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The Red Thumb Mark (Dr. Thorndyke Mysteries #1)

R. Austin Freeman

Start date: July 1, 2022

Finish date: July 31, 2022

Discussion: Group Challenges

Why we're reading this: Next in our Detection Club challenge
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Group Challenges

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) by Agatha Christie
By Susan · 16 posts · 18 views

last updated Sep 12, 2025 08:12PM

* Sept 25: The Mystery of the Blue Train (1928) - SPOILER Thread
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last updated Sep 16, 2025 12:58PM

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What Members Thought

Sep 15, 2023 Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-murder-crime-20th-century

Wow, Freeman doesn't use one sentence when ten will do! This novel well written, but I think this would have worked better pruned into a novella.

& the technical explanations just bored me.

https://wordpress.com/view/carolshess...

...more

38 likes · Like · see review

Apr 02, 2021 Shauna rated it really liked it

Shelves: golden-age-crime, 2021

The first in the absorbing and original Dr Thorndyke series. The author does a wonderful, if meticulous, job of showing how crimes were committed, by having Dr Thorndyke and his colleagues research and experiment in a lab. The series is set at the turn of the century and I have read a few others but now own the complete works, so look forward to reading them all.

19 likes · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2022 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Well, this was a pleasant surprise. I had not read any Dr. Thorndyke books before, R. Austin Freeman's long running series, from this, the first in the series - published in 1907, to the last, written in 1942, a year before his death. The author himself became a prolific author only being after invalided out of the Colonial Service, where he took jobs with Holloway Prison and worked as a G.P. before giving up medicine for writing and allowing Dr Thorndyke to put his medical knowledge to good use Well, this was a pleasant surprise. I had not read any Dr. Thorndyke books before, R. Austin Freeman's long running series, from this, the first in the series - published in 1907, to the last, written in 1942, a year before his death. The author himself became a prolific author only being after invalided out of the Colonial Service, where he took jobs with Holloway Prison and worked as a G.P. before giving up medicine for writing and allowing Dr Thorndyke to put his medical knowledge to good use and enable him to make a living as an author.

Like Holmes, Thorndyke has his 'Watson,' in this case Dr Jervis, who runs into him at the beginning of the book and, having no current job, is asked to assist his friend, a 'medical jurispractionioner' in the various cases he has on hand. That very evening, they are visited by Reuben Hornby, who works for his uncle, a previous metal dealer. His uncle had a package of diamonds taken from the safe and, left behind, is a piece of paper with his thumbprint on it - in blood...

Everyone, including poor Reuben's lawyer, seems to think this is damning in the extreme. Although now, we would think, well, why would you steal a packet of diamonds and leave behind your finger print, the use of fingerprinting was so new and exciting that people collected each other's prints for fun. Which, Reuben's aunt had done. Taking prints from Reuben, and his cousin, Walter. The case seems clear and his fate doomed, but Dr Thorndyke is willing to take the case and, of course, to work out who tried to frame this fine, upstanding young man. Along the way, Thorndyke finds his life is threatened and, in the best Golden Age tradition, there is even a beautiful, young woman for one of our characters to fall in love with.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I liked the early setting of this mystery - it was London complete with horse drawn carriages and fog, but still, very much London. Freeman's working in the prison system didn't seem to make him overly sympathetic to those within its walls, but overall this was good fun. Unfortunately, the actual criminal was very obvious and Freeman did not offer enough suspects - well, only one possible actually, so even I could work it out. However, it was a first mystery and a very enjoyable read so I will definitely be reading on. ...more

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Jul 17, 2022 Carolien rated it liked it

Shelves: 2022, english-mystery

The first in the Dr Thorndyke mysteries it introduces the doctor and his assistant Mr Jervis. A packet of valuable diamonds have been stolen and the only clue is a thumb mark made in blood left behind which points to the nephew of the holder of the diamonds. It is up to Dr Thorndyke and team to provide evidence to the contrary. It was pretty easy to spot the real culprit, but if you like the Sherlock Holmes stories, this will be a good read.

7 likes · Like · see review

Sep 26, 2017 Leslie rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle, mysteries

3.5*

While the 'who' in this case seemed quite obvious to me, the 'how' baffled me. I got the strong feeling that Freeman's mysteries will mostly focus on the method of the crime (which is okay with me!). ...more

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Jun 20, 2022 Jill rated it it was amazing

Really enjoyed this first book in the Dr Thorndyke series. We meet Thorndyke when he meets an old friend who trained with him when they were studying to become doctors. This Dr Jervis is down on his luck regarding a job, so Thorndyke invites him to dinner with a view to helping him out. After they have finished their meal, a young man calls and who is suspected as a thief from his Uncle, for whom he works. A consignment of uncut diamonds has been removed from the uncle's safe, and as this young ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 14, 2016 ShanDizzy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Great fun! I laughed out loud while reading the courtroom scene at Mrs. Hornby and Polton.

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Jul 04, 2022 Sandy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own, mystery-classic, mystery-detective-grp, z2022-own-24, z2022-ga-challenge, rread-2022

A very good take off on the Holmes / Watson team with this detective actually having human feelings. Lots of technical detail to be either absorbed or skimmed depending on your taste.

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