The Thinking Machine: Adventures of a Mastermind [Paperback]

Jacques Futrelle (Author), Charles Beck (Illustrator), Tony Simon (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 116 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Book Services; Later Printing edition (1964)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000LPHZL6
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,635,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Thinking your way to the solution, a lost art of detective work, March 22, 2009

By 

Charles Ashbacher (Marion, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Thinking Machine: Adventures of a Mastermind (Paperback)

In this book about Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Deusen, one can see the glimmerings of the Agatha Christie character Hercule Poirot. Proclaimed as "The Thinking Machine", the Professor relies on thoughts and logic to solve seemingly impossible puzzles. There are three stories in this short collection:

*) The Problem of Cell 13 - in this story, the Professor is locked in a maximum-security prison cell after bragging that he can think his way out. His solution is ingenious, but it does rely on help from outside the prison.

*) The Case of the Flaming Phantom - an old house with a past of murder and missing jewels suddenly appears to be haunted. The "ghost" is able to withstand gunshots and it appears to have no substance, as any attempt to grab it yields nothing.

*) The Mystery of the Silver Box - the owner of a business is battling a continuing and almost instantaneous leak of his business secrets to the competition. The only two people it could be are the owner and his confidential secretary, and she has been under continuous watch.

It is unfortunate that Futrelle's literary career was cut short when he perished on the Titanic. His stories are excellent mysteries and "The Thinking Machine" would have had a long and glorious career.