Dr. Thorndyke is not a Sherlock Holmes imitator. He does not reach his conclusions by pure deductive reasoning, but used science (the science of his day) to prove his theses. He is also much more likeable than Holmes, and cares for people much more than Holmes does. I've been a Holmes fan for many decades, but when I discovered John Thorndyke, I found a logical and scientific detective more to my liking.

Really, really good story. I'll have to see if there are any more "Little 'Un and Big 'Un" stories.

Dr. Thorndyke is one of the great detectives of all time, right up there with Sherlock Holmes. For those who are fans of forensics and the scientific method in solving crimes, he is unsurpassed. And Freeman is also adept in making his characters likeable and his stories interesting. I have all the Freeman books in e-format, and I'd like to see the entire collection digitized. Highly recommended for readers who like their mysteries realistic and interesting instead of sensational.