Extremely fun read! The end was a bit abrupt, though... ( )

This was a Dover edition from 1980 of an unabridged book first published about 1918. As a mystery it holds up pretty well and reminded me of some of the ones from the '20s and '30s. Frank Spargo, who works for a London newspaper, is nearby when a body is discovered in Middle Temple Lane and decides to follow the story and do some investigating of his own. By sharing information with the policeman assigned to the case the two of them do solve a very puzzling case. I thought it was pretty good and the solution was fair if a bit unexpected.

1912 and an investigation is started into the body found in Middle Temple, deemed to be a Mr John Marbury, recently arrived from Australia. D.S. Rathbury investigates with the help of Frank Spargo, sub-editor of the newspaper The Watchman.
An enjoyable and interesting mystery ( )

A newspaper reporter uncovers the murderer of a rich man who has returned to England from Australia. ( )

To me, this is interesting for its London legal setting --an area where I used to do research (when the Public Record Office was still on Chancery Lane) and like a precursor of other legal mysteries such as MIchael Gilbert's Smalbone Deceased or the works of Cyril Hare. ( )