The Poisoned Pen

A collection of short crime stories follows an investigator named Kennedy and his companion as they probe a variety of mysteries—poisonings, jewel thefts, arson, forgery, smuggling and clandestine schemes. Each episode presents an initial puzzle and a methodical inquiry that blends on-the-ground reporting, laboratory experiments, disguise and deduction. Recurring motifs include the interplay of public scandal and private motives, the use of emerging scientific techniques to detect fraud or poisoning, and the gradual unraveling of conspiracies through careful observation and testimony.