The magic casket
Nine cases for Dr. Thorndyke, beginning on a misty November night when he and Jervis find a forced handbag in a church porch and follow it to a Japanese casket, a frightened woman and a gang of thieves. The others include a mare's nest, a naturalist at law, Mr. Ponting's alibi, Pandora's box, the trail of Behemoth and a wreck from which gleanings are recovered. R. Austin Freeman published the collection in 1927, and the stories show his usual method: a small physical fact noticed at once, a stock of unlikely knowledge applied to it, and a solution the reader could in principle have reached. They are among the last of his short Thorndyke pieces. The stories are available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first one is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The magic casket
The magic casket by R. Austin Freeman can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The magic casket online?
Yes. The magic casket opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The magic casket free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The magic casket is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The magic casket in the public domain?
Yes. The magic casket by R. Austin Freeman is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The magic casket?
About 5 h 06 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The magic casket?
The magic casket by R. Austin Freeman is filed under "Mystery" in the Vinteuil library.
