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Reeder, J. G. (Fictitious character) -- Fiction Books
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Edgar Wallace
Red aces : $b Being three cases of Mr. Reeder
"Red aces: Being three cases of Mr. Reeder" by Edgar Wallace is a collection of detective stories written in the early 20th century. It follows the mild, methodical investigator J.G. Reeder as he untangles coolly executed crimes rooted in money, fraud, and murder around London. The first case pivots on a reclusive man’s death, cryptic playing-card clues, and the fraught ties among bank clerk Kenneth McKay, the enigmatic Margot Lynn, and polished clubman Rufus Machfield. The opening of the book sets a snowy, ominous scene: Kenneth, desperately in love with Margot, grows suspicious after seeing her with an older man and then receives her abrupt farewell. That night a lawyer and a mounted policeman find the battered body of a recluse, Wentford, on a country lane; Reeder arrives, traces the trail to Wentford’s fortified cottage, discovers two aces pinned to the door, evidence of a violent struggle and burnt diaries, and finds Margot inside, terrified and claiming secretarial ties to the dead man. While the policeman later turns up shot dead, Reeder and Inspector Gaylor lie in wait at the cottage and flush an intruder who escapes through a window. The investigation widens to the bank: £600 withdrawn from Wentford’s account by a veiled “lady” is traced via banknotes to Kenneth, who admits only that he jealously followed Margot to the house; Reeder also uncovers French banknotes in a safe and a memo linking the victim to Kenneth’s father, George McKay. Parallel threads reveal Machfield’s discreet gambling rooms and his associate Ena Burslem, whom Reeder pointedly identifies. The section closes with Margot, under Reeder’s quiet pressure, conceding that Kenneth entered the house shortly after she arrived and with Reeder insisting she keep the keys to a safe-deposit box her uncle had entrusted to her.
Edgar Wallace
Room 13
"Room 13" by Edgar Wallace is a novel written in the early 20th century. It appears to be a fast-paced crime thriller centered on an ex-convict, a reformed mastermind, and a revenge plot that tangles forged banknotes with a ruthless marriage scheme. The story’s key figures include Johnny Gray (recently released from Dartmoor), the devoted father Peter Kane, his daughter Marney, and the vindictive Emanuel Legge with his elusive son Jeff, the “Big Printer.” Expect shifting loyalties, blackmail, and a deadly cat-and-mouse across England’s prisons, suburbs, and hotels. The opening of the story follows Johnny Gray in Dartmoor, where prison gossip points to the notorious counterfeiter Jeff Legge. After Johnny receives word that Marney will marry “Major Floyd,” he is abruptly released and hurries to Peter Kane’s home, only to discover at the wedding that the groom is actually Jeff in disguise. Keeping calm to protect Peter, Johnny extracts information from Lila, a maid secretly working for the Legges, and confronts Emanuel on a train, where the old man tries to murder him by pushing him into a tunnel; Johnny survives and returns to London. Meanwhile, at their hotel, Jeff reveals his identity and vengeful purpose to Marney, who locks herself away as Jeff and Emanuel plot to regain control, with Lila’s sudden arrival hinting at fresh complications.
Edgar Wallace
Terror keep
"Terror Keep" by Edgar Wallace is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around the enigmatic criminal John Flack, his escape from a criminal asylum, and the various characters who are drawn into his orbit, most notably the detective J. G. Reeder and Margaret Belman, a young woman seeking a new life in the countryside. The book blends elements of crime, suspense, and mystery, focusing on Flack's masterful criminal mind and the peril it poses to those connected to him. The opening of "Terror Keep" introduces John Flack as a notorious, cunning criminal confined to Broadmoor Criminal Asylum, where he spends his time writing encyclopedic volumes on crime. After Flack's escape—marked by violence and the promise of revenge—the narrative shifts to Margaret Belman, who takes a secretarial job at the remote and peculiar Larmes Keep. The atmosphere is thick with unease: Margaret contends with unwanted attention from the sinister George Ravini, mysterious occurrences around the boarding house, and the brooding presence of Flack in the background. Detective J. G. Reeder, both protective and eccentric, fears for Margaret's safety as Flack's gang regathers and old vendettas resurface. These opening chapters establish a complex web of characters, hinting at danger, intrigue, and the shadow of Flack's impending criminal plot.
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