The Black Cat A Classic Sexton Blake Adventure

Originally published February 20, 1909, "The Black Cat" is a classic Sexton Blake adventure. Blake, an early British series detective, was modeled closely on Sherlock Holmes and surpassed him in terms of longevity and number of cases.

This volume collects 3 Sexton Blake adventures: "The Chilworth Emerald," "Poker Work," and "After Business Hours."

Sexton Blake is a fictional character, a detective who has been featured in many British comic strips, novels, and dramatic productions since 1893. As the years passed, Blake’s character experienced various permutations. He was originally created to be similar to earlier 19th-century detectives but during the late 1890s, Blake’s authors consciously modeled him on Sherlock Holmes. Sexton Blake adventures were featured in a wide variety of British and international publications (in many languages) from 1893 to 1978, comprising more than 4,000 stories by some 200 different authors. Blake was also the hero of numerous silent and sound movies, radio serials, and a 1960s ITV television series. This volume contains 23 tales, originally published in 1908 and 1909. Included are:: A CONFIDENTIAL REPORT MY LORD THE BABY THE SILVER CANDLESTICK THE TATTOOED EYE MRS. LAMBERT’S LODGER A SLIP OF THE PEN AN ARTIFICIAL CLUE A MODERN ALCHEMIST THE ANCIENT MONK THE BLACK CAT AN OLD MAN’S DARLING THE BLUE LINE THE AMATEUR BURGLAR PY PONK THE YOUNG EARL NO ROBBERY A HOLIDAY TASK FOR SAFE DEPOSIT THE BARTON TUNNEL MYSTERY THE ADVENTURE OF THE COFFEE-POT THE BLACK PEARL OF BAHREIN THE BLACK DIAMOND THE MISSING WILL If you enjoy this ebook, don't forget to search your favorite ebook store for "Wildside Press Megapack" to see more of the 300+ volumes in this series, covering adventure, historical fiction, mysteries, westerns, ghost stories, science fiction -- and much, much more!

Our 75th issue has a pair of original tales for your reading pleasure, one mystery (“Troubled Water,” by donalee Moulton, thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken) and “The Forbidden Scroll,” by Phyllis Ann Karr (a solo adventure by Frostflower from Karr’s Frostflower & Thorn series—we had a solo Thorn adventure last issue.] Barb Goffman has selected a cat-themed mystery by Karen Cantwell, plus we have classic mysteries by Hal Meredeth (Sexton Blake) and Norbert Davis (a hardboiled novel). On the science fiction side, we have a great set of tales by George O. Smith, Ray Bradbury, Noel Loomis, and William Tenn…all favorites of mine. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Troubled Water,” by donalee Moulton [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “A Death in the Department,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “The Wizard of Paws,” by Karen Cantwell [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Confidential Report,” by Hal Meredith [Sexton Blake short story] Oh, Murderer Mine, by Norbert Davis [novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “The Forbidden Scroll,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [Frostflower short story] “The Cosmic Jackpot,” by George O. Smith [short story] “The Square Pegs,” by Ray Bradbury [short story] “Softie,” by Noel Loomis [short story] “Consulate,” by William Tenn [novelet]

Our 72nd issue is going to please a lot of our mystery readers. Not only do we have an original tale from the greatr Dave Zeltserman, courtesty of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken, but we havca a terrific tale by Vicki Weisfelt, courtsey of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman…plus a classic Sexton Blake mystery and the second Charlie Chan novel! (And, of course, a solve-it-yourself mystery from Hal Charles. Science fiction & fantasy fans won’t be disappointed, either. We have a new Count Czarny story from Phyllis Ann Karr, plus classics by John Barrett, Murray Leinster, Theodore Sturgeon, and George O. Smith. Great stuff. Here’s the lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “When Pigs Fly,” by Dave Zeltserman [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Yard Sale Jitters,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “New Energy,” by Vicki Weisfeld [Barb Goffman Presents short story] “A Back-room Mystery,” by Hal Meredith [Sexton Blake short story] The Chinese Parriot, by Earl Derr Biggers [Charlie Chan novel] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Morning Star,” by Phyllis Ann Karr [short story] “The Long Way Back,” by John Barrett [short story] “The Devil of East Lupton, Vermont,” by Murray Leinster [short story] “Memory,” by Theodore Sturgeon [short story] “Quarantine,” by George O. Smith [novelet]

