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Final Proof
Twelve mysteries, dozens of clues, and two detectives matching wits
Detective Jack Barnes is good at his job—no nonsense and thorough, his dogged nature makes him the best at what he does. Mr. Robert Leroy Mitchel is entirely different: a gentleman and an amateur sleuth, Mitchel is confident in his ability to find answers where the professionals cannot. But by choice or circumstance the two are thrown together in pursuit of the truth. Sometimes partners, often competitors, these dueling detectives tackle a slew of unsolvable cases in Gilded Age New York: a body washed up in the river after its cremation, the disappearance of a priceless emerald that leaves a trail of death in its wake, and an IOU demanding a man's life, to name a few.
A long-neglected master of detective stories, Rodrigues Ottolengui was a gifted dentist and lover of mysteries whose work established forensic dentistry as a science and emphasized the value of evidence. Through crisp prose, captivating plot twists, and charming characters, Ottolengui's collection of stories delves into the bizarre—sometimes dangerous, sometimes ridiculous—side of human nature.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Detective Jack Barnes is good at his job—no nonsense and thorough, his dogged nature makes him the best at what he does. Mr. Robert Leroy Mitchel is entirely different: a gentleman and an amateur sleuth, Mitchel is confident in his ability to find answers where the professionals cannot. But by choice or circumstance the two are thrown together in pursuit of the truth. Sometimes partners, often competitors, these dueling detectives tackle a slew of unsolvable cases in Gilded Age New York: a body washed up in the river after its cremation, the disappearance of a priceless emerald that leaves a trail of death in its wake, and an IOU demanding a man's life, to name a few.
A long-neglected master of detective stories, Rodrigues Ottolengui was a gifted dentist and lover of mysteries whose work established forensic dentistry as a science and emphasized the value of evidence. Through crisp prose, captivating plot twists, and charming characters, Ottolengui's collection of stories delves into the bizarre—sometimes dangerous, sometimes ridiculous—side of human nature.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
309 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1898
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68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Want to read
February 12, 2020Synopsis: a sequel to An Artist in Crime. The two men get involved in several other cases just as intriguing and challenging.
January 7, 2021
Rodrigues Ottolengui was announced as the Sherlock Holmes of America. He did try to do a Sherlock in "THE PHŒNIX OF CRIME" as you can see in the extract below.
"Why, thank you, I will take some, but how do you know that I came off in a hurry and had no coffee at home? It seems to me that if you can tell that, you are becoming as clever as the famous Sherlock Holmes."
"Oh, no, indeed! You and I can hardly expect to be as shrewd as the detectives of romance. As to my guessing that you have had no coffee, that is not very troublesome. I notice three drops of milk on your coat, and one on your shoe, from which I deduce, first, that you have had no coffee, for a man who has his coffee in the morning is not apt to drink a glass of milk besides. Second, you must have left home in a hurry, or you would have had that coffee. Third, you took your glass of milk at the ferry-house of the Staten Island boat, probably finding that you had a minute to spare; this is evident because the milk spots on the tails of your frock-coat and on your shoe show that you were standing when you drank, and leaned over to avoid dripping the fluid on your clothes. Had you been seated, the coat tails would have been spread apart, and drippings would have fallen on your trousers. The fact that in spite of your precautions the accident did occur, and yet escaped your notice, is further proof, not only of your hurry, but also that your mind was abstracted,—absorbed no doubt with the difficult problem about which you have come to talk with me. How is my guess?"
"Correct in every detail. Sherlock Holmes could have done no better. But we will drop him and get
down to my case, which, I assure you, is more astounding than any, either in fact or fiction, that has come to my knowledge."
However, it is easy to see why he was not.
In most parts it was good -pretty easy to read, crisp language. I enjoyed a few -"A PROMISSORY NOTE" was free-flowing. But the plot on a few was laughable - THE MISSING LINK for instance - I don't even know where to start on that one!
Some stories just seem to be an intellectual construct that one would be inclined to build on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Stories that have a massive build up but a tepid end - one that was hastily concluded because the author was perhaps bored(?)
P.S. - the book is also available on Project Gutenberg in case anyone wants to read up.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35902...
"Why, thank you, I will take some, but how do you know that I came off in a hurry and had no coffee at home? It seems to me that if you can tell that, you are becoming as clever as the famous Sherlock Holmes."
