The Red Thumb Mark - Softcover

Deemed 'the father of the scientific detective story', Richard Austin Freeman enjoyed a prolific career that saw him gain qualifications as pharmacist and surgeon, pull off a diplomatic coup along the Gold Coast, work for Holloway Prison and then become a formidable writer of fiction. He was born in London, the son of a tailor who went on to train as a pharmacist. After graduating as a surgeon at the Middlesex Hospital Medical College, Freeman taught for a while and then joined the colonial service, offering his skills as an assistant surgeon along the Gold Coast of Africa. He became embroiled in a diplomatic mission when a British expeditionary party was sent to investigate the activities of the French. Through his tact and formidable intelligence, a massacre was narrowly avoided. His future was therefore assured in the colonial service. However, after becoming ill with black-water fever, Freeman was sent back to England to recover and finding his finances precarious, embarked on a career as acting physician in Holloway Prison. In desperation, he also turned to writing where he went on to dominate the world of British detective fiction, taking pride in testing different criminal techniques. So keen was he, part of one of his best novels was written in a bomb shelter. For the first twenty-five years of his writing career, Freeman was to dominate and remain unrivalled in the world of detective fiction, introducing the well-loved and highly memorable 'Dr Thorndyke'. The continued success of this character has affirmed Richard Austin Freeman's place amongst the finest of crime writers.

It would be difficult to find anywhere more nearly perfect stories of scientific deduction than the Dr. Thorndyke tales of R. Austin Freeman.” The New York Times

This man Austin Freeman is a wonderful performer. He has no equal in his genre.” Raymond Chandler

One of the undisputed milestones of the genre.” Howard Haycraft

[Dr. Thorndyke is] the greatest medico-legal detective of all time.” Otto Penzler

The Thorndyke books rank among the very best of modern detective fiction.” S. S. Van Dine

The most carefully established crime savant since Sherlock Holmes.” Christopher Morley

As with old wine, you learn to appreciate the bouquet, flavor, and body of the Thorndyke vintage . . . a priceless ingredient to your enjoyment of the pure detective story.” Ellery Queen