Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Tuesdays Tomes: The Master Mystery by Arthur B. Reeve and John W. Grey

Tuesdays Tomes is a weekly book review of vintage books available free on-line.

The Master Mystery by Arthur B Reeve and John W Grey

“…When inventions threaten to render useless already existing
patents, necessitating the scrapping of millions of dollars' worth of
machinery, vested interests must be protected.
...Brent and his partner, Herbert Balcom, had evolved a simple method of
protecting corporations against troublesome inventors and inventions. They
had formed their corporation, International Patents.
Their method was effective, though desperate.They bought the sole rights from the
inventor, promising him glittering royalties.The joker was that the invention
was suppressed. None were ever manufactured.Hence there were no royalties and
the corporations went on undisturbed while Brent and Balcom collected huge
retainers (from the corporations) for the protection they afforded them." 
What a scheme? Who can stop them? Its been going on so long-not only hurting the
inventors but stopping progress!!Little does Mr. Brent know that his young 
assistant, Quentin Locke, is actually a federal investigator.Will Quentin Locke
succeed in arresting Brent and Balcom?
Mr. Brent's beautiful daughter, Eva, is unaware of what her father's business
really is but she does know that she really doesn't want to marry Balcom's son-
she's rather partial to her father young assistant.Will Quentin Locke succeed
in winning Eva?
Is Mr. Brent really evil or is he a dupe of Balcom's? How far will Balcom go
to stop Quentin Locke? And who or what is the Automaton??
If this review makes you think of a breathtaking, heartstopping silent movie
serial...well, its because this book is actually the prose version of a silent
movie starring Harry Houdini and the first ever movie robot! Enjoy this fun
romp with ever more death defying feats as a free audio-book (perfectly read
by Roger Melin) or a free e-book in pdf. or kindle format or watch below the
first installment. (You can see all the rest by following the links on the 
YouTube page.) Have fun!

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