If you like some of the series we’ve been publishing, you’re in for a treat this time. We have a new Smith Sisters story by Veronica Leigh, a Sexton Blake story by Hal Meredith, a Johnny Liddell novel by Frank Kane, and a Jules de Grandin story by Seabury Quinn. I don’t want to slight our non-series contents—it’s quite an all-star lineup, with tales such modern masters as Aeryn Rudell and Vinnie Hansen (courtesy of Acquiring Editors Michael Bracken and Barb Goffman), plus classics by Robert Silverberg & Randall Garrett, Lester del Rey, and Gore Vidal. And, of course, a solve-it-yourself mystery by Hal Charles. Here’s the complete lineup— Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “A Slice of Life,” by Veronica Leigh [short story, the Smith Sisters series] “Every Trick in the Book,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend,” by Vinnie Hansen [short story] “The Clue of the Ash,” by Hal Meredith [short story, Sexton Blake series] Green Light for Death, by Frank Kane [novel, Johnny Liddell series] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Time On My Hands,” by Aeryn Rudel [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “The Girl from Bodies, Inc.,” by Robert Silverberg and Randall Garrett [short story] “Whom the Gods Love,” by Lester del Rey [short story] “Body and Soul,” by Seabury Quinn [short story, Jules de Grandin series] Messiah, by Gore Vidal [novel] COVER: Ron Miller

Our 68th weekly issue has several holiday tales to spice up the season, including an original (“Merry Library Murder,” by N.M. Cedeño, courtesy of Acquiring Editor Michael Bracken) and some modern classics by Heather Critchlow (courtesy of Acquiring Editor Barb Goffman) and one of my own favorite authors, Nina Kiriki Hoffman (she’s amazing!) Cynthia Ward has selected an exciting fantasy from Milton J. Davis, plus we have great tales by Ray Bradbury, Lester del Rey, and James Holding, a Sexton Blake tale by Hal Meredith, and of course a solve-it-yourself puzzler from Hal Charles. It’s a fun issue. Here’s this issue’s lineup: Mysteries / Suspense / Adventure: “Merry Library Murder,” by N.M. Cedeño [Michael Bracken Presents short story] “Where There’s a Will,” by Hal Charles [Solve-It-Yourself Mystery] “Heavenly Peace,” by Heather Critchlow [short story] “The Inquisitive Butcher of Nice,” by James Holding [short story] “The Barton Tunnel Mystery,” by Hal Meredith [short story] Science Fiction & Fantasy: “Wishmas,” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman [short story] “The Gate,” by Milton J. Davis [Cynthia Ward Presents short story] “The Irritated People,” by Ray Bradbury [short story] “Solstice Cakes,” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman [short story] “Unto Him that Hath,” by Lester del Rey [short story]

Aboard a long-range research vessel, in the vast reaches of the South Pacific, the cast and crew of the reality show Sealife believe they have found a ratings bonanza. For a director dying for drama, a distress call from Henders Island—a mere blip on any radar—might be just the ticket. Until the first scientist sets foot on Henders—and the ultimate test of survival begins. For when they reach the island’s shores, the scientists are utterly unprepared for what they find—creatures unlike any ever recorded in natural history. This is not a lost world frozen in time; this is Earth as it might have looked after evolving on a separate path for half a billion years—a fragment of a lost continent, with an ecosystem that could topple ours like a house of cards.

BRITAIN AND GERMANY ARE AT WAR AND SEXTON BLAKE IS IN THE THICK OF IT As the battle for the Western Front rages, adventuring detective Sexton Blake pits his intellect and physical prowess against the machinations of the Kaiser. A band of intrepid allies join Blake to take on the forces of evil in three classic stories, collected here for the first time. From uncovering secret German naval bases to dangling from Zeppelins, fighting atop moving trains and escaping firing squads, Blake moves through war-torn Europe solving mysteries and fighting against tyranny. Join him as he enters a war of secrets, soldiers and spies…

The detective at home and abroad! From investigating an attempted murder to clearing the name of an innocent woman accused of espionage, Sexton Blake faces spymasters and suspects at every turn.