The Elusive Bullet

The Elusive Bullet by John Rhode is a finely crafted Golden Age detective story that showcases the author’s hallmark precision, ingenuity, and methodical approach to crime-solving. Featuring the meticulous Dr. Lancelot Priestley, one of classic detective fiction’s great analytical minds, the story presents a baffling case in which science and logic are the keys to the truth.

When a seemingly straightforward shooting results in a death under circumstances that defy explanation, the physical evidence tells an impossible story: the bullet that should solve the crime appears to have vanished. With no clear trajectory, no reliable witnesses, and conflicting accounts from those involved, the case becomes a puzzle of pure deduction. Every detail—angles, distances, timings—must be reconsidered.

Called upon to untangle the mystery, Dr. Priestley applies calm reasoning and forensic insight, patiently reconstructing events and exposing hidden inconsistencies. As suspects multiply and motives emerge, the investigation reveals how easily appearances can deceive.

Blending technical ingenuity with classic fair-play clues, Rhode crafts a cerebral and satisfying whodunit that invites readers to match wits with the detective. The Elusive Bullet is a perfect example of traditional British crime fiction—elegant, logical, and irresistibly puzzling.