Series
Publication
BiblioLife (2009), 296 p.
Original publication date
1911
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Awards
Haycraft Queen Cornerstones (1911)
Description
Classic Literature. Fiction. Mystery. HTML: Fans of Sherlock Holmes will appreciate the investigative handiwork of one Dr. John Thorndyke, created by author R. Austin Freeman, an important figure in the early development of the detective fiction genre. In The Eye of Osiris, Thorndyke helps crack the case of a scholar of ancient antiquities who has gone missing..
User reviews
LibraryThing member lyzard
The disappearance of Egyptologist John Bellingham shortly after his presentation to the British Museum of a well-preserved mummy and its associated artefacts creates a nine-days' wonder. The circumstances of the case are mysterious enough to attract the attention of Dr Thorndyke, who discusses the
Two years later, the newly qualified Dr Berkeley renews his acquaintance with Dr Thorndyke and his assistant, Dr Jervis. Berkeley tells them that amongst his patients is Godfrey Bellingham, and that he accidentally overheard part of a violent quarrel between Godfrey and George Hurst, who wants to have John Bellingham declared dead. The three medical men discuss the bizarre provisions of John's will, which nominates his brother as the main heir, but only if certain conditions are met; conditions that the disappearance make impossible. Otherwise, the inheritance is Hurst's, with Godfrey and Ruth left penniless. Shortly after this, a gruesome discovery is made on property belonging to John: a number of bones are unearthed, evidently from a dismembered corpse. Meanwhile, Hurst moves to have his cousin declared legally dead. Both legal inquiries turn on whether the bones are John Bellingham's, which cannot be determined - at least not until another discovery is made, in an abandoned well at Godfrey Bellingham's house: three finger bones, and a ring bearing a design of the Eye of Osiris...
The Eye Of Osiris, the third book in R. Austin Freeman's Dr Thorndyke series, is a distinctly different work from its predecessors. In many ways, it is more of a "conventional" mystery, with facts accumulating over time and a big revelation scene at the end. In contrast, both The Red Thumb Mark and John Thorndyke's Cases are extremely technical, with the focus upon the minutiae of Thorndyke's investigative methods. Both, likewise, are narrated by Dr Christopher Jervis, who acts as Thorndyke's assistant and is an eye-witness to his proceedings. The Eye Of Osiris, on the other hand, is told from the perspective of a third party, Dr Paul Berkeley, while Thorndyke and Jervis are only in the story at intervals, and frequently absent on other business: when the first inquest on the bones is held, Thorndyke has commitments elsewhere and sends Berkeley to attend, examine the evidence and take notes. It is not until the novel's climax that "the medical jurist" and his scientific methods take centre stage. In spite of this, the novel is like its fellows fascinating for its depiction of the medical and legal systems of the time (it was written in 1911, but is set in 1904), and for revealing what was "state-of-the-art" at the time for technologies such as the x-ray.
As for Paul Berkeley himself, he is slowly but inexorably drawn into the mystery of John Bellingham's disappearance - and possibly his murder - first via his professional acquaintance with Godfrey, and then far more seriously through his growing attraction to Ruth, who is a most unusual and refreshing heroine. John's disappearance has left his brother and niece in dire financial straits, and despite being indisputably "a lady", Ruth works for a living - but not as you might expect. Intelligent and well-educated, and like her father and uncle deeply knowledgeable about ancient civilisations and Egypt in particular, Ruth acts as a professional researcher, spending her days in the reading-room of the British Museum unearthing arcane knowledge for the benefit of academics and other aspiring writers. (The novel's evident need, through Berkeley, to reassure the reader than in spite of her intellectual pursuits Ruth is "a proper woman" is equally amusing and annoying.) Puzzled by her at first, and a little repelled by her distant manners and cool self-possession, Berkeley grows increasingly interested in Ruth's proceedings, and soon learns to admire, and then to love her. But a black cloud is looming: the discovery of John Bellingham's ring in the grounds of his brother's house indicates that this was the point of his "disappearance" - in which case, the last person to see him alive was Ruth...
But as I retraced my steps along the shady path I speculated profoundly on the officer's proceedings. My examinations of the mutilated hand had yielded the conclusion that the finger had been removed after death or shortly before, but more probably after. Some one else had evidently arrived at the same conclusion, and had communicated his opinion to Inspector Badger; for it was clear that that gentleman was in full cry after the missing finger. But why was he searching for it here when the hand had been found at Sidcup..?
