The Social Gangster

"The Social Gangster" by Arthur B. Reeve is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows the protagonist, Craig Kennedy, as he delves into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of a valuable diamond necklace and the potential scandal involving the wealthy Mrs. Bradford Brackett and her daughter, Gloria. As the narrative unfolds, it addresses themes of social reputation, the influence of the fast life, and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters involved. The opening of the book introduces Mrs. Brackett, who is clearly distressed about her daughter, Gloria, becoming entangled with a group she refers to as "social gangsters." The family is already endangered by the public fallout of a missing diamond necklace, which Mrs. Brackett believes may be connected to Gloria’s reckless associations. As she shares her concerns with Kennedy, we sense the urgency and emotional weight of her situation, fueled by public gossip and personal fear for her daughter’s safety. The scene establishes a tense atmosphere that hints at the darker elements of society, setting the stage for Kennedy’s investigation into a potentially life-altering scandal. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Arthur Benjamin Reeve was an American mystery writer. He is known best for creating the series character Professor Craig Kennedy, sometimes called "The American Sherlock Holmes", and Kennedy's Dr. Watson-like sidekick Walter Jameson, a newspaper reporter, for 18 detective novels. Reeve is famous mostly for the 82 Craig Kennedy stories, published in Cosmopolitan magazine between 1910 and 1918. These were collected in book form; with the third collection, the short stories were published grouped together as episodic novels. The 12-volume publication Craig Kennedy Stories was released during 1918; it reissued Reeve's books-to-date as a matched set.