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The Valley
by John Renehan*Named one of Wall Street Journal's Best Books of 2015*Selected as a Military Times's Best Book of the Year "You're going up the Valley." Black didn't know its name, but he knew it lay deeper and higher than any other place Americans had ventured. You had to travel through a network of interlinked valleys, past all the other remote American outposts, just to get to its mouth. Everything about the place was myth and rumor, but one fact was clear: There were many valleys in the mountains of Afghanistan, and most were hard places where people died hard deaths. But there was only one Valley. It was the farthest, and the hardest, and the worst. When Black, a deskbound admin officer, is sent up the Valley to investigate a warning shot fired by a near-forgotten platoon, he can only see it as the final bureaucratic insult in a short and unhappy Army career. What he doesn't know is that his investigation puts at risk the centuries-old arrangements that keep this violent land in fragile balance, and will launch a shattering personal odyssey of obsession and discovery as Black reckons with the platoon's dark secrets, accumulated over endless hours fighting and dying in defense of an indefensible piece of land. The Valley is a riveting tour de force that changes our understanding of the men who fight our wars and announces John Renehan as one of the great American storytellers of our time.From the Hardcover edition.
Top Secret
by John Reynolds GardinerDespite the disapproval of his parents and his formidable science teacher, nine-year-old Allen determines to do his science project on human photosynthesis.
Top Secret
by John Reynolds Gardiner Marc SimontFans of Jennifer Holm's The Fourteenth Goldfish will fall in love with this humorous story about one boy's school science project that goes terribly wrong. Perfect for STEM curricula. <P><P> Despite the disapproval of his parents and his formidable science teacher, nine-year-old Allen is determined to do his school science project on human photosynthesis--turning sunlight into food for humans. <P><P> Everyone laughs at his outrageous scheme until Allen turns green, sprouts roots, and develops an overwhelming desire to soak up the sun. He's turning into a plant and no one believes him--no one, that is, except the President of the United States. <P><P> Can Allen protect his top secret discovery and ace his science project without being a threat to national security? <P><P>*This textbook has been transcribed in UEB, formatted according to Braille textbook formats, proofread and corrected.
Blackthorn House (The Dr. Priestley Detective Stories #48)
by John RhodeA man&’s car is impounded as a stolen vehicle—but that&’s not the worst of it—in this classic British mystery starring a &“tartly logical professor&” (The New York Times). Kenneth Winslow&’s company has sold a car to his nephew, Noel Yewdale, who&’s supposed to transport the large, locked chest in it. But before he can get the job done, the police seize the car—saying they think it&’s stolen. When the cops confirm he won&’t get the car back, he&’s out of luck—but at least they&’re willing to help him carry the heavy chest out of the garage where the vehicle has been stored. Unfortunately, Yewdale has an even bigger problem when they pry the chest open to find out why it smells so bad—his uncle&’s body is stuffed inside. Superintendent Waghorn will do his best to solve the crime, but he may need some help from Dr. Lancelot Priestley to put the puzzle pieces together . . .
Body Unidentified
by John RhodeBody Unidentified, first published in 1938 (and published in the UK under the title Proceed with Caution), is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961.From the dustjacket: Mr. Wedgwood was puzzled. It was odd, he thought, as he looked from his bedroom window, that someone should leave a large closed car in the middle of his front yard, but what confused him even more was the shimmering brilliance it seemed to assume as the sun rose higher. Suddenly the unpleasant truth burst upon him with a shock. It was not a car at all. It was a hearse! Jimmy Waghorn first followed the grisly trail from the abandoned hearse to the “thing” in the tar boiler, and as luck would have it, on that same day Inspector Hanslet finally stumbled on a really substantial clue to the Patton jewel robbery. But only after Dr. Priestley made his seemingly enigmatic suggestion did it occur to either one that the two crimes could possibly be related. Author John Rhode with his usual ingenuity and scrupulous care has worked two apparently diverse crimes into a fascinating pattern of mystery and intrigue.
