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Anthony Boucher

“An intricate puzzle cleverly constructed and neatly solved” introducing Los Angeles private eye Fergus O’Breen, by the author of Nine Times Nine (The New York Times).

Anthony Boucher was a literary renaissance man: an Edgar Award–winning mystery reviewer, an esteemed editor of the Hugo Award–winning Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, a prolific scriptwriter of radio mystery programs, and an accomplished writer of mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. With a particular fondness for the locked room mystery, Boucher created such iconic sleuths as Los Angeles PI Fergus O’Breen, amateur sleuth Sister Ursula, and alcoholic ex-cop Nick Noble.

In this “entertaining yarn, ” the first to feature Fergus O’Breen, Col. Theodore Rand has received a strange telegram from his friend Humphrey Garnett (Kirkus Reviews). “You may be invaluable witness at inquest on my body, ” it reads. A retired man of leisure, Rand opts to indulge what he thinks is his friend’s whim, flying from New York to Garnett’s home in Los Angeles—only to find Garnett dead upon his arrival.

After the police arrest the wrong man, Garnett’s family friend, rookie PI Fergus O’Breen, is called in to help. An eccentric and unorthodox Irishman, O’Breen is eager to take on his first murder case. But with a house full of suspects and a mystery steeped in playing card lore, the deck may be stacked against him. Now O’Breen must quickly shuffle through the clues if he hopes to solve this one before the real killer deals another deadly hand …

MysteriousPress.com/Open Road

The Fergus O'Breen Mysteries

The Case of the Crumpled Knave

When it’s curtains for a theatre director, Los Angeles PI Fergus O’Breen takes centre stage in this locked room mystery from the author of Nine Times Nine.

Anthony Boucher was a literary renaissance man: an Edgar Award–winning mystery reviewer, an esteemed editor of the Hugo Award–winning Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, a prolific scriptwriter of radio mystery programs, and an accomplished writer of mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. With a particular fondness for the locked room mystery, Boucher created such iconic sleuths as Los Angeles PI Fergus O’Breen, amateur sleuth Sister Ursula, and alcoholic ex-cop Nick Noble.

Working undercover for an insurance company, Fergus O’Breen finds himself part of the cast rehearsing the latest production at the Carruthers Little Theater. He’s been asked to keep an eye on playwright Lewis Jordan, who has taken out a joint policy with the director, Rupert Carruthers. If something should happen to one before the play opens, the other is set to collect a fortune.

When Carruthers meets an explosive end behind a locked door, O’Breen has his work cut out for him. With a theater full of secrets, it’s clear everyone in this troupe is putting on a show of their own. Now, aided by the struggling writer, O’Breen must determine who’s telling the truth and who’s acting—before someone else meets an untimely end …

The Case of the Solid Key

Murder is nothing to sneeze at for Los Angeles private eye Fergus O’Breen, in this whodunit from “a fine craftsman” (Ellery Queen).

Anthony Boucher was a literary renaissance man: an Edgar Award–winning mystery reviewer, an esteemed editor of the Hugo Award–winning Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, a prolific scriptwriter of radio mystery programs, and an accomplished writer of mystery, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. With a particular fondness for the locked room mystery, Boucher created such iconic sleuths as Los Angeles PI Fergus O’Breen, amateur sleuth Sister Ursula, and alcoholic ex-cop Nick Noble.

A mysterious stranger has requested Los Angeles private investigator Fergus O’Breen investigate the twenty-five-year-old unsolved murder of a bridesmaid at a wedding. But since the man will not reveal his name or allow any new discoveries to be shared with the authorities, O’Breen refuses to take the job.

Fate, however, steps in, and the gumshoe is soon invited to the silver anniversary celebration of the same wedding on a secluded island just off the coast. The stranger being in attendance isn’t the only surprise for Fergus. When all the guests are marooned, it becomes clear someone’s out to spoil the party, and O’Breen vows to find the culprit before history violently repeats itself …