Reply Paid, a mystery (The Mr. Mycroft Commemorative Series) (Volume 2)

Death by anthrax? A ring of desert monoliths resembling Stonehenge? A plan to set off an atomic chain reaction? In a plot seemingly snatched from the future, H.F. Heard livens the pace of his classic page-turner Rely Paid by marching his characters through a series of harrowing escapades, all tied together by an enigmatic code. The tidy office of Los Angeles-based decoding expert Sydney Silchester is disrupted by an unexpected visit from veteran supermind detective Mr. Mycroft, who drags the reluctant, complaining Silchester into the hot Southern California desert in search of clues. Along the way they stumble upon corpses, uncover a corrupt psychic, follow an overly curious guide, and track an ingenious but ultimately careless murderer. Hoping to foil the villain before he can hatch his dastardly scheme, our intrepid duo race against time to stop him at all costs. Reply Paid finds its startling climax in the barren Utah wilderness. There Mr. Mycroft reveals the chesslike motives of the players and the grand shocking design of the evil mastermind. In a plot seemingly snatched from the future, H. F. Heard enlivens the pace of this classic, heart-pounding 1942 whodunit by propelling his characters through a series of harrowing escapades, all tied together by an enigmatic code. “Reply Paid is not a story whose plot has been repeated by other authors. It is not only unique but also a nostalgic trip back to the pre-Second World War days as well as a very enjoyable read.” –Paul D. Herbert, founder, e Tankerville Club “The magnificent Mr. M. appears again.… For tastes that are Baker Street and Irregular, this is as good as Mrs. Hudson’s curried kedgeree.” –Christopher Morley, founder of the Baker Street Irregulars “The story is a fascinating one...” –) The New York Times “Sinister, the suspense cuts down respiration 40%, and it’s a tale well and truly told.” –Rex Stout, creator of legendary fictional detective Nero Wolfe "... that rare type of crime story which combines pure detection with pure fantasy." Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine