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This page lists novels by J.J. Connington.

J.J. Connington was the pen name used by scientist Alfred Walter Stewart for the publication of novels. Stewart also published textbooks on chemistry under his own name.

Cover images are, when possible, of the UK first edition and a recent paperback or digital edition.

By J.J. Connington:
- novels

By Alfred Walter Stewart:
- non-fiction

About J.J. Connington (Alfred Walter Stewart):
- critical / biographical

Nordenholt's Million

J.J. Connington

1923

A science fiction novel.

"Famine sweeps across the world when a lab accident unleashes a virulent strain of bacteria that transforms healthy fields into barren wastelands. With the fate of the human race at stake, wealthy financier Stanley Nordenholt establishes a stronghold in central Scotland and assumes dictatorial powers to save what remains of the planet's starving population. This gripping tale of survival explores some of the moral dilemmas that arise in the wake of catastrophic events as well as their social, cultural, and political consequences."

Almighty God

J.J. Connington

1924

A science fiction novel.

Death at Swaythling Court

J.J. Connington

1926

"Hubbard made his money in blackmail, most detestable blackmail at that. A wealthy, lisping butterfly collector, there were no special regrets when he was found dead at his desk in his own home. Yet Colonel Sanderstead felt it his duty to probe the affair, since his nephew's best friends had very good reason to wish Hubbard dead. His investigation, as it turns out, would never have solved the case, but it leads to an amazing confession."

The Dangerfield Talisman

J.J. Connington

1926

"In the first place there was the Dangerfield Talisman, an ancient golden armlet set with diamonds and valued at $50,000 - an unguarded treasure, which, although stolen more than once, always came back. Second was the Dangerfield Secret. The last thief of the talisman has been found on the lawn of Old Rollo Dangerfield's home, dead of a heart attack. And in unearthing the mystery a whole series of bewildering complications unfolds."

Murder in the Maze

J.J. Connington

1927

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When twin brothers Roger and Neville Shandon are murdered by poisoned darts in Whistlefield's famous hedge maze, Sir Clinton Driffield arrives to restore order. He finds two terrified witnesses - visitors to the estate - and clues aplenty in this brilliantly conceived and meticulously realized country-house mystery."

Tragedy at Ravensthorpe

J.J. Connington

1927

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"In Clinton Driffield's second case he must tangle with a plethora of crimes including robbery, murder and a disappearance - not to mention a Family Curse, and a less than sympathetic victim."

The Case with Nine Solutions

J.J. Connington

1928

A Clinton Driffield novel.

" When a locum doctor is called out one foggy night to a case of scarlet fever, he mistakes one house for another and discovers a young man lying in a pool of blood, who manages to choke out a dying message. This intriguing clue-laden third case for Sir Clinton Driffield has its origin in a dark scheme that reveals as much about the means for murder as its motivation."

Mystery at Lynden Sands

J.J. Connington

1928

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"In the fourth Sir Clinton Driffield mystery, the detective finds himself up against a missing heir, an accidental bigamist, a series of secret marriages and impersonations and an ingenious scientific murder. Aided by his wit and powers of reasoning, as well as