Death Sits on the Board
by John RhodeDeath Sits on the Board, first published in 1937 (and published in the UK as Death on the Board) is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. In Death Sits on the Board, the story involves the mysterious deaths of five members of the board of directors for Porslin, Ltd., which deals in “iron-mongery (hardware) of every description.” Dr. Priestley is called in to investigate, and after a series of clever deductions and discovering a number of clues, he unearths the secret behind the deaths.
Death Takes a Partner
by John RhodeDeath Takes a Partner, first published in 1958, is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: No two men could have been more opposite in every way than Wilfred and Clarence Cheriton. Wilfred, forever immersed in some engineering experiment, had little use for people and business activities, whereas Clarence was a sociable man with a gift for selling the products of the Cheriton Engineering Works, of which he and his cousins were partners. If only the two cousins could have made allowances for their differences, it was a partnership which should have worked well. But they couldn't, and the sudden death of Wilfred led Inspector James Waghorn of New Scotland Yard to make some very searching inquiries into the affairs of the Cheriton family. Once again, 'Jimmy' Waghorn is helped in his investigations by the enigmatic advice of Dr. Priestley, while Sergeant King's encyclopedic knowledge of the underworld plays its part in the solving of a particularly ingenious crime.
Death in Harley Street (The Dr. Priestley Detective Stories #43)
by John RhodeAn &“extremely clever&” mystery about a doctor who appears to have fatally injected himself and a dinner party devoted to detection (The Saturday Review). Dr. Richard Mawsley was a happy man and a careful man. So how and why did the Harley Street specialist inject himself with strychnine while in his locked office? There&’s no hint that anyone else was at the scene, and the guests at Dr. Lancelot Priestley&’s weekly dinner party, including two from Scotland Yard, are determined to figure out what happened. Did he suddenly become despondent, or pick up the wrong bottle? This band of crime-solvers is puzzled indeed, and Priestley is left to wonder if there&’s another possibility beyond accident, murder, or suicide . . . &“A scientist who turns to crime puzzles for recreation . . . The more difficult they are, the better he likes them.&” —The New York Times
Death of a Bridegroom
by John RhodeDeath of a Bridegroom, first published in 1957, is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. In Death of a Bridegroom, Inspector Jimmy Waghorn investigates the death of a man found hanging in his workshop on the morning of his wedding day. Initially, the death is believed a suicide, but doubts begin to arise and Dr. Priestley is brought in to assist the police in solving the murder mystery.
Death on the Boat Train
by John RhodeDeath on the Boat Train, first published in 1940, is book no. 32 in the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley and Scotland Yard's Superintendent Hanslet and Inspector Jimmy Waghorn. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: Fair blew the wind from France, and the Channel steamer Isle of Jethou rolled a bit in the stiff southwesterly breeze. But the rough crossing didn’t upset the mysterious passenger who had locked himself into his cabin as soon as he boarded the boat at Guernsey. The same desire for seclusion had manifested itself on the boat-train to Waterloo, for the guard had been presented with a pound-note to reserve a compartment for Mr. Mystery. But did he travel alone? For at Waterloo the gentleman from Guernsey was a pretty genuine corpse. Death on the Boat-Train is a first-rate detective story, once again featuring the coldly clever scientific mind of Dr. Priestley, John Rhode’s brilliant creation.
Dr. Priestley Lays a Trap
by John RhodeDr. Priestley Lays a Trap, first published in 1933 (and also known by the title The Motor Rally Mystery), is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961.From the dustjacket: The death of Lessingham and his companion, Purvis, was, indeed, a tragic affair; but an automobile accident, especially one occurring in a race, rarely arouses suspicion. Sergeant Showerby, however, was a conscientious soul. His duty was to investigate thoroughly and investigate he did, with results that were suspicious enough to arouse Inspector Hanslet of Scotland Yard and, through him, the great criminologist, Dr. Priestley.At first, there is so little evidence that one cannot understand Dr. Priestley's interest in the case. Then, one by one, clues appear—not the ordinary clues which fall fortuitously in a detective's lap, but clues that are found because the Doctor, by his famous process of logical deduction, knows where to look for them. Gradually a pattern forms so diabolical in its simplicity and effectiveness that Dr. Priestley is forced to set a dramatic trap which very nearly ends the lives of both detective and criminal.For sheer ingenuity of detective story mechanics, John Rhode has few equals and none of his many stories present a neater puzzle than this one, which will perplex all but the keenest detective fan.