"Oh, no, indeed! You and I can hardly expect to be as shrewd as the detectives of romance. As to my guessing that you have had no coffee, that is not very troublesome. I notice three drops of milk on your coat, and one on your shoe, from which I deduce, first, that you have had no coffee, for a man who has his coffee in the morning is not apt to drink a glass of milk besides. Second, you must have left home in a hurry, or you would have had that coffee. Third, you took your glass of milk at the ferry-house of the Staten Island boat, probably finding that you had a minute to spare; this is evident because the milk spots on the tails of your frock-coat and on your shoe show that you were standing when you drank, and leaned over to avoid dripping the fluid on your clothes. Had you been seated, the coat tails would have been spread apart, and drippings would have fallen on your trousers. The fact that in spite of your precautions the accident did occur, and yet escaped your notice, is further proof, not only of your hurry, but also that your mind was abstracted,—absorbed no doubt with the difficult problem about which you have come to talk with me. How is my guess?"
"Correct in every detail. Sherlock Holmes could have done no better. But we will drop him and get
down to my case, which, I assure you, is more astounding than any, either in fact or fiction, that has come to my knowledge."
However, it is easy to see why he was not.
In most parts it was good -pretty easy to read, crisp language. I enjoyed a few -"A PROMISSORY NOTE" was free-flowing. But the plot on a few was laughable - THE MISSING LINK for instance - I don't even know where to start on that one!
Some stories just seem to be an intellectual construct that one would be inclined to build on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Stories that have a massive build up but a tepid end - one that was hastily concluded because the author was perhaps bored(?)
P.S. - the book is also available on Project Gutenberg in case anyone wants to read up.
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/35902...
August 26, 2024
Final Proof is a collection of detective stories featuring the professional detective Barnes and the amateur detective Leroy Mitchel. These stories are enjoyable enough, but I will not be revisiting them any time soon. Barnes is not a well-developed character, and Mitchel annoyed me. He has the arrogance of Holmes without Holmes's panache and endearing qualities. The stories do provide an interesting look at Gilded Age New York, both among the elite and among the poor, which I think is the strongest reason for reading the book. One of the stories ("The Missing Link") is bizarre, and others are more like late-19th century adventure stories than mysteries, with assassins chasing sacred gems, etc.
October 26, 2021
eh. It's ok. Neither Barnes nor Mitchel is particularly likable, though, nor are they great at being friends to each other.
Content warning:
This one doesn't have nearly as many offensive terms as some other American classic mysteries, but it does include the phrase "very negro mammy."
Content warning:
This one doesn't have nearly as many offensive terms as some other American classic mysteries, but it does include the phrase "very negro mammy."
March 5, 2021
This was a great collection of works, I enjoyed all but one of them. I’d recommend to any Arthur Conan Doyle fans 👍🏻
August 10, 2021
Not my cup of tea.
March 28, 2024
Very strange.
August 27, 2024
If you like Sherlock Holmes tales, you will like this. Easy read. Sherlock is better but this is good!
May 19, 2022
Enjoyable, ,but I won't be searching out his other books.
Conan Doyle he isn't.
Conan Doyle he isn't.
August 24, 2022
Everyone should have to read this for the absolutely bonkers "ape-woman" story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 24, 2021
These linked short stories, part of the Library of Congress Crime Classics series, are not well known, but are well worth reading. Despite the stilted quality of the century-old writing style, they are puzzlers featuring amateur detective, and avid jewel collector, Robert Leroy Mitchel, and private investigator Jack Barnes, good friends and devoted rivals. Many of the stories involve the theft of precious stones, most of which Mitchel manages to add to his collection--he collects them to discourage criminals from trying to steal them. As a bonus, there are interesting sidelights on New York City at the turn of the last century. There's an introduction emphasizing the book's historical importance, and a brief note on the author's life. I just wish LC would include a list of other titles in the series.
Want to read
May 14, 2022Read so far:
The Phœnix of Crime --
The Missing Link --
*The Nameless Man --
*The Montezuma Emerald --
A Singular Abduction --
*The Aztec Opal --
The Duplicate Harlequin --
The Pearls of Isis --
A Promissory Note --
A Novel Forgery --2
A Frosty Morning --
A Shadow of Proof --
The Phœnix of Crime --
The Missing Link --
*The Nameless Man --
*The Montezuma Emerald --
A Singular Abduction --
*The Aztec Opal --
The Duplicate Harlequin --
The Pearls of Isis --
A Promissory Note --
A Novel Forgery --2
A Frosty Morning --
A Shadow of Proof --
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews