Curious Crimes of John Strobbins: First English Edition

The law can't catch him. The banks can't outsmart him. And heaven help anyone who underestimates him. Meet John Strobbins - every crook's hero and every detective's nightmare.

For the first time in English, José Moselli's classic tales of wit, irony, and audacious heists come alive in The Curious Crimes of John Strobbins, a must-read for fans of classic noir, Sherlock Holmes, and the gentleman-thief tradition.

First published in 1912, Moselli's stories follow Strobbins as he outwits corrupt bankers, humiliates pompous museum officials, and kidnaps the police chief, all while leaving his own wry commentary on the hypocrisy of polite society. This definitive edition collects three of his greatest adventures:

• An Inexplicable Disappearance - a baffling vanishing act and an even more baffling revelation.

• The Margarita - the theft of a priceless pearl in plain sight.

• The Amateur - a countryside escapade that leaves the law licking its wounds.

Translated and typeset with care by Lucius Madison and Cinder Oracle, this edition preserves Moselli's wit and biting social satire while making it accessible for today's readers.