Dr. Priestley's Quest (Lythway Classics Of Crime And Detection Ser.)
by John RhodeDr. Priestley's Quest, first published in 1926, is the second book in the Dr. Priestley detective story series. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: “Perhaps the greatest achievement of Dr. Priestley's career as a criminologist was his masterly solution of the strange mystery which is related in this volume. The curious problem presented by the case of the Heatherdale brothers was well-suited for the exercise of his peculiar powers of logical reasoning. From the first dramatic disclosure of Mr. Gerald Heatherdale, the narrative proceeds by a series of startling events to a conclusion which few reader will be able to foretell.”
Experiment in Crime
by John RhodeExperiment in Crime first published in 1947 (published in the U.K. as Nothing but the Truth), is book no. 44 in the Dr. Priestley detective story series. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. In Experiment in Crime, Henry Watlington discovers Ellers, his chauffeur, apparently drunk and unable to drive him home after dining with his attorney. The next morning, Ellers awakes along side a road, with no memory of the previous evening, and Watlington has disappeared. However, a body is soon found inside of a locked Automobile Association box by the side of the road.
In Face of the Verdict
by John RhodeIn Face of the Verdict, first published in 1936, is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. In Face of the Verdict, Dr. Priestley is called to the harbor town of Blacksand to find the killer of two brothers, both of whom died by drowning.
Licensed for Murder
by John RhodeLicensed for Murder, first published in 1958, is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. Licensed for Murder concerns the new managers of an English country inn, who, during the inn's renovation, discover the grisly, burned remains of a man behind corrugated sheeting in the inn's main fireplace. With the man's identity impossible to determine, Superintendent Jimmy Waghorn calls on the now elderly Dr. Priestley for much needed assistance in solving this gruesome case of murder.Noted American mystery critic Anthony Boucher praised Licensed for Murder, writing in the New York Times that the "detection is competent; the murders have novelty and ingenuity to recommend them; and the background details on the management of a village inn are fascinating. Slow and heavy, but kind of nice."
Muder at the Motor Show
by John RhodeMurder at the Motor Show first published in 1935 (published in the U.K. as Mystery at Olympia), is book no. 21 in the Dr. Priestley detective story series. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: A dense crowd surrounded the new Comet car that was fully expected to be the sensation of the great Motor Show at Olympia. Suddenly one of the eager spectators, an elderly man, lurched forward and collapsed in what appeared to be a dead faint on the ground. But Nigel Pershore was dead, and it was his death that provided the real sensation of the show. A post-mortem examination revealed no visible wound, no serious organic disorder, no evidence of poison. Doctors and detectives were equally baffled. Every chapter unfolds a new aspect of an apparently insoluble puzzle. Then a fortunate discovery opens the way for Dr. Priestley's unrivaled deductions and a solution of the mystery that brings to a close a brilliant story.
Murder at Derivale
by John RhodeMurder at Derivale, first published in 1958, is book no. 66 in the Dr. Priestley detective story series. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. Murder at Derivale one of the final books in the Priestley series, has Inspector Jimmy Waghorn (assisted by the now elderly Dr. Priestley) investigating the death by poisoning of a man found dead in a truck parked in his neighbor's yard. Diamond smuggling and realistic police procedures are also featured.
Peril at Cranbury Hall (The Dr. Priestley Detective Stories #9)
by John RhodeA shady operator is targeted for death and needs help from a professor with an &“uncanny ability to ferret out the truth&” (The New York Times). An expert in alternative medicine is creating a clinic in Cranbury Hall that promises to cure fatigue, and Arnold Gilroy is happy to invest in this promising moneymaking venture. Unfortunately, his brother Oliver has just finished a stint in prison for fraud—and has weaseled his way into running Cranbury Hall while pursuing some nefarious business on the side. Before long, he&’s been grazed by a bullet—and Dr. Lancelot Priestley will have to step in before the killer strikes again, with more success this time, in this Golden Age British mystery.
