The Riddle of the Frozen Flame

by Mary E. Hanshew

"The Riddle of the Frozen Flame" by Mary E. and Thomas W. Hanshew is a mystery novel written in the late 1920s. The story revolves around Mr. Maverick Narkom, the superintendent of Scotland Yard, and his brilliant associate, Cleek, who are drawn into a series of perplexing bank robberies that have left the police puzzled. As the narrative unfolds, the investigation intersects with the mysterious disappearance of Sir Nigel Merriton’s uncle and supernatural occurrences surrounding the eerie "Frozen Flames" that glow in the inky depths of the Fens. At the start of the book, Mr. Narkom urgently seeks Cleek's insight into a troubling crime wave involving a string of bank heists where only gold is stolen, leaving no clues behind. As they delve deeper, the introduction of Sir Nigel Merriton, who is depicted as a man haunted by the legacy of his uncle’s mysterious vanishing five years prior, sets the stage for a thrilling narrative. The intrigue intensifies with reports of strange flames flickering in the marshes, rumored to be tied to sinister events. Merriton, defying warnings, becomes fascinated by these flames, foreshadowing an encounter that promises to entwine his fate with the supernatural happenings and unresolved mysteries lurking within Merriton Towers.