The Riddle of the Purple Emperor
Thomas W. Hanshew
Read by Ruth Golding
Orphan Lady Margaret Cheyne returns home on her eighteenth birthday to live with her embittered maiden aunt and to take up her inheritance of the family jewels. The Cheyne jewels include a pendant featuring the Purple Emperor, a priceless jewel looted from a temple during the Indian Mutiny.
During her time at school in Paris, Lady Margaret has met and fallen in love with Sir Edgar Brenton, the son of an old flame of her aunt and a neighbour in the village of Hampton, where Cleek's adored Ailsa Lorne has also taken up residence.
Lady Margaret's return leads to a mysterious and sinister chain of events, which Cleek and Superintendent Maverick Narkom of Scotland Yard attempt to unravel, with, of course, the help of the irrepressible and ever-hungry Dollops, Cleek's cockney sidekick.
This full-length mystery is a welcome return for Hamilton Cleek, whom we first met in Cleek: The Man of the Forty Faces. (Summary by Ruth Golding)
(8 hr 18 min)
Chapters
Reviews
great reading
aimzzz
Ruth Golding is in fine form with this one... I continually had the feeling of sitting around a campfire with somebody telling a scary story (The story isn't scary-- I'm talking about the atmosphere Golding creates). The story is a fun mystery. I rated 5 stars for the reading... I'd give the story a 4.
Look, it could just be me...
Timothy Ferguson
...but the ending of this makes no sense at all, now does it? Is it that I'm an Australian? I don't think it is. I think the ending is clver in the sense you'll never guess it, but a problem in the sense that no normal criminal would consider it because in the real world it just would never work. The reader is marvellous, and the rest of the series is fun, but this one's plot...well...I think it has problems.
Hamilton Cleek strikes again
tellmeatale
I really like Cleek as a fictional detective and this series. I found this tale a bit sub standard compared to other tales of the series. Ruth Golding turned in another stellar performance and keeps one listening till the end. Thanks to Ruth and Librivox I enjoyed it!
Enjoyable Tale
Hospitable Georgian
Cleek wins again! An enjoyable tale! Although, after listening to the first 2 books, I found myself expecting this one to be wrapped up and over much sooner than it was. I finally settled in to enjoy the tale for what it was and was not disappointed.
A new Author added
Angels Walk
This is enjoyable, though not nearly as much as when written without Mary, bless her heart. Thomas does much better, alone whilst writing our "Hamilton Cleek" books. Our Volunteer reader, Ruth Gooding, is terrific, as always!
An entertaining book
null
A most excellent reader and an entertaining story. A word of caution if you are easily offended. This was written in 1919. Some of the language is offensive if judged by today's standards.
The Riddle of the Purple Emperor
fv2trm
Hurrah for Cleek! Another fun romp, with a large cast of characters, both old and new. The superb Reader adds so much to the experience; she’s a joy to hear.
Another great mystery
AvidListener
This, in my opinion, is better than "The Frozen Flame" (also co-authored by Mary). It kept me guessing and has a good pace. Again, Ms. Golding does a fantastic job with the reading.