The New Jersey Sphinx
In a cosmopolitan neighborhood of Bloomsbury, two friends, a medical man and his companion, encounter a distressed individual seeking help for his cousin, Dinanath Byramji, who has been found dead under suspicious circumstances. Upon examination, the medical man discovers signs of foul play, including a skull fracture and the absence of a valuable ruby that Byramji had been known to possess. The cousin, overwhelmed with grief, reveals that a visitor had been with Dinanath shortly before his death, but he cannot identify the man. As the investigation unfolds, the medical man and his friend, a detective, piece together clues, including a hat left behind by the visitor, which appears to belong to the murderer. They deduce that the hat's owner is likely connected to a series of similar robberies and murders attributed to a criminal known as the "New Jersey Sphinx." The investigation leads them to a nearby inn where they suspect the murderer may have taken refuge. The detective's meticulous examination of the hat reveals traces of dust and hair, suggesting the owner’s profession and possibly leading to his identity. They discover that the hat was left in a hurry, indicating a struggle. The investigation intensifies as they uncover a connection to a local metallurgist, Mr. Highley, who may have been involved in the crime. As they delve deeper, they find evidence that suggests Highley may have been murdered by the Sphinx, who used his laboratory to dispose of the body. The detective's keen observations and deductions lead to the capture of the Sphinx, who had attempted to escape after committing the crime. The ruby is recovered, and the case is resolved, highlighting the themes of justice and the consequences of greed. The narrative concludes with a reflection on the nature of crime and punishment, as the Sphinx faces the ultimate consequence for his actions, serving as a reminder of the relentless pursuit of justice.
By R. Austin Freeman · First published 1910 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction · 11,584 words
First lines
"A rather curious neighbourhood this, Jervis," my friend Thorndyke remarked as we turned into Upper Bedford Place; "a sort of aviary for cosmopolitan birds of passage, especially those of the Oriental variety. The Asiatic and African faces that one sees at the windows of these Bloomsbury boarding houses almost suggest an overflow from the ethnographical galleries of the adjacent British Museum."
"Yes," I agreed, "there must be quite a considerable population of Africans, Japanese and Hindus in Bloomsbury; particularly Hindus."
What this Textopian page supports
The New Jersey Sphinx is listed on Textopian as a novel by R. Austin Freeman, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: R. Austin Freeman
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction, Thriller, Literary Fiction
- Length: 11,584 words
- Structure: 1 section, 206 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The New Jersey Sphinx by R. Austin Freeman
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The New Jersey Sphinx?
- How does this novel by R. Austin Freeman fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder investigation, featuring clues, suspects, and a detective's deductive reasoning.
- Crime — The narrative involves criminal activities, including murder and robbery, focusing on the criminal's motives and actions.
- Detective Fiction — The story follows a detective, Thorndyke, as he solves a case, typical of the detective fiction genre.
- Thriller — The tension and suspense surrounding the murder and the pursuit of the criminal create a thrilling atmosphere.
Tags
mystery · detective · crime · investigation · suspense · thriller · whodunit · puzzle · clues · forensics · literary fiction · British literature