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case with his medical students, including Paul Berkeley. After the presentation of the mummy, Bellingham left immediately for Europe for a period of several weeks, only to turn up unexpectedly at the house of his cousin, George Hurst, who was not at at home. Telling the maid he would wait, Bellingham entered the study - and was never seen again. When Hurst arrived to find him gone, he considered Bellingham's behaviour strange enough to call first upon the family solicitor, Mr Jellicoe, and then, finding that Jellicoe was unaware of Bellingham's return from Europe, to travel with him to the country house of Godfrey and Ruth Bellingham, John's brother and niece. Of John there was no sign, but Jellicoe found in the grounds a scarab which he usually wore, making it uncertain whether he was last at his cousin's house or his brother's. That was the last of John Bellingham.Two years later, the newly qualified Dr Berkeley renews his acquaintance with Dr Thorndyke and his assistant, Dr Jervis. Berkeley tells them that amongst his patients is Godfrey Bellingham, and that he accidentally overheard part of a violent quarrel between Godfrey and George Hurst, who wants to have John Bellingham declared dead. The three medical men discuss the bizarre provisions of John's will, which nominates his brother as the main heir, but only if certain conditions are met; conditions that the disappearance make impossible. Otherwise, the inheritance is Hurst's, with Godfrey and Ruth left penniless. Shortly after this, a gruesome discovery is made on property belonging to John: a number of bones are unearthed, evidently from a dismembered corpse. Meanwhile, Hurst moves to have his cousin declared legally dead. Both legal inquiries turn on whether the bones are John Bellingham's, which cannot be determined - at least not until another discovery is made, in an abandoned well at Godfrey Bellingham's house: three finger bones, and a ring bearing a design of the Eye of Osiris...
The Eye Of Osiris, the third book in R. Austin Freeman's Dr Thorndyke series, is a distinctly different work from its predecessors. In many ways, it is more of a "conventional" mystery, with facts accumulating over time and a big revelation scene at the end. In contrast, both The Red Thumb Mark and John Thorndyke's Cases are extremely technical, with the focus upon the minutiae of Thorndyke's investigative methods. Both, likewise, are narrated by Dr Christopher Jervis, who acts as Thorndyke's assistant and is an eye-witness to his proceedings. The Eye Of Osiris, on the other hand, is told from the perspective of a third party, Dr Paul Berkeley, while Thorndyke and Jervis are only in the story at intervals, and frequently absent on other business: when the first inquest on the bones is held, Thorndyke has commitments elsewhere and sends Berkeley to attend, examine the evidence and take notes. It is not until the novel's climax that "the medical jurist" and his scientific methods take centre stage. In spite of this, the novel is like its fellows fascinating for its depiction of the medical and legal systems of the time (it was written in 1911, but is set in 1904), and for revealing what was "state-of-the-art" at the time for technologies such as the x-ray.
As for Paul Berkeley himself, he is slowly but inexorably drawn into the mystery of John Bellingham's disappearance - and possibly his murder - first via his professional acquaintance with Godfrey, and then far more seriously through his growing attraction to Ruth, who is a most unusual and refreshing heroine. John's disappearance has left his brother and niece in dire financial straits, and despite being indisputably "a lady", Ruth works for a living - but not as you might expect. Intelligent and well-educated, and like her father and uncle deeply knowledgeable about ancient civilisations and Egypt in particular, Ruth acts as a professional researcher, spending her days in the reading-room of the British Museum unearthing arcane knowledge for the benefit of academics and other aspiring writers. (The novel's evident need, through Berkeley, to reassure the reader than in spite of her intellectual pursuits Ruth is "a proper woman" is equally amusing and annoying.) Puzzled by her at first, and a little repelled by her distant manners and cool self-possession, Berkeley grows increasingly interested in Ruth's proceedings, and soon learns to admire, and then to love her. But a black cloud is looming: the discovery of John Bellingham's ring in the grounds of his brother's house indicates that this was the point of his "disappearance" - in which case, the last person to see him alive was Ruth...
But as I retraced my steps along the shady path I speculated profoundly on the officer's proceedings. My examinations of the mutilated hand had yielded the conclusion that the finger had been removed after death or shortly before, but more probably after. Some one else had evidently arrived at the same conclusion, and had communicated his opinion to Inspector Badger; for it was clear that that gentleman was in full cry after the missing finger. But why was he searching for it here when the hand had been found at Sidcup..?
