Thomas W. Hanshew (1857–1914)

Clever inspector Cleek, heretofor unknown to me as this is my first encounter with him, knows something about mothers, and he uses this knowledge to unravel the riddle of missing child and some Russian mischief. Dated, but entertaining.

I tried so hard to finish this, I really did. I was intrigued by the characters and eager to read more about them. But the mysteries were predictable, repetitive and boring.
Farewell, Cleek, I will never learn the secrets of your past.

If someone could do me the favor of explaining how someone could rate Cleek as less than four stars I'd be grateful.
Cleek needs to be made into a TV show. I am fairly certain people would love it. A period drama, full of mystery. Some parts would be episodic with an over-arcing story line, while other stories would be a season by themselves.
I've seen reviews about this book that say Cleek is racist. Which, yes he does call a Japanese man a "yellow man" and that ... Part product of the time show more and part that whole conversation is SPOILERS. Also on the subject of that mystery, I want to pull out strong language to yell at Britain, ... I just hope the law has changed.
Some reviews have also mentioned the slang in this book and call me a really old British lady, but I didn't notice the slang. I noticed the phrases that need to become quotes yesterday.
"There you have the whole thing in a nutshell, the old lady said as she poisoned the Filberts"
"It’s a murder of a peculiarly cunning and cleverly contrived character, Cleek."
Admittedly Cleek is one of those insufferable characters that seem to know everything there is to know about Upper-Class gossip and the criminal underworld, but he was The Vanishing Cracksman, soooo... show less

I chose this book as the last of ReMo 2021 because I wanted something I knew I'd love. I feel like I've read most of the stories. I'd guess in [b:Cleek: the Man of the Forty Faces|4341159|Cleek the Man of the Forty Faces|Thomas W. Hanshew|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347467762l/4341159._SY75_.jpg|4389064]. A few were certainly new and I just adore Cleek. He is so mysterious and torn.


Also Jasper Drood. If that isn't a reference to Dickens what is????