A Shot in the Night

Joseph Smith Fletcher

Summary

Joseph Smith Fletcher (1863-1935) was an English journalist and author. He wrote more than 230 books on a wide variety of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction, and was one of the most prolific English writers of detective fiction.Fletcher’s mystery story A Shot in the Night, which we propose to our readers today, was published in September 1924 in the Cosmopolitan magazine.«After some unseen hand had thumped loudly and steadily at the panels of his bedroom door for the better part of five minutes, Manson pulled himself out of the seductive embrace of his blankets to realize that the wintry dawn was at hand, and that the moon, just then at its full, was dipping towards the horizon beyond the pine woods in front of his uncurtained window. He slipped out of bed and switched on the electric light at its head all in one action, and as he crossed to the door glanced at the watch which lay on his dressing-table. Six forty-five—two hours and a quarter before his usual time! And who the devil could this be, thundering so persistently at his door?».

Available since: 05/06/2025.

Other books that might interest you

Murder Unjoyful

Anita Waller

The lead up to Christmas sees the Connection private investigation team planning their festive season. Until a new case arrives . . .Catapulted into their biggest mystery yet, they are tasked with finding a killer who has been released on parole, and subsequently disappeared. Has he returned to finish the murder he tried to commit before his capture nineteen years earlier?As he targets his intended victim, his attention is also focused on the private investigators and their police colleagues with devastating effect.With families torn apart, Doris must seek assistance from a colleague from her past to give Connection the best chance of bringing a psychopath to justice.How will it end? Is this the last we will see of Kat, Mouse, Doris and Luke? And can Connection continue?

Show book

The Footage That Shook America -...

David B. Lyons

Smile. You're on camera. Everywhere you go. 
— A conwoman. A cop. A gentleman. A rebel. — 
 
In a small suburb of Connecticut, and totally unaware of each other, four lives are about to collide. 
 
But will their lives entangle before experienced cop, Nate Bennett, and rookie cop, Maggie Zucha, complete their investigation of tracking down footage that, if released, will shake America to its very core? 
 
Their detective skills are put to the toughest test, but they'll need to be quick because they’re not the only ones searching for this story… and whoever finds it first will hold all the power. 
 
...but just what is on that footage? 
 
Will you see it coming? 
 
The Footage That Shook America is the sequel to the controversial In The Middle of Middle America and is the second audiobook of a trilogy based on the escapades of television news anchor Sarah-Jane Zdanski.

Show book

Cougar Kitty - a forgotten pulp...

Margie Harris

This audiobook is narrated by an AI Voice.   
A forgotten pulp classic by Margie Harris, one of the best paid pulp writers in the early 1930s. She was female pioneer of hard boiled fiction, and she really was tougher than the rest. There is hardly any difference between her style of writing and a modern gangster movie by Quentin Tarantino. Yet, she wrote her stories almost a hundred years ago, limited by the conventions of her age. 
Margie Harris is a great unknown in literary history, for she quit writing very suddenly and retired to Texas, where all traces of her vanish. In fact, very few details about who she was are known. 
Originally published in Mobs magazine in 1930. Produced by the educational net radio stream Historyradio.org

Show book

Stop Hoping (A Beth Drake FBI...

Kate Bold

This recording has been digitally produced by Kate Bold, using a synthesized version of an audiobook narrator’s voice under license. “This is an excellent book… When you start reading, be sure you don’t have to wake up early!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Army Ranger-turned-FBI Agent Beth Drake is the perfect agent to handle violent serial murders connected to drug crimes.

But when drug dealers begin surfacing along Maryland's picturesque shoreline, bound to history with ancient boat anchors, Beth Drake must untangle a net of criminal vendettas that threaten to drag her down to watery depths. As each tide reveals more clues, Beth races against time to dock a murderer who's all too ready to cut her line.

STOP HOPING is the fourth book in a new series by #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Kate Bold, whose bestseller NOT ME (a free download) has received over 3,00 five star ratings and reviews. The series begins with STOP HIM (book #1).

The Beth Drake series delivers a page turning thriller of cat-and-mouse, packed with chilling twists. It breathes new life into the mystery genre by featuring a captivating female protagonist who will steal your heart and compel you to read on well past bedtime. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Lisa Regan, and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available!

“This book moved very fast and every page was exciting. Plenty of dialogue, you absolutely love the characters, and you were rooting for the good guy throughout the whole story… I look forward to reading the next in the series.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Kate did an amazing job on this book and I was hooked from the first chapter!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“I really enjoyed this book. The characters were authentic, and I see the bad guys as something we hear about daily on the news... Looking forward to book 2.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“This was a really good book. The main characters were real, flawed and human. The story went along quickly and wasn't mired in too many unnecessary details. I really enjoyed it.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Alexa Chase is headstrong, impatient, but most of all brave with a capital B. She never, repeat never, backs down until the bad guys are put where they belong. Clearly five stars!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Captivating and riveting serial murder with a twist of the macabre… Very well done.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“WOW what a great read! Talk about a diabolical killer! Really enjoyed this book. Looking forward to reading others by this author as well.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Page turner for sure. Great characters and relationships. I got into the middle of this story and couldn’t put it down. Looking forward to more from Kate Bold.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Hard to put down. It has an excellent plot and has the right amount of suspense. I really enjoyed this book.”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Extremely well written, and well worth buying and reading. I can't wait to read book two!”
—Reader review for The Killing Game
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Show book

The Vampire and the Case of the...

Heather G. Harris, Jilleen Dolbeare

Portlock’s secrets are about to explode. 
After everything that went down in Chrome Mine, I’m starting to fear that I may never see my Sidnee again because the Sidnee I’ve been left with – well, she’s downright scary. 
Just as we try to catch our breath, calamity strikes again: the mayor’s son-in-law is murdered. Suspicion is being thrown around like confetti, and those in the frame include the mayor himself and the usually mild-mannered Sidnee. 
To make matters worse, a couple of teenage girls have vanished – no clues, no witnesses and no explanation. And it appears they might not be the first to be snatched. 
As if I needed one more thing to juggle, Connor’s father, the Vampire King of America, sends a team to interfere in our investigation. One of the girls is a rare, born vampire and the king has given us an ultimatum: find her … or he’ll come knocking. I am absolutely not ready to meet the in-laws, especially not the terrifying, homicidal sort who sees hybrids like me as something to exterminate. 
Connor is falling apart, the case is slipping through my fingers, and our happily-ever-after is looking further away than ever… 
Dive into this fast-paced urban fantasy series if you love mystery, humour, found family, and a slow-burn romance.

Show book

The Serenity Murder - A Luca...

Dan Petrosini

When a detective second-guesses his gut, he'll have to get creative to catch the killer. 
Luca worries cancer and divorce have dulled his razor-sharp instincts. So the detective is relieved when his next murder case seems like a no-brainer. 
When the wealthy victim is found dead in her private-island home, the gold-digging husband seems like the obvious killer. 
As Luca digs deeper and follows the clues, however, he uncovers a whole new line-up of possible suspects. No longer able to rely on his gut feelings, Luca puts the victim's sordid affairs and her rivalries under the microscope. 
With time running out, Detective Luca must find a way to regain his swagger and solve the case before the killer strikes again. 
The Serenity Murder is the 2nd book in the riveting Luca Mystery series. If you like hardened detectives, unexpected plot twists, and seeing the crime from multiple points of view, check out this gripping whodunit. 
You can enter the Luca Mystery Series with any book.

Show book