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Dr. Sam Johnson #2
The Detections of Dr. Sam Johnson
Eight exquisite mystery stories set in London, starring Dr. Samuel Johnson, one of the greatest minds of the eighteenth century.
In 1775, as the British Empire is about to be cracked by the earthquake of the American Revolution, twenty English families join in the ghoulish bargain known as a tontine. Each puts £5,000 into a common fund to be held in trust for their children with the terrible stipulation that the money will go to the last child left alive. Such a bargain should take seventy or eighty years to come to fruition, but there is a curse upon this tontine. Sixteen of the twenty children are dead within four years—and the survivors have no one to turn to but the great Dr. Sam Johnson.
The seventy-year-old scholar has seen his share of trickery, corruption, and murder, but he’s never encountered anything quite as chilling as “The Tontine Curse.” In this story, and the seven others included in this volume, Dr. Johnson and his assistant, biographer James Boswell, pit their wits against the darkest mysteries of the Enlightenment.
In this charming, brilliant series, author Lillian de la Torre features Johnson and Boswell, real-life forerunners of Holmes and Watson, in an assortment of “excellent detective puzzles” (The New York Times).
In 1775, as the British Empire is about to be cracked by the earthquake of the American Revolution, twenty English families join in the ghoulish bargain known as a tontine. Each puts £5,000 into a common fund to be held in trust for their children with the terrible stipulation that the money will go to the last child left alive. Such a bargain should take seventy or eighty years to come to fruition, but there is a curse upon this tontine. Sixteen of the twenty children are dead within four years—and the survivors have no one to turn to but the great Dr. Sam Johnson.
The seventy-year-old scholar has seen his share of trickery, corruption, and murder, but he’s never encountered anything quite as chilling as “The Tontine Curse.” In this story, and the seven others included in this volume, Dr. Johnson and his assistant, biographer James Boswell, pit their wits against the darkest mysteries of the Enlightenment.
In this charming, brilliant series, author Lillian de la Torre features Johnson and Boswell, real-life forerunners of Holmes and Watson, in an assortment of “excellent detective puzzles” (The New York Times).
277 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 1984
24 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
About the author
Lillian de la Torre
42 books7 followersLillian de la Torre was an American novelist and a prolific writer of historical mysteries. Her name is a pseudonym for Lillian de la Torre Bueno McCue.
Her most popular works were in a series of stories she wrote about Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, under the title 'Dr. Sam: Johnson, Detector'. She also wrote numerous books, short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, reviews for The New York Times Book Review, poetry and plays. She was a President of the Mystery Writers of America.
Her most popular works were in a series of stories she wrote about Samuel Johnson and James Boswell, under the title 'Dr. Sam: Johnson, Detector'. She also wrote numerous books, short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, reviews for The New York Times Book Review, poetry and plays. She was a President of the Mystery Writers of America.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 12, 2018
Good historical mysteries
By Charles van Buren on April 11, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Very good historical mysteries which mix the real world Johnson and Boswell with fictional mysteries. In this volume there is a fine locked room mystery and several stories with seemingly unlikely perpetrators. Dr. Johnson, of course, was not built for physical adventures so these mysteries are solved through cerebral effort rather than the application of brawn.
I purchased a Kindle edition of this book along with some other volumes in the series. I do not know why it is not recognized as a verified purchase.
By Charles van Buren on April 11, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Very good historical mysteries which mix the real world Johnson and Boswell with fictional mysteries. In this volume there is a fine locked room mystery and several stories with seemingly unlikely perpetrators. Dr. Johnson, of course, was not built for physical adventures so these mysteries are solved through cerebral effort rather than the application of brawn.
I purchased a Kindle edition of this book along with some other volumes in the series. I do not know why it is not recognized as a verified purchase.
June 20, 2011
Lillian de la Torre wrote a series of short stories for Ellery Queen's Mystery magazine (over 40 in all) which featured Dr. Samuel Johnson as a great detective as well as a great lexicographer. These stories were later collected into four volumes, of which The Detections of Dr. Sam: Johnson is one. These stories set Johnson up as a Holmes-like character with James Boswell acting as his Watson. The mysteries themselves are good without being great, but the main attractions are the personality of Johnson, the Boswellian commentary on events, and the obvious amount of research de la Torre put into her stories. Notes at the end of each story reveal that the fictional accounts have their basis in either actual events and characters from the 18th Century or legends that were circulating during the time period.
This was a very quick, light read. The first story, "The Stroke of Thirteen," is very good and she even tries her hand at a locked room mystery. Interesting period detail and pleasant mysteries that didn't require a lot of heavy-duty brain work. The most difficult part for some readers might be wading through some of the 18th C terminology--but quite a lot can be inferred from the context. I thoroughly enjoyed Johnson as a character and will certainly be keeping my eye out for the other collections. Three and a half stars out of five.
This was a very quick, light read. The first story, "The Stroke of Thirteen," is very good and she even tries her hand at a locked room mystery. Interesting period detail and pleasant mysteries that didn't require a lot of heavy-duty brain work. The most difficult part for some readers might be wading through some of the 18th C terminology--but quite a lot can be inferred from the context. I thoroughly enjoyed Johnson as a character and will certainly be keeping my eye out for the other collections. Three and a half stars out of five.
June 23, 2019
3.5 Stars Some Good, Some So So
Kind of difficult at first getting used to the writing style and time period. It has been a while since I have read stories from this time period, late 1700's.
Kind of difficult at first getting used to the writing style and time period. It has been a while since I have read stories from this time period, late 1700's.
April 23, 2018
3.5 stars. The mysteries were interesting, but I found that the language, however authentic(k), lessened my enjoyment.
July 8, 2024
more interesting short stories.
I enjoy Lilian de la Torre’s short stories about Dr Sam Johnson. They lack violence and suspense. Hence my liking for them.
I enjoy Lilian de la Torre’s short stories about Dr Sam Johnson. They lack violence and suspense. Hence my liking for them.
December 9, 2013
The second of Lillian De La Torre's Sam Johnson detective series. Very much like the first: a series of amusing short stories featuring Dr Johnson of dictionary fame as an amateur sleuth, but with the added feature of a short explanation of the historical facts at the end of each story.
A footnote: I came across Sam Johnson, private investigator when I was looking for Murder in the Hellfire Club, featuring Ben Franklin as detective. I got excited, thinking this was the tip of the iceberg of a whole genre of detective stories featuring 18th century polymaths. Alas,that's not the case.
October 30, 2014
Deliciously witty, deftly written, and cleverly authentic to the period and its language. If de la Torre tends to make her vignettes all too cute - the nastinesses of Johnson's age are conveyed through sepia-tinted glasses, with many a giggle - that only adds to the enjoyment of her stories. Anyone who seeks an alternative - highly implausible - view of the Great Cham, as a corrective to Boswell's prurient candours, will find these stories a delight. Is it really the 18thc? No. But who cares?
April 21, 2015
Fantastic book! I love the whole idea of Samuel Johnson solving crime, and the writing is superb. Not every story has an actual crime in it either.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews