I have read a number of Wilkie's books and basically have been disappointed. I was about ready to quit on this one when it got good. In this book, his usual sappy, predictable main plot is happily derailed by the telling of a number of short stories, somewhat in the spirit of the 1001 Arabian Nights. Although some of the stories are better than others, they are mostly worth the effort.

A great collection of quirky short stories, as good as or better than Chesterton's Father Brown ones. They don't write them like this any more.

If you like old fashioned mysteries, it doesn't get much better than Sayers. I can't wait for more!

Fascinating book! The complete story of the Dr. Parkman/Prof. Webster murder, with details I never read anywhere else. Also, H. Holmes, the nineteenth century serial killer who operated a house of horrors in Chicago. He didn't confine his nefarious deeds to that city, by any means, and he was a con artist in addition to a killer. Many more murderers I'd never heard of.

Highly recommended to anyone who enjoys true crime books.