Criminal Rogues, Volume 1

R. Austin Freeman's The Exploits of Danby Croker (1916) involves mistaken identities, art forgery, antique swindles, and even a little cross-dressing. There's a price to be paid for breaking the law, but who's going to pay it? This rare collection of stories is an enjoyable romp through crime and romance. Guy Boothby's A Prince of Swindlers (1900) follows the criminal adventures of Simon Carne, charming gentleman rogue and master of disguise, as he spends a season in England stealing as much loot as he can from the upper crust. Diamonds, gold, and even a racehorse, vanish without a trace. And what does the eccentric detective Klimo have to do with all of this?