This collection reprints eight of Freeman's best Dr. Thorndyke stories, "The Case of Oscar Brodski," "A Case of Premeditation" and "The Echo of a Mutiny" are among the outstanding examples of a form which Freeman created, the inverted detective story. In these stories the reader is presented with the complete "perfect" murder from beginning to end. The real heart and thrill of the story, however, begins when Dr. Thorndyke enters the case and from a few, almost minute, clues begins to spin a convincing web of evidence. "The Mandarin's Pearl," "The Blue Sequin," "The Moabite Cipher" and "The Aluminum Dagger" are stories of scientific detection. Every device used in these stories was previously tested by the author through microscope and chemical analysis, through inventive reconstruction of murder weapons, etc. They emerge as some of the most remarkable wit-testers ever written. As a special feature of this collection, "31 New Inn," the story that established the character of Dr. Thorndyke, is reprinted for the first time since its original publication.