The Red Thumb Mark (1907). By: R. Austin Freeman: Book 1 in the medico-legal detective Dr. Thorndyke's mystery series. Reuben Hornby is accused of st

At one point in my life I worked 'troubleshoting', solving problems that often were descrbied as 'unresolvable' - usually because people believed that when you eliminated the impossible you ended up with the necessary. But I was struck how easy it is to 'hypnotise' oneself into mistakes as to what is 'impossible'. The liklihood of error from mistakenly acceepting false equivalences seemed to me the root of almost all the problems that stumped or misled the really talented, often brilliant, and skilled people I helped. This is the first book I have read that made me feel the author had 'been' there or at least caught 'how it was' to be at the heart of solving such puzzles. I really feel the French expression, chapeau, is merited - in spades. I also found this book first published almost a century ago astonishingly undated in how it felt to me.

The Red Thumb Mark is the novel that introduces to the world one of the greatest "scientific" detectives in all literature: Dr. John Thorndyke. It is rightly regarded as one of the all-time classics in mystery fiction. Raymond Chandler, for example, who typically hated British detective fiction for its consistent implausibilities, found Austin Freeman's work and The Red Thumb Mark highly entertaining and readable. The novel concerns Thorndyke's attempts to clear the name of a young man accused of stealing diamonds from a safe. A thumb mark (finger print) near the scene of the crime is the only evidence against the young man, but it is decidedly damning. Add a little romance, a sinister villian lurking in the background, and you have the ingredients that make up this story.I found the work to be wonderfully exciting. Watching Thorndyke break down the evidence against the young man is a fascinating expereince. Though a person could argue that too much detail is given to the "science" aspect, you have to understand that these scenes are the backbone of this type of detective story.In a day and age of corporate villiany, brutal crime bosses and hideous serial killers, The Red Thumb Mark might seem to some readers as painfully old-fashioned. Freeman's writing is similar (and often compared with) Conan Doyle, and there's little doubt that Freeman found inspiration from the Holmes canon. However, the novel's old-fashioned flavor is the very reason to recommend it. It's fun to walk the streets of Edwardian England, to see the sights, to hear the gentlemanly discussions, to share the thought processes of one of the great detective minds. This is the real magic of the novel.Sadly, most of Freeman's work has long, long been out of print. I would recommend hunting among the used book stores for his other great mysteries, especially The Silent Partner, The Eye of Osiris, and my all-time favorite Mr. Pottermack's Oversight. These great novels are as highly recommended as The Red Thumb Mark. Someday, I hope the world rediscovers this highly talented writer and that he is placed along side with the other great names where he belongs.

Freeman's Dr. Thorndyke is frequently compared to Sherlock Holmes, and I like to think the two characters would appreciate each other. I personally have a slight preference for Thorndyke because he has more conscious respect for logic and the scientific method and is a warmer person.In this tale, Dr. Thorndyke, who is primarily employed as a medical expert witness, is asked to mount the defense for a young man accused of the theft of diamonds from his uncle's safe. The evidence against Mr. Reuben Hornby--his bloody thumbprint inside the safe--is so compelling that even his own solicitor is convinced of his guilt. Thorndyke, however, is equally confident that the thumbprint is a forgery and, with the assistance of Dr. Jervis and Thorndyke's resourceful servant Polton, sets out to prove it. He makes quick progress, too, because he soon finds himself the target of several cleverly engineered assassination attempts.While I was quite certain early in the book as to who was responsible for the theft, I liked how Freeman made the point that it is one matter to know who did or did not do a thing, but it is yet another matter entirley to prove your knowledge in a court that is not only not ready to believe you but is governed by policies in direct conflict with your methods.Dr. Jervis played an interesting role in the case, at once keeping the reader apprised of key facts and insights and distancing the reader from Thorndyke's speculations. He also had an internal conflict regarding his interest in the lovely Miss Gibson that provided even more confusion for the reader. Freeman did an admirable job of making me wonder till the very end about Miss Gibson's level of involvement in the crime.I had sought this book out after enjoying one of Freeman's short stories, and I was not disappointed. Freeman introduces interesting characters and an intriguing puzzle against the backdrop of turn-of-the-century London to great effect. I'd think any fan of Sherlock Holmes would be delighted to discover Dr. Thorndyke.(adapted from a "Skullduggery" review)