The collection here consists of six interconnected novellas (roughly 40 to 50 pages each) that showcase Reggie's distinct forensic skills and psychological acuity:

"The Dead Leaves" – Explores dark themes regarding an academic who learns from his professor to marry strictly for money.

"The Hole in the Parchment" – Follows Reggie and his wife, Joan, during a vacation in Florence, Italy, where they become entangled in a complex case of theft and forgery.

"The Holy Well" – A atmospheric and first-rate classic detective puzzle centered around an intricate baby-exchanging scheme in rural Cornwall.

"The Swimming Pool" – A complex mystery demonstrating Reggie’s keen observation skills.

"The Torn Stocking" – A gritty story looking at the consequences of family dysfunction following the suspicious death of a teenage girl accused of shoplifting.

"The Wistful Goddess" – A clever case that tests Reggie's unorthodox style of deduction.


Unlike many traditional detectives of the Golden Age, Reggie Fortune is a surgeon and physician whose primary tools are forensic medicine and scientific analysis. He is famous for his cherubic appearance, childish mannerisms, a distinctively elliptical way of speaking, and a sharp, ruthless streak when pursuing true justice. While the stories carry the light, high-society charm reminiscent of Lord Peter Wimsey, Bailey’s works are notably darker—frequently tackling intense societal themes such as domestic abuse, greed, and institutional corruption.