Episodes

  • The Necklace of Pearls by Dorothy L Sayers
    Dec 21 2024
    "Tinsel, trinkets, and... treachery? At Sir Septimus Shale's grand country house, where Christmas cheer blankets every nook and cranny, a string of precious pearls has vanished faster than a mince pie in a hungry caroler's mouth. Lord Peter Wimsey, our intrepid sleuth, finds himself knee-deep in Yuletide shenanigans and upper-crust eccentricities. As carols echo through holly-decked halls and the aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air, Wimsey must sort through a cast of characters more colorful than a box of Christmas crackers. Is the culprit lurking behind the Christmas tree, or hiding in plain sight among the festive finery? With wit as sharp as icicles and charm as warm as mulled wine, Wimsey races to solve the mystery before the last log on the fire turns to ash. Grab a cozy blanket and a steaming cup of cocoa – this Christmas puzzle is more delightful than finding an extra gift in your stocking!" ⭐ Join my Patreon ⭐ https://patreon.com/barcud Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out. You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month. Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible? Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work https://buymeacoffee.com/10mn8sk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding by Agatha Christie
    Dec 14 2024
    What sinister secret lies in the Christmas pudding? The perfect setting for an old-fashioned English Christmas - a cosy manor, falling snow, and family gathered round - gets an unexpected guest: Hercule Poirot himself! When a foreboding note appears on the famous detective's pillow, he knows the idyllic festive traditions conceal a mystery more twisted than ribbons on parcels. As joyful carols fill the air, goings on go on behind closed doors. Then a body is discovered! (Though things are not what they seem) And Poirot turns a deception deftly to his advantage. Can Poirot navigate the web of secrets and uphold justice amid the joyful festivities? Enjoy Agatha Christie's witty characterisations as her beloved detective celebrates an unforgettable Christmas in the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 46 mins
  • Murder at Pentecost by Dorothy L Sayers
    Dec 7 2024
    Whose hand strikes the fatal blow? Within the ancient walls of Pentecost College a murder shatters the scholarly peace. Montague Egg, a sharp-eyed wine salesman, steps into a web of whispered secrets and hidden motives. Confusion looms large as confessions echo through the halls, and lies mask truths yet to be uncovered. Join us as we navigate a world where appearances deceive and academic knowledge conceal as much as it reveals. Listen closely and perhaps you can work out who the murderer is before Egg does! ⭐ Join my Patreon ⭐ https://patreon.com/barcud Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out. You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month. Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible? Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work https://buymeacoffee.com/10mn8sk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • The Oxford Way of Death by Robert Barnard
    Nov 30 2024
    Would you kill for a glass of port? Join us in The Oxford Way of Death, where the hallowed halls of St. Pothinus’s are alive with more than just dusty books. The Fellows, entangled in their routines and rituals, find their complacency disrupted with hilariously dark consequences. As new ideas ripple through, academic eccentricities give way to unexpected chaos—and even a touch of murder. Robert Barnard delivers a captivating comedic tale where mysterious mishaps meet sharp humor, turning scholarly life into a brilliant farce. Listen in for a story where wit, whimsy, and a hint of deadly intrigue redefine the academic experience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • A Dangerous Thing by H R F Keating
    Nov 23 2024
    In the hushed halls of the British Library Reading Room, a sanctuary of knowledge hides a chilling secret. When an elderly professor is found murdered amidst at his desk, the scholarly calm of the Reading Room is shattered. Enter Mrs. Craggs, a humble charwoman with a sharp eye and a knack for uncovering truths others overlook. Overlooked herself by a world of scholars and "whizzers," she carries a quiet determination that surprises everyone—even herself. When Mrs. Craggs stumbles upon the crime, she finds herself drawn into a labyrinth of smooth-talking ambition and deceit. With the authorities sceptical and the suspect eager to cast blame elsewhere, can the stakes grow higher? Can Mrs. Craggs, armed with little more than her mp and her working-class common sense, expose the murderer before the wrong person is condemned? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • The Killing of Michael Finnegan
    Nov 16 2024
    Is patriotism worth the cost? In the volatile landscape of 1980s Britain, this question haunts every counter-terrorism operative. Michael Gilbert's "The Killing of Michael Finnegan" draws you into a high-stakes game where loyalty is fleeting and deception is currency. As seasoned agents Calder and Behrens race to thwart an IRA plot, they navigate a maze of half-truths and double-crosses. With each revelation, the line between ally and enemy blurs further. Gilbert's razor-sharp prose and intricate plotting keep you guessing until the final moment. The clock is ticking, lives hang in the balance, and no one is above suspicion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr
  • Hunted Down by Charles Dickens
    Nov 9 2024
    Can perfect manners mask a murderer? In Victorian London, Charles Dickens crafted a tale of calculated evil lurking behind a respectable smile. A gentleman whose perfectly groomed appearance and cultured conversation conceal something far more sinister. In the gaslit streets and elegant drawing rooms, a deadly game unfolds. Someone watches from the shadows - but nothing is quite what it seems. Dickens knew the dark corners of London, walked with real detectives, studied the faces of criminals. In "Hunted Down," he reveals what he learned about evil wearing a gentleman's mask. Join me for Dickens's only pure detective story, where appearances can be fatally deceptive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • A Trap to Catch a Cracksman by E. W. Hornung
    Nov 2 2024
    In the glittering world of Edwardian London, where wealth flaunts itself shamelessly, a brash American boxer throws down an irresistible gauntlet. Barney Maguire, flush with prize money and sporting gaudy trophies, boasts of an unbeatable trap for thieves in his opulent Half-moon Street residence. Enter A.J. Raffles, gentleman thief extraordinaire, whose code of honor is matched only by his appetite for challenge. When Maguire's ostentatious display of riches collides with Raffles' unquenchable thirst for adventure, the stage is set for a battle of wits that will test the limits of cunning and audacity. ⭐ Join my Patreon ⭐ https://patreon.com/barcud Go here for a library of ad-free stories, a monthly members only story and early access to the regular stories I put out. You can choose to have ghost stories only, or detective stories or classic literature, or all of them for either $5 or $10 a month. Many hundreds of hours of stories. Who needs Audible? Or, if you'd just like to make a one-off gesture of thanks for my work https://buymeacoffee.com/10mn8sk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    56 mins