The Assyrian Rejuvenator, published in 1907, is one of R. Austin Freeman's novels written under the name Clifford Ashdown and the first to feature well-known protagonist Dr. Thorndyke--a medical-legal forensic investigator. Although Freeman's early works were seen as simple homages to his contemporary, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, he quickly developed his own style--the 'inverted detective story'--in which the identity of the criminal is shown from the beginning, and the story then describes the detective's attempt to solve the mystery. In this tale, inflated claims about the powers of an expensive elixir put private investigator Romney Pringle in pursuit of a ruthless con man. The trickster has reason to believe that his customers won't complain, but Pingle sets out to destroy the crooked business.

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Richard Austin Freeman (April 11,1862 - September 28, 1943) was a British writer of detective stories, mostly featuring the medical-legal forensic investigator Dr. Thorndyke. He claimed to have invented the inverted detective story (a crime fiction in which the commission of the crime is described at the beginning, usually including the identity of the perpetrator, with the story then describing the detective's attempt to solve the mystery). Freeman used some of his early experiences as a colonial surgeon in his novels.

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Sean Roberts, a voice over artist, professor and stage actor from Emerald Point, Florida, has been awarded numerous regional stage, TV and radio voiceover honors. In addition, he teaches Understanding Shakespeare at colleges in his home state. He is married and has fish, two birds, five cats and three Labradors.