Books with author Joseph Smith Fletcher

When an old seaman named James Gilverthwaite shows up in the sleepy town of Berwick looking for long-term lodging, it seems innocent enough. But within days, it becomes clear that Gilverthwaite is looking for something. Soon, a young clerk whom the sailor has asked for assistance is drawn into the mystery -- and what first appeared to be an old man's harmless lark results in murder.

Spargo lived in Bloomsbury, on the west side of Russell Square. Every night and every morning he walked to and from the Watchman office by the same route—Southampton Row, Kingsway, the Strand, Fleet Street. He came to know several faces, especially amongst the police; he formed the habit of exchanging greetings with various officers whom he encountered at regular points as he went slowly homewards, smoking his pipe. And on this morning, as he drew near to Middle Temple Lane, he saw a policeman whom he knew, one Driscoll, standing at the entrance, looking about him. Further away another policeman appeared, sauntering. Driscoll raised an arm and signalled; then, turning, he saw Spargo. He moved a step or two towards him. Spargo saw news in his face."What is it?" asked Spargo.Driscoll jerked a thumb over his shoulder, towards the partly open door of the lane. Within, Spargo saw a man hastily donning a waistcoat and jacket."He says," answered Driscoll, "him, there—the porter—that there's a man lying in one of them entries down the lane, and he thinks he's dead. Likewise, he thinks he's murdered."- Taken from "The Middle Temple Murder" written by J. S. (Joseph Smith) Fletcher

When the great actor, Bassett Oliver, who was a martinet for punctuality, failed to turn up to a rehearsal which he himself had called, his business manager guessed that something had happened. It had. But it took more than one set of brains to discover the truth, and another set of very curious circumstances was mixed up in it. Copplestone, the young dramatist, helping to solve the mystery, found himself suddenly in love; and the solution and his happiness were discovered together.

By Fantasyman on January 19, 2013Format: Kindle Edition Verified PurchaseI rate this one five stars. Mostly on the craft displayed by the author in writing this story. Some of Fletcher's novels have that boiler plate feel to them, quickly hacked together and then off to the publisher. He was a very inventive story teller with a talent for paring the plot down to bite size tidbits easily digested by the reader. As I have stated, this was one of his more carefully crafted efforts. The plot is excellent and moves along at a steady pace, with well developed characters, and a surprise ending that makes sense, along with wrapping up the story. What intrigues me most about this story is how Fletcher uses the omniscient view to portray events in an active and incisive manner, following one character after another while revealing details both about the characters as well as clues to the mystery itself, yet never wandering off track. None of Fletcher's novels are ever likely to make it into the pantheon of great mystery fiction, as Fletcher never relies on a larger than life detective character to unravel the mystery with a flash of intuitive brilliance. He always builds the mystery with clues that are out there for the reader to see and to relate to. I've read several of his novels to date, and I can state that in not one of them is the reader left in the dark about clues or events that solve the mystery, nor are events that eventually prove to be important glossed over or trivialized in the course of the story to reduce their import in the mind of the reader, only to be suddenly brought back at the end by some superior intellect to solve the mystery. With Fletcher you always know what's what.Take the time to read this one, you won't be disappointed.Here are some other novels by Fletcher that I recommend:The Middle Temple MurderThe Chestermarke InstinctDead Men's MoneyThe Burrough Treasurer

When the great actor, Bassett Oliver, who was a martinet for punctuality, failed to turn up to a rehearsal which he himself had called, his business manager guessed that something had happened. It had. But it took more than one set of brains to discover the truth, and another set of very curious circumstances was mixed up in it. Copplestone, the young dramatist, helping to solve the mystery, found himself suddenly in love; and the solution and his happiness were discovered together.

When an old seaman named James Gilverthwaite shows up in the sleepy town of Berwick looking for long-term lodging, it seems innocent enough. But within days, it becomes clear that Gilverthwaite is looking for something. Soon, a young clerk whom the sailor has asked for assistance is drawn into the mystery -- and what first appeared to be an old man's harmless lark results in murder.

An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi Wherefore, it is an abridgment of the record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites—Written to the Lamanites, who are a remnant of the house of Israel; and also to Jew and Gentile—Written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy and of revelation—Written and sealed up, and hid up unto the Lord, that they might not be destroyed—To come forth by the gift and power of God unto the interpretation thereof—Sealed by the hand of Moroni, and hid up unto the Lord, to come forth in due time by way of the Gentile—The interpretation thereof by the gift of God. An abridgment taken from the Book of Ether also, which is a record of the people of Jared, who were scattered at the time the Lord confounded the language of the people, when they were building a tower to get to heaven—Which is to show unto the remnant of the house of Israel what great things the Lord hath done for their fathers; and that they may know the covenants of the Lord, that they are not cast off forever—And also to the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations—And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ. TRANSLATED BY JOSEPH SMITH, Jun.

The Book of Mormon is a translation of golden tablets given to Joseph Smith who wrote of their account of a plan for salvation and what men must do to gain peace in this life and eternal redemption in the life to come. Smith received these golden plates from Mormon's son Moroni who was dead but considered glorified and resurrected on September 21, 1823. Smith said he was instructed by God to provide the rendering of these documents into the English language. This New Bible speaks of Jesus' appearance in America after His resurrection. He spoke to the Indians and taught them about salvation and propitiation and their future worshipping God.

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