When a priceless ancient scarab vanishes under impossible circumstances, Dr. John Thorndyke—the original scientific detective—is called upon to apply his formidable powers of observation. In this classic tale from the golden age of detective fiction, R. Austin Freeman demonstrates why he remains a master of the genre: the reader watches the crime unfold, yet the pleasure lies in watching Thorndyke reconstruct every detail through meticulous forensic reasoning. This edition presents the complete, unabridged original text of 'The Blue Scarab' exactly as it first appeared in 1923, accompanied by a modern introduction that places Freeman's work in its literary and historical context, along with reader's notes illuminating period references and forensic details. Whether you are discovering Thorndyke for the first time or returning to a beloved classic, this edition offers the definitive reading experience. Part of The Founding Texts Library.