Dr. Lancelot Priestley is a fictional investigator in a series of books by

John Rhode Cecil John Charles Street (3 May 1884 – 8 December 1964), also known as John Street, was a Major (rank), major in the British Army and a crime fiction novelist. He began his military career as an artillery officer and during World War I, he ...

. After 1924, Dr. Priestley took over from Dr. Thorndyke as the leading fictional forensic investigator in Britain and featured in 72 novels written over 40 years, solving many ingenious and misleading murders.

Character overview

Background

Priestley was born in July 1869. Dr. Priestley previously held the chair of Applied Mathematics at a leading Midlands University until he abandoned his chair and retired to the house in

Westbourne Terrace Westbourne Terrace is a street in the Paddington district of the City of Westminster in west London. The street runs between Westbourne Bridge in the north and the junction of Westbourne Crescent and Sussex Gardens in the south and was develo ...

, which he inherited from his father. He is described as an independent researcher who delights in scientific controversy. Described in "''The Ellerby Case"'', Dr. Priestley's book "Fact and Fallacy":

''..contained in every one of its two hundred odd pages a direct and trenchant attack upon those whom the author was apt to allude to as "The Orthodox Scientific School"''. and "''So the reviews poured in by every post: denunciatory, indignant, sometimes distinctly abusive. And Dr. Priestley would sit and gloat over them, as a primitive warrior might gloat over the blood of his adversaries''"

Method and process

Dr. Priestley's involvement is usually at the request of the police, but only if the case piques his scientific curiosity; having little, or no, interest in criminal justice: "''Hanslet had brought many problems which confronted him in the course of his duties to Dr. Priestley's notice, usually with results highly satisfactory to himself. But in nearly every case Dr. Priestley's interest in the problem ceased when he had solved it to his own satisfaction. The fate of the criminal was a matter of complete unconcern to him. He treated detection much as he would have treated a game of chess. The pieces in the game had no more than a passing interest to him. Not that he was unsympathetic by nature, as many people had good cause to know. But, in the problems which Hanslet set before him, he purposely took a detached and impersonal attitude. Only in this way, as he more than once remarked, was it possible to maintain an impartial judgment''"

Associates and family

In the early books, Dr. Priestley assists mainly his friend Chief Inspector Hanslet. In later books, Dr. Priestley becomes an

armchair detective An armchair detective is a fictional investigator who does not personally visit a crime scene or interview witnesses; instead, the detective either reads the story of the crime in a newspaper or has it recounted by another person. As the armch ...

and the bulk of the legwork is done by Superintendent Jimmy Waghorn of

Scotland Yard Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's London boroughs, 32 boroughs. Its name derives from the location of the original ...

and Priestley's secretary and companion, Harold Merefield. Merefield, whom Dr. Priestley cleared of a murder charge in the first book, ''

The Paddington Mystery ''The Paddington Mystery'' is a 1925 detective novel by John Rhode, a pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It marked the first appearance of Lancelot Priestley, who featured in a long-running series of novels during the Golden Age of Det ...

'', is engaged to Dr. Priestley's daughter April. Superintendent Hanslet (now retired) appears in several later works as a dinner guest of Dr. Priestley, passing on his professional wisdom to Waghorn. Lastly, an old friend of Priestley's, Dr. Oldland, in later novels frequently joins the conclave at the professor's Saturday evening dinners and provides the medical viewpoint attendant on the various cases.

Novels

* ''

'' (1925) * '' Dr. Priestley's Quest'' (1926) * '' The Ellerby Case'' (1927) * ''

The Murders in Praed Street ''The Murders in Praed Street'' is a 1928 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It features the fourth appearance of the armchair detective Lancelot Priestley, who figured in a long-running series of no ...

'' (1928) * ''Tragedy at the Unicorn'' (1928) * '' The House on Tollard Ridge'' (1929) * ''

The Davidson Case ''The Davidson Case'' is a 1929 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It was the seventh appearance of the armchair detective Lancelot Priestley, who featured in a long-running series of novels during t ...

'' (1929) * '' Peril at Cranbury Hall'' (1930) * ''Pinehurst'' (1930) * '' Tragedy on the Line'' (1931). * ''The Hanging Woman'' (1931) * ''Mystery at Greycombe Farm'' (1932) * ''

Dead Men at the Folly ''Dead Men at the Folly'' is a 1932 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the thirteenth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Golden ...

'' (1932) * ''

The Motor Rally Mystery ''The Motor Rally Mystery'' is a 1933 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the fourteenth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It was ...

'' (1933) * '' The Claverton Mystery'' (1933) * '' The Venner Crime'' (1933) * ''

The Robthorne Mystery ''The Robthorne Mystery'' is a 1934 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the seventeenth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Golden ...

'' (1934) * ''

Poison for One ''Poison for One'' is a 1934 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the eighteenth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It combines ele ...

'' (1934) * ''

Shot at Dawn ''Shot at Dawn'' is a 1934 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the nineteenth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. Synopsis A mo ...

'' (1934) * ''

The Corpse in the Car ''The Corpse in the Car'' is a 1935 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the twentieth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective.Reilly p.1 ...

'' (1935) * ''

Hendon's First Case ''Hendon's First Case'' is a 1935 detective novel by John Rhode Cecil John Charles Street (3 May 1884 – 8 December 1964), also known as John Street, was a Major (rank), major in the British Army and a crime fiction novelist. He began his ...

