"No Clue!": A Mystery Story

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

26396

Title

"No Clue!": A Mystery Story

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this 1920 mystery, retired criminologist Jefferson Hastings visits the wealthy Sloane family in Virginia, only to find a woman murdered on the lawn. As Hastings investigates, he uncovers a web of secrets involving the family's estranged father, a broken engagement, and a sinister judge with a dark past. A tale of suspense, psychological tension, and the hunt for a 'smart criminal' who leaves no trace.

Summary up to 500 words

In James Hay's mystery novel "No Clue!", renowned criminologist Jefferson Hastings travels to Sloanehurst, Virginia, to visit his friend Arthur Sloane and his daughter, Lucille. The peaceful weekend is shattered by the discovery of a dead woman on the lawn. Initial suspicion falls on Lucille's fiancé, Berne Webster, who was found near the body. However, Hastings quickly learns from Lucille that her father, Judge Wilton, harbored a fierce hatred for the deceased, Mildred Brace. Hastings discovers that Webster acted out of fear to shield Lucille from the shock of the discovery, not out of guilt. The investigation reveals that Judge Wilton, a man obsessed with blood and a past murder he committed in self-defense, manufactured the murder weapon using materials from the house. Hastings pieces together critical evidence, including a grey envelope sent by Mildred threatening exposure and traces of steel from the weapon found in Webster's room. Confronting Wilton, Hastings exposes his confession regarding a past crime and his current obsession with inflicting pain. With the assistance of Sheriff Crown, Hastings arrests the judge, clearing Webster and his father-in-law of the charges. The story concludes with Webster recovering from his illness, relieved that the truth has been revealed and the suspense has ended.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/26396.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg26396.epub

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2026-07-05 05:41 UTC

Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery