The Diamond Master

Futrelle, Jacques, 1875-1912Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.3

Word count: 161K words
Chapters: 17

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.The Diamond Master by Jacques FutrelleAuthor: Futrelle, Jacques, 1875-1912,Language: English, Class: PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature, Release Date: Feb 4, 2005

Editor's review

The Diamond Master is by Jacques Futrelle, an important early detective fiction author best known for creating the Thinking Machine detective series. The book builds a puzzle-driven narrative around a diamond, moves at a tight pace, and has the typical flavor of mystery and suspense, making it suitable for readers who enjoy short-form puzzles and old-fashioned detective style. As a free Project Gutenberg ebook, it is easy to obtain and moderate in length, and can serve as a sample of early twentieth-century American popular detective fiction. While reading, pay attention to how the author plants clues, controls the release of information, and hides deductive logic in dialogue. For mystery fans, it is a light but flavorful supplementary read.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy classical mystery, puzzles, and suspenseful short fiction
Readers interested in the history of early detective fiction and the Thinking Machine series
English learners who want to practice reading detective fiction in the original English

Not a good fit for

Readers who prefer modern hardboiled crime or psychological thriller styles
Readers uninterested in old-fashioned dialogue and period settings and who want a fast pace

Reading tips

Take notes on clues and character relationships as you read so you can solve the puzzle yourself.
Read once without solving, then revisit key passages to appreciate how the author plants clues.
If you enjoy this book, continue with Futrelle's other Thinking Machine short stories.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a full-length novel or a short story?

The Diamond Master is a narrative work built around a diamond puzzle, moderate in length and concentrated in plot. For the specific chapter structure, refer to the main text of the ebook; overall it is suitable for reading in one sitting or over several.

Can I read it without experience with detective fiction?

Yes. The book is in the classical puzzle style, and its language and structure are relatively clear, so no specialized detective knowledge is needed. Readers need only follow the dialogue and events to enjoy the puzzle-solving process.

What is the author Futrelle known for?

Jacques Futrelle was an early twentieth-century American detective fiction author known for creating a detective figure skilled in logical deduction. This book continues his puzzle-narrative style and is a suitable entry point for understanding his work.

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About the author

Futrelle, Jacques, 1875-1912 Author

Jacques Futrelle (1875–1912) was an American writer of detective fiction active at the turn of the twentieth century. Public information about his life is limited, and many details remain little known to Chinese readers. He is best known as the creator of the "Thinking Machine" stories, featuring the scientist Augustus Van Dusen, who solves baffling cases through rigorous logic and scientific reasoning. Five of his works are held in the collection: The Problem of Cell 13, The Leak, The Diamond Master, The Chase of the Golden Plate, and Elusive Isabel. These range from locked-room puzzles and theft investigations to detective adventures and international intrigue, all marked by tight plotting and strong deductive structure. The Problem of Cell 13 is regarded as a classic of locked-room mystery fiction and has exerted a lasting influence on later detective writing in the honkaku tradition.