Robert Schneider

The Circular Staircase (1908) This is an iconic mystery novel written by an iconic mystery author who suffers both neglect (by modern mystery readers) and derision (by many mystery critics both past and present).  Although The Circular Staircase was Rinehart’s second (magazine) published novel length mystery, it by chance was published in hardcover a year before her…

I’ve noticed that many Sherlock Holmes fans (and many detective story fans) consider Holmes a brilliant amateur sleuth.  I have always disagreed with this description.  I view him as fiction’s first private consulting detective.  Having recently re-read all the stories, here are my thoughts as to his professional status: Holmes never alluded to having a…