, mulishly sticking to preconceived notions of guilt.
The fascination is in the presentation of multiple solutions, and in the depiction of a subtle and clever private detective who also often gets it wrong.
In the hands of more stylish writers and with an axe-wielding editor, this would have been a gem of a mystery. As it is, it can only be appreciated with ruthless skipping and speed reading through the more turgid passages.
It is recommendable and worthwhile and I shall certainly attempt another.
It is frustrating due to the writing style, expansive, repetitive and prolix even for its time, which mires the plot in unnecessary descriptive matter and stifles appreciation of its ingenuity and, I think, originality. Frustrating, too, is the depiction of obstinate and wrongheaded professional detectives, mulishly sticking to preconceived notions of guilt.
The fascination is in the presentation of multiple solutions, and in the depiction of a subtle and clever private detective who also often gets it wrong.
In the hands of more stylish writers and with an axe-wielding editor, this would have been a gem of a mystery. As it is, it can only be appreciated with ruthless skipping and speed reading through the more turgid passages.
It is recommendable and worthwhile and I shall certainly attempt another.
Want to read
March 6, 2014http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10082
Opening: "Hallo! Is that Hampstead Police Station?"
"Yes. Who are you?"
"Detective-Inspector Chippenfield of Scotland Yard. Tell Inspector Seldon
I want him, and be quick about it."
"Yes, sir. Hang on, sir. I'll put you through to him at once."
Detective-Inspector Chippenfield, of Scotland Yard, waited with the
receiver held to his ear. While he waited he scrutinised keenly a sheet
of paper which lay on the desk in front of him. It was a flimsy,
faintly-ruled sheet from a cheap writing-pad, blotted and soiled, and
covered with sprawling letters which had been roughly printed at
irregular intervals as though to hide the identity of the writer. But the
letters formed words, and the words read:
SIR HORACE FEWBANKS WAS MURDERED LAST NIGHT
WHO DID IT I DONT KNOW SO IT IS NO USE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO I AM YOU
WILL FIND HIS DEAD BODY IN THE LIBRARY AT RIVERSBROOK
HE WAS SHOT THOUGH THE HEART
Opening: "Hallo! Is that Hampstead Police Station?"
"Yes. Who are you?"
"Detective-Inspector Chippenfield of Scotland Yard. Tell Inspector Seldon
I want him, and be quick about it."
"Yes, sir. Hang on, sir. I'll put you through to him at once."
Detective-Inspector Chippenfield, of Scotland Yard, waited with the
receiver held to his ear. While he waited he scrutinised keenly a sheet
of paper which lay on the desk in front of him. It was a flimsy,
faintly-ruled sheet from a cheap writing-pad, blotted and soiled, and
covered with sprawling letters which had been roughly printed at
irregular intervals as though to hide the identity of the writer. But the
letters formed words, and the words read:
SIR HORACE FEWBANKS WAS MURDERED LAST NIGHT
WHO DID IT I DONT KNOW SO IT IS NO USE TRYING TO FIND OUT WHO I AM YOU
WILL FIND HIS DEAD BODY IN THE LIBRARY AT RIVERSBROOK
HE WAS SHOT THOUGH THE HEART
September 4, 2023
This book is average for its age. There are the stumbling police force, the shrewd gentleman private eye, the beautiful and mysterious woman, and all the rest of the stock characters of this style of fiction.
The mystery itself isn't so bad, taken as a whole. The plot, while a little bit of a stretch, isn't wholly implausible. The characters, however, never seemed to become truly alive. While Rees shows himself a good observer of human nature, he fails to use that knowledge to make his characters engaging. They remain flat and interesting only through what facts they bring to light.
Additionally, this book needed to be whittled down. It read as though it was originally produced as a serial, with much repetition of information. The author also fell into the common tendency to reuse memorable phrases instead of scrounging for something new. This book isn't a waste of time, but it is very much to be enjoyed as a period piece, not as an outstanding example of detective fiction.
The mystery itself isn't so bad, taken as a whole. The plot, while a little bit of a stretch, isn't wholly implausible. The characters, however, never seemed to become truly alive. While Rees shows himself a good observer of human nature, he fails to use that knowledge to make his characters engaging. They remain flat and interesting only through what facts they bring to light.
Additionally, this book needed to be whittled down. It read as though it was originally produced as a serial, with much repetition of information. The author also fell into the common tendency to reuse memorable phrases instead of scrounging for something new. This book isn't a waste of time, but it is very much to be enjoyed as a period piece, not as an outstanding example of detective fiction.
March 11, 2013
Good little mystery. Unfortunately not as little as it should have been. The author kept repeating (and repeating and repeating) entire paragraphs of information. Found myself skimming through the courtroom scenes as far too much information was repeated, first by the detective(s), then by the barrister in court, then by the opposing counsel, then by the first counsel again in summing up, then by opposing counsel in summing up. As if that weren't enough, the detective(s) sometimes went back over the day's proceedings after court was over.
With decent editing, it could have been a nice little short story.
With decent editing, it could have been a nice little short story.
June 10, 2011
Mystery from The Golden Age of British mysteries. Very well written but long-winded by today's standards. It does have the novelty of having both police and a private detective, but neither is favored as the better sleuthing ideal. All the clues are provided with really no trickery, yet I lost sight of some of the most important clues amidst all the details and goings on. Quite enjoyable.
April 7, 2017
Slow, thinly characterized, dubious 'psychological' deductions, descriptions and motivations ascribed. Numerous patronizingly stereotypical portraits of working-class characters and women. Not genuinely awful, but not of the first rank and certainly very much of its time. One point five stars really.
May 6, 2019
didn't bore me but it did take a little bit of time to get into it. In the middle the story started to drag out some. Condensing the chapters to shorten the story would've improved it. While I wasn't hoping that the story would end soon I wasn't invested in it either.
Want to read
October 27, 2012Available at Gutenberg Project.
May 7, 2018
Wonderful mystery
For the time this was written this one of the best mysteries I have read it had great characters and great descriptions and it kept me turning pages.
For the time this was written this one of the best mysteries I have read it had great characters and great descriptions and it kept me turning pages.
September 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this. Solid mystery, and the spots of sarcastic humour and some lovely characterisation (Rolfe and his stamp collection!)
October 24, 2022
Judge Sir Horace Fewbanks has been discovered dead in his library at Riversbrook, shot. Scotland Yard detectives Chippenfied and Rolfe investigate. But private detective Crewe is employed by the daughter to find the murderer.
An enjoyable mystery though the court scenes were overlong.
An enjoyable mystery though the court scenes were overlong.
February 20, 2019
Nice Interesting Story, Suspense Thriller, Elegant Finish To The Narrative Climax. I Enjoy All Kinds Of Mysteries & Crime Fiction Stories! 😃👌
Read
May 28, 2020Not that easy to read, rambling, repetitive in cases
April 21, 2021
This was a fun audiobook, I hope to read/listen more from these authors :)
May 11, 2025
I found the novel circular in its plot trajectory. One iteration around the circle was quite adequate 2+ cycles, boring.
March 4, 2014
It was an OK old fashioned murder mistery book.
November 2, 2014
mediocre at best.
May 30, 2015
Brilliant - a really enjoyable read. I'm off to find some more by this author.
April 11, 2019
Nice read. Very realistic!
A nice read. Many twists and turns. Legal angles are dealt with nicely. Some times explanations are a bit vague but the realistic approach of official and unofficial detectives hiding their findings is an interesting read.
A nice read. Many twists and turns. Legal angles are dealt with nicely. Some times explanations are a bit vague but the realistic approach of official and unofficial detectives hiding their findings is an interesting read.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews