Murder in the Gunroom

H. Beam Piper (1904 - 1964)

The Lane Fleming collection of early pistols and revolvers was one of the best in the country. When Fleming was found dead on the floor of his locked gun room, a Confederate-made Colt-type percussion .36 revolver in his hand, the coroner's verdict was "death by accident." But Gladys Fleming had her doubts. Enough at any rate to engage Colonel Jefferson Davis Rand—better known just as Jeff—private detective and a pistol-collector himself, to catalogue, appraise, and negotiate the sale of her late husband's collection.

There were a number of people who had wanted the collection. The question was: had anyone wanted it badly enough to kill Fleming? And if so, how had he done it? Here is a mystery, told against the fascinating background of old guns and gun-collecting, which is rapid-fire without being hysterical, exciting without losing its contact with reason, and which introduces a personable and intelligent new private detective. It is a story that will keep your nerves on a hair trigger even if you don't know the difference between a cased pair of Paterson .34's and a Texas .40 with a ramming-lever.
(Summary from the text)

Genre(s): Detective Fiction

Language: English

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 00 - Preface Anthony Wilson
00:01:36
Play 01 01 - Chapter 01 Anthony Wilson
00:15:11
Play 02 02 - Chapter 02 Anthony Wilson
00:17:28
Play 03 03 - Chapter 03 Anthony Wilson
00:16:19
Play 04 04 - Chapter 04 Anthony Wilson
00:12:22
Play 05 05 - Chapter 05 Anthony Wilson
00:18:39
Play 06 06 - Chapter 06 Anthony Wilson
00:14:42
Play 07 07 - Chapter 07 Anthony Wilson
00:18:04
Play 08 08 - Chapter 08 Anthony Wilson
00:10:27
Play 09 09 - Chapter 09 Anthony Wilson
00:30:39
Play 10 10 - Chapter 10 Anthony Wilson
00:31:00
Play 11 11 - Chapter 11 Anthony Wilson
00:21:00
Play 12 12 - Chapter 12 Anthony Wilson
00:18:24
Play 13 13 - Chapter 13 Anthony Wilson
00:18:09
Play 14 14 - Chapter 14 Anthony Wilson
00:21:55
Play 15 15 - Chapter 15 Anthony Wilson
00:18:20
Play 16 16 - Chapter 16 Anthony Wilson
00:17:15
Play 17 17 - Chapter 17 Anthony Wilson
00:24:53
Play 18 18 - Chapter 18 Anthony Wilson
00:10:22
Play 19 19 - Chapter 19 Anthony Wilson
00:25:00
Play 20 20 - Chapter 20 Anthony Wilson
00:20:02
Play 21 21 - Chapter 21 Anthony Wilson
00:30:22