Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
Short stories featuring a country doctor in 1920's Massachusetts as detective. The writing is fluid and although not much character development occurs, the stories are satisfyingly mysterious, until Dr. Sam explains it all.
The stories and my ratings from * to **** --
Problem of the Covered Bridge - as Dr. Sam follows close behind, a man in a horse and buggy disappears from the snowy road ahead, his buggy tracks entering but not leaving a covered bridge just around a bend and out of sight. ****
Problem of the Old Gristmill - a man is killed and his valuable journals disappear from a locked and guarded strongbox during a train journey. ****
Problem of the Lobster Shack - an escape act by a Houdini wannabe goes wrong. ***
Problem of the Haunted Bandstand - a killing takes place in full sight of people at a July 4 celebration and then the killer disappears. ****
The Problem of the Locked Caboose - during an overnight train trip to fill in for a colleague, Dr. Sam is involved in a jewel theft and murder in the train's caboose. **
The Problem of the Little Red Schoolhouse - a boy seems to disappear from a swing with his teacher watching him. ***
The Problem of the Christmas Steeple - a man is found stabbed to death at the top of a locked belfry and the only other person there could not have killed him. ****
The Problem of Cell 16 - a notorious criminal escapes from a newly built jail. **
The Problem of the Country Inn - a masked robber runs down a corridor and disappears and the only exit is a door bolted on the inside. **
The Problem of the Voting Booth - a man is stabbed in a booth that is solid on three sides and the front is watched by many people. *
The Problem of the County Fair - when Dr. Sam suspects a murdered man is inside a newly buried time capsule, he has the capsule dug up and finds the corpse, even though lots of people saw the thing buried and Dr. Sam himself saw the inside just before it was lowered into the ground. **
The Problem of the Old Oak Tree - when a stunt man jumps from an airplane during the filming of a movie he lands in a large tree and is found to have a wire around his neck which strangled him. ***
The stories and my ratings from * to **** --
Problem of the Covered Bridge - as Dr. Sam follows close behind, a man in a horse and buggy disappears from the snowy road ahead, his buggy tracks entering but not leaving a covered bridge just around a bend and out of sight. ****
Problem of the Old Gristmill - a man is killed and his valuable journals disappear from a locked and guarded strongbox during a train journey. ****
Problem of the Lobster Shack - an escape act by a Houdini wannabe goes wrong. ***
Problem of the Haunted Bandstand - a killing takes place in full sight of people at a July 4 celebration and then the killer disappears. ****
The Problem of the Locked Caboose - during an overnight train trip to fill in for a colleague, Dr. Sam is involved in a jewel theft and murder in the train's caboose. **
The Problem of the Little Red Schoolhouse - a boy seems to disappear from a swing with his teacher watching him. ***
The Problem of the Christmas Steeple - a man is found stabbed to death at the top of a locked belfry and the only other person there could not have killed him. ****
The Problem of Cell 16 - a notorious criminal escapes from a newly built jail. **
The Problem of the Country Inn - a masked robber runs down a corridor and disappears and the only exit is a door bolted on the inside. **
The Problem of the Voting Booth - a man is stabbed in a booth that is solid on three sides and the front is watched by many people. *
The Problem of the County Fair - when Dr. Sam suspects a murdered man is inside a newly buried time capsule, he has the capsule dug up and finds the corpse, even though lots of people saw the thing buried and Dr. Sam himself saw the inside just before it was lowered into the ground. **
The Problem of the Old Oak Tree - when a stunt man jumps from an airplane during the filming of a movie he lands in a large tree and is found to have a wire around his neck which strangled him. ***
