Scarhaven Keep

"Scarhaven Keep" by J. S. Fletcher is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative opens with the sudden disappearance of a renowned actor, Bassett Oliver, who mysteriously goes missing just after he arrives in Scarhaven for a theatrical engagement. The primary focus is on Jerramy, the stage-door keeper, and the actors and management team who are thrown into disarray by Oliver's absence, especially Richard Copplestone, the author of a play Oliver was to produce. As the search for him unfolds, the plot thickens with various characters embroiled in a web of suspicion and potential motives. At the start of the novel, we meet Jerramy, a familiar face at the Theatre Royal in Norcaster, who interacts with the anxious business manager of Bassett Oliver, Mr. Stafford. They are both concerned when Oliver fails to arrive for a crucial rehearsal after a weekend absence. As they begin to investigate, it becomes clear that Oliver had been seen heading towards Scarhaven Keep after visiting a local inn, raising questions about his fate. The opening chapters set the stage for a thickening plot of intrigue, introducing multiple characters who may be connected to Oliver’s disappearance, including members of the local community and even the Squire of Scarhaven. The narrative promises an unfolding mystery steeped in drama, suspicion, and the lure of hidden truths about the enigmatic coastal town of Scarhaven. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Joseph Smith Fletcher was an English journalist and author. He wrote more than 230 books on a wide variety of subjects, both fiction and non-fiction, and was one of the most prolific English writers of detective fiction.