'' (1935). * '' Mystery at Olympia'' (1935) * '' Death at Breakfast'' (1936) * ''

In Face of the Verdict ''In Face of the Verdict'' is a 1936 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the twenty fourth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Gol ...

'' (1936) * ''

Death in the Hopfields ''Death in the Hopfields'' is a 1937 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the 25th in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It was publish ...

'' (1937) * ''

Death on the Board ''Death on the Board'' is a 1937 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the twenty sixth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age of Detective Fiction, Golden A ...

'' (1937) * '' Proceed with Caution'' (1937) * ''

Invisible Weapons ''Invisible Weapons'' is a 1938 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the twenty eighth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective.Reilly p.1 ...

'' (1938) * ''

The Bloody Tower ''The Bloody Tower'' is a 1938 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the twenty ninth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It was pu ...

'' (1938) * ''Death Pays a Dividend'' (1939) * ''Death on Sunday'' (1939) * ''

Death on the Boat Train ''Death on the Boat Train'' is a 1940 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the thirty second in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective.Reil ...

'' (1940) * '' Murder at Lilac Cottage'' (1940) * ''

Death at the Helm ''Death at the Helm'' is a 1941 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the thirty fourth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It makes ...

'' (1941) * ''

They Watched by Night ''They Watched by Night'' is a 1941 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the thirty fifth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It was ...

'' (1941) * ''

The Fourth Bomb ''The Fourth Bomb'' is a 1942 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the thirty sixth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective.Reilly p.1257 ...

'' (1942) * ''

Dead on the Track ''Dead on the Track'' is a 1943 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of British writer Cecil Street. It is the thirty-seventh in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. Like many my ...

'' (1943) * '' Men Die at Cyprus Lodge'' (1943) * '' Death Invades the Meeting'' (1944) * ''

Vegetable Duck ''Vegetable Duck'' is a 1944 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the fortieth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. The title refers ...

'' (1944) * ''

Bricklayer's Arms Bricklayers Arms is the road intersection of the A2 and the London Inner Ring Road where Bermondsey meets Walworth and Elephant & Castle in south London. It is the junction of Tower Bridge Road, Old Kent Road, New Kent Road and Great Dover S ...

'' (1945) * '' The Lake House'' (1946) * '' Death in Harley Street'' (1946) * '' Nothing But the Truth'' (1947) * '' Death of an Author'' (1947) * ''

The Paper Bag ''The Paper Bag'' is a 1948 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the forty sixth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It was publishe ...

'' (1948) * ''

The Telephone Call "The Telephone Call" (German: "Der Telefon-Anruf") is a song by the German Electronic music, electronic band Kraftwerk. It was released in 1987 as the second and final single from their ninth studio album, ''Electric Café'' (1986). The single wa ...

'' (1948) * '' Blackthorn House'' (1949) * '' Up the Garden Path'' (1949) * ''

The Two Graphs ''The Two Graphs'' is a 1950 detective novel by John Rhode, the pen name of the British writer Cecil Street. It is the fiftieth in his long-running series of novels featuring Lancelot Priestley, a Golden Age armchair detective. It was published ...

'' (1950) * ''

Family Affairs ''Family Affairs'' is a British soap opera that aired on Channel 5. It debuted on 30 March 1997, the day of the launch of said channel and was the first programme broadcast on the channel. It was screened as five thirty-minute episodes per w ...

'' (1950) * '' The Secret Meeting'' (1951) * '' Doctor Goodwood's Locum'' (1951) * '' Death at the Dance'' (1952) * '' Death in Wellington Road'' (1952) * ''Death at the Inn'' (1953) * ''By Registered Post'' (1953) * ''Death on the Lawn'' (1954) * ''The Dovebury Murders'' (1954) * ''Death of a Godmother'' (1955) * ''The Domestic Agency'' (1955) * ''An Artist Dies'' (1956) * ''Open Verdict'' (1956) * ''Death of a Bridegroom'' (1957) * ''Robbery With Violence'' (1957) * ''Death Takes a Partner'' (1958) * ''Licensed For Murder'' (1958) * ''Murder at Derivale'' (1958) * ''Three Cousins Die'' (1959) * ''The Fatal Pool'' (1960) * ''Twice Dead'' (1960) * ''The Vanishing Diary'' (1961)

Radio plays

* ''Dr. Priestley'',

BBC Empire Service The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current state ...

, talk as part of the series 'Meet the Detective', 1935 * ''The Strange Affair at the Old Dutch Mill'', a play featuring Inspector Jimmy Waghorn,

BBC National Programme The BBC National Programme was a radio service which was on the air from 9 March 1930 – replacing the earlier BBC's experimental station 5XX – until 1 September 1939 when it was subsumed into the BBC Home Service, two days before the outb ...

, 7 October 1938, as part of the series 'What Happened at 8:20?" * ''Death Travels First'', a two-part play featuring Inspector Jimmy Waghorn,

BBC Home Service The BBC Home Service was a national and regional radio station that broadcast from 1939 until 1967, when it was replaced by BBC Radio 4. History 1922–1939: Interwar period Between the early 1920s and the outbreak of World War II, the BBC ...

, 2 and 9 July 1940 as part of a series of plays by members of the Detection Club

References

* * * Characters of the Golden Age of Detective Fiction Fictional British detectives Fictional scientists Fictional mathematicians Fictional amateur detectives {{novel-char-stub