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LibraryThing member mmyoung
Sometimes one is disappointed when reading a “classic” wondering just what it was that made others rate a book so highly. That has happened to this reviewer often enough to make approaching “must-reads” and “classics” filled with trepidation. In this case, however, the reasons why so
Freeman makes the interesting choice of having the book written from the point of view of Paul Berkeley, a recently qualified doctor and former student of Thorndyke. Jervis, the narrator of the first two Thorndyke books, has not disappeared but it is no longer through his eyes that the reader witnesses events. This allows the narrator to not see all that Thorndyke does without making him irredeemably slow and unteachable. Thus there are times that the reader, already familiar with Thorndyke’s methods, will be able to infer more from things that Berkeley hears, sees or read than does he.
Beyond here there lie spoilers.
In addition to providing the reader with an excellent story of deduction and reasoning Freeman also writes one of the few believable and sympathetic love stories this reviewer has come across in the detective and mystery stories written at this time. Ruth is not simply a sweet Victorian girl she has a believable personality and an interesting mind. One understands exactly why Berkeley is drawn to her and one can watch the way their relationship progresses from being strangers, to individuals with shared interests, to becoming friends and then realizing that they have fallen love. None of it is strained nor is it extraneous. Berkeley is given believable motivations for his actions through the book.
Freeman plays so fairly with his readers that if the reader is well-versed in the detective fiction of the time they will have suspicions and inklings of understanding before at the end the truth is revealed. Yet this in no way diminishes from the enjoyment of following the story and from finding out the indications and clues one missed. No anvils are used nor does the author fall back on obfuscation.
This reader regretted the moment when the last page was turned and the story ended but then was cheered by the knowledge that there is another Thorndyke book on the “to read” shelf.
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many have included this book on their lists of “great mysteries” are obvious. This is a delightfully written, nicely-placed and eminently fair example of detective fiction. Freeman makes the interesting choice of having the book written from the point of view of Paul Berkeley, a recently qualified doctor and former student of Thorndyke. Jervis, the narrator of the first two Thorndyke books, has not disappeared but it is no longer through his eyes that the reader witnesses events. This allows the narrator to not see all that Thorndyke does without making him irredeemably slow and unteachable. Thus there are times that the reader, already familiar with Thorndyke’s methods, will be able to infer more from things that Berkeley hears, sees or read than does he.
Beyond here there lie spoilers.
In addition to providing the reader with an excellent story of deduction and reasoning Freeman also writes one of the few believable and sympathetic love stories this reviewer has come across in the detective and mystery stories written at this time. Ruth is not simply a sweet Victorian girl she has a believable personality and an interesting mind. One understands exactly why Berkeley is drawn to her and one can watch the way their relationship progresses from being strangers, to individuals with shared interests, to becoming friends and then realizing that they have fallen love. None of it is strained nor is it extraneous. Berkeley is given believable motivations for his actions through the book.
Freeman plays so fairly with his readers that if the reader is well-versed in the detective fiction of the time they will have suspicions and inklings of understanding before at the end the truth is revealed. Yet this in no way diminishes from the enjoyment of following the story and from finding out the indications and clues one missed. No anvils are used nor does the author fall back on obfuscation.
This reader regretted the moment when the last page was turned and the story ended but then was cheered by the knowledge that there is another Thorndyke book on the “to read” shelf.
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LibraryThing member bcquinnsmom
no spoilers, just a synopsis:
Written originally in 1911, this book has returned to print available to the public from a great publishing house called House of Stratus. I'm so grateful that I ordered several more. Freeman was one of the authors in the so-named "Golden Age" of mystery writers, and
In a nutshell, the mystery boils down to this (as so aptly noted by the great Dr. Thorndyke himself):
"...Here is a man seen to enter a certain house, who is shown into a certain room, then shut in. He is not seen to come out, and yet, when the room is next entered, it is found to be empty; and that man is never seen again, alive or dead." (25)
One day a certain archaeologist/Egyptologist named John Bellingham, who has just returned from a trip to Egypt where he procured a mummy in its case for the British Museum, goes to visit someone and is never seen again. He shows up, the servant girl tells him that her master isn't home, and won't be home until quarter to six. Bellingham says he'll wait in the study and write some letters. At precisely quarter to six, the other many arrives home, and is surprised that the table is set for two. When he asks why, the maid says that she thought Mr. Bellingham would be staying for dinner. But strangely, Mr. Bellingham is no longer there, and there was no way he could have left the house without the servants' knowledge. The only clues that anyone could find were a scarab he usually had on his watch chain, found in the garden of his brother's home, and a suitcase with the initials "J.B." that was left at a nearby station. The funny thing is, all of this had happened two years prior to the events of this story, and now, bones are turning up on Bellingham's brother's old property. To get to the bottom of the case, Dr. Thorndyke is called in and unravels a most ingenious crime.
