Alfred Edward Woodley Mason (1865-1948), who wrote as A.E.W. Mason, had a long and productive career. He wrote many novels and short stories, ranging from mysteries and courtroom thrillers to the classic adventure novel, THE FOUR FEATHERS.

THE SUMMONS

The destruction of shipping by German submarines in this western section of the Mediterranean had an intermittent regularity. There would be ten successive days-hardly ever more than ten days-during which ships were sunk. Thereafter for three weeks, steamships and sailing ships would follow the course upon which they were ordered,...

At the Villa Rose has a number of strange and inventive moments. As Inspector Hanuad must gather evidence to determine who killed the rich Madame Dauvray, it is suspected the murderer was after her jewels. The inspector must fill in the blanks that the witness accounts leave in the telling of the events on the night of the murder. Half way through the book the central mystery is discovered and a confession changes the atmosphere of the book from detective story to a melodrama.

It was Mr. Ricardo's habit as soon as the second week of August came round to travel to Aix-les-Bains, in Savoy, where for five or six weeks he lived pleasantly. He pretended to take the waters in the morning, he went for a ride in his motor-car in the afternoon, he dined at the Cercle in the evening, and spent an hour or two afterwards in the baccarat-rooms at the Villa des Fleurs. An enviable, smooth life without a doubt, and it is certain that his acquaintances envied him. At the same time, however, they laughed at him and, alas with some justice; for he was an exaggerated person. He was...