The Master of Mysteries by Gelett Burgess
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Astro the Seer cultivates the persona of a psychic to solve crimes but instead he uses his logical mind, with the help of his assistant Valeska Wynne. In each story (except the last) Valeska misses a few clues so that Astro needs to offer his explanation of the mystery. With its twenty-four short stories it is for me the type of book to dip into over a period of time.
Overall a collection of entertaining short stories.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Orginally published in 1912

1 - Missing John Hudson - Mrs Hudson approaches Asro the Seer as her husband has been missing for ten days
2 - The Stolen Shakepeare - the First Folio Shakespeare of skeptic Mr Barrister has been stolen.
3 - The MacDougal Street Affair - sceptical Officer McGraw needs help as a shop owner is being threatened
4. The Fanshawe Ghost - who is the ghost haunting the Farnshawe Farm in the Vandyke village
5. The Denton Boudoir Mystery - Edward Masson insists that Astro finds the murderer of his fiance Miss Elizabeth Denton
6. The Lorsson Elopement - Ruth Lorsson secretedly corresponds with Sherman Fuller, but how and why
7. The Calenson Kidnapping Case - Five year old Harold Calendon has beeb kidnapped with a demand for inside information on the Stock Exchange.
8. Miss Dalrymple Locket - Her locket that was lost has now been returned to her but how will it help in solving her father's will.
9. Number Thirteen - Why is a female found by Valeska terrified of the number"13".
10. The Trouble withTulliver - Astro aims to discover what is causing the problem with D.A. Tulliver.
11. Why Mrs Burbank Ran away - Why has Ellen Burbank left her husband Major George Burbank, who is frantic with worry
12. Mrs Selwyn's Emerald - Astro has been invited to the Selwyn' home as his first appearance in society as a guest but Mrs Selwyn's emerald is stolen.
13. The Assassins' Club - Miss Violet Mannering is worried about the behaviour of her fiance navel lieutenant Robert Cameron.
14. The Luck of the Merringtons - a three year old has found an opal and a shriveled black hand. But who do they belong to.
15. The Count's Comedy - Stolen jewels have been delivered to a Ethel Shaw by a dressed gorilla. Her brother wants Astro to solve the puzzle.
16. Priscilla's Presents - Priscilla Quarich has on the last five Saturdays received a gift from an unknown source. But who.
17. The Heir to Soothoid - due to a mix up at the hospital Colonel Mixter is unsure of who is his heir to his fortune.
18. The Two Miss Mannings - on another train a young lady asks for help from a Mr Jensen. But how can he find her.
19. Van Asten's Visitor - When lawyer Paul Van Asten arrived home he found a stranger claiming to be his sister. Locking her in, he contacts Astro to come immediately
20. The Middlebury Murder - Lt. Graw asks for Astro's help with a murder in the office of Mr Middlebury
21. Vengeance of the Pi Rho Nu - Pauline Wister is to marry Edward Farralon tomorrow but he has disappeared.
22. The Lady in Taupe - who is the lady dressed in taupe that is following playwright Lionel Pinkard and why.
23. Mrs Stellery's Letters - who is writing, in a complimentary style, to Mrs Stellery - A bit obvious
24. Black Light - can the theory of black light help Valeska trace the location of Astro - again an obvious solution.

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