Okay, okay, this may have been a bit easy to figure out, but it was totally fun and entertaining just getting there. I absolutely LOVE these old mysteries! Recommended.
Written originally in 1911, this book has returned to print available to the public from a great publishing house called House of Stratus. I'm so grateful that I ordered several more. Freeman was one of the authors in the so-named "Golden Age" of mystery writers, and
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although nearly 100 years have gone by since he wrote this book, it was still a joy to read as well as a really fine mystery. I would recommend it to those readers who enjoy a good work of classic mystery and detection, and to those readers who are devotees of detecting's Golden Age. You won't be disappointed. In a nutshell, the mystery boils down to this (as so aptly noted by the great Dr. Thorndyke himself):
"...Here is a man seen to enter a certain house, who is shown into a certain room, then shut in. He is not seen to come out, and yet, when the room is next entered, it is found to be empty; and that man is never seen again, alive or dead." (25)
One day a certain archaeologist/Egyptologist named John Bellingham, who has just returned from a trip to Egypt where he procured a mummy in its case for the British Museum, goes to visit someone and is never seen again. He shows up, the servant girl tells him that her master isn't home, and won't be home until quarter to six. Bellingham says he'll wait in the study and write some letters. At precisely quarter to six, the other many arrives home, and is surprised that the table is set for two. When he asks why, the maid says that she thought Mr. Bellingham would be staying for dinner. But strangely, Mr. Bellingham is no longer there, and there was no way he could have left the house without the servants' knowledge. The only clues that anyone could find were a scarab he usually had on his watch chain, found in the garden of his brother's home, and a suitcase with the initials "J.B." that was left at a nearby station. The funny thing is, all of this had happened two years prior to the events of this story, and now, bones are turning up on Bellingham's brother's old property. To get to the bottom of the case, Dr. Thorndyke is called in and unravels a most ingenious crime.
Okay, okay, this may have been a bit easy to figure out, but it was totally fun and entertaining just getting there. I absolutely LOVE these old mysteries! Recommended.
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LibraryThing member redfiona
This book contains not just one of the most ingenious criminals I've read about but a brilliant deductive investigator who is an intriguing character in his own right.
Add to that a small amount of well done romance, interestingly described secondary characters and lots of random but useful
It's fantastically clever, and there are very few of the tricks of the dective novel trade used, we are given the same information as the protagonists and while I certain didn't guess the how, why and who, I could at least work out one of the major pieces of evidence before it is presented to us.
Great fun, and in this age of dective shows being everywhere, I don't understand why the Thorndyke novels haven't been turned into television programmes.
Add to that a small amount of well done romance, interestingly described secondary characters and lots of random but useful
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information about ancient Eygpt and sheep parasites, although I can say with hand on my heart that that did help me remember things from my paristology lectures for an exam.It's fantastically clever, and there are very few of the tricks of the dective novel trade used, we are given the same information as the protagonists and while I certain didn't guess the how, why and who, I could at least work out one of the major pieces of evidence before it is presented to us.
Great fun, and in this age of dective shows being everywhere, I don't understand why the Thorndyke novels haven't been turned into television programmes.
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LibraryThing member liz.mabry
I read this book on my Droid, on the Aldiko app.
This one I liked particularly, because of its delving into Egyptian history and archaeology.
This one I liked particularly, because of its delving into Egyptian history and archaeology.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
Even though I figured out the solution before the end of this 3rd book in the Thorndyke series, I enjoyed seeing how Thorndyke managed to prove it & to learn his reasoning. I look forward to reading more of this series!
LibraryThing member JonRob
One of Freeman's classics. The case of the disappearance of John Bellingham, and the legal complications which arise from his rather eccentric will, show why Dr Thorndyke is rightly considered as one of the principal rivals of Sherlock Holmes.
LibraryThing member Vesper1931
Mr John Bellingham, archaeologist, goes missing when visiting his cousin Mr Hurst. Several years later bones are found in various ponds. But who do they belong to. Dr Thorndyke investigates.
An interesting mystery
An interesting mystery
Language
Original language
English
ISBN
9781903400012
Physical description
296 p.; 7.01 inches
Pages
296