The Case of the Forty Thieves
by John RhodeThe Case of the Forty Thieves, first published in 1953 (and also published under the title Death at the Inn), is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: It was the veteran sleuth Dr. Priestley who first suspected that an outbreak of scattered robberies throughout a wide radius around London was the work of a single crime syndicate. Inspector Jimmy Waghorn of Scotland Yard investigated each case separately - the missing Persian rug, the stolen mail bag, the two-gallon drum of narcotic poison and other robberies. Here are half a dozen mysteries combined into one master plot, a story packed with action, suspense and some unusually shrewd police work by two of Scotland Yard's top operators - the indefatigable Jimmy Waghorn and the veteran crime analyst Dr. Priestley.
The Fatal Garden
by John RhodeThe Fatal Garden, first published in 1949, is book no. 49 in the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley and Scotland Yard's Superintendent Waghorn. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. From the dustjacket: “Yes, the initial murder in this book was certainly committed on a path in a garden; but it is possible that the ingenious author chose this title to suggest his manner of dealing with his readers. For, though always perfectly fair and with a soul above such things as “red herrings,” he can usually be found to have some little surprises up his sleeve. Such, for instance, in this book is the mystery of the Bedford Row solicitor. . .”
The Fatal Pool
by John RhodeThe Fatal Pool, first published in 1960, is book no. 71 in the Dr. Priestley detective story series. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961. In The Fatal Pool, the family and friends of Colonel Gayton have gathered together at Framby Hall, and while most of the guests are at breakfast, Yvonne Bardwell is found drowned but with bruises on her shoulders indicating that she was held under the water. The mystery centers around the fact that as nearly the entire household was eating breakfast together, how could one of them have slipped away and murdered Yvonne?
The Harvest Murder
by John RhodeThe Harvest Murder, first published in 1937 (and also published under the title Death in the Hop Fields) is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode , a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961.From the dustjacket: Sergeant Wragge happened to see it there, lying by the side of the road, and decided to take care of it himself. After all, a twelve-inch butcher knife is nothing to be left loose on a public highway. When he noticed those curious stains on the blade, his suspicions were more than aroused and he felt that he must be ready for trouble. The Sergeant's forebodings were swiftly corroborated by the events that followed—robbery, a mysterious disappearance, perhaps murder; so he felt that he was justified in demanding the aid of Scotland Yard. The careful investigations of Inspector Hanslet and Jimmy Waghorn soon had them on the right track; but it was Dr. Priestley's quiet, seemingly enigmatic suggestion that finally unearthed the solution.
The Mysterious Suspect
by John RhodeThe Mysterious Suspect, first published in 1953 (and also known by the title By Registered Post), is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961.In The Mysterious Suspect, wealthy industrialist Peter Horningtoft is found dead in his study after apparently drinking poison from a bottle sent to him as a rheumatism treatment. Jimmy Waghorn is called in and blunders through the case initially until assisted by Dr Priestley. A second murder, disguised as a suicide, re-ignites the investigation.
The Robthorne Mystery
by John RhodeThe Robthorne Mystery, first published in 1934, is part of the series of mysteries featuring private detective Dr. Priestley. Author John Rhode, a pen name of Cecil Street (1884-1964), was a prolific writer of mostly detective novels, publishing more than 140 books between 1924 and 1961.When one of the Robthorne twins commits suicide, there is a question over which one it is and whether it was, in fact, suicide or murder. From the dustjacket: Dr. Priestley, well-known crime investigator, is called in to solve the mysterious death of Mr. Robthorne, who has been found shot in the greenhouse of his country estate. A chain of damning evidence that Dr. Priestley pieces so successfully together forms one of the finest examples of crime detection that Mr. John Rhode has yet produced.
The Venner Crime (The Dr. Priestley Detective Stories #16)
by John RhodeThe &“astute and sharp-spoken&” crime-solving professor must find out if a missing man got away with murder (The New York Times). After some initial suspicion, the death of Ernest Venner&’s wealthy uncle was attributed to natural causes—a simple infection. But Dr. Lancelot Priestley and his crime-solving companions find it intriguing, to say the least, that as soon as Venner collected his much-needed inheritance, he vanished into the wind. Digging into the disappearance, though, will lead Priestley to some dangerous places, in this suspenseful Golden Age mystery featuring the scientifically minded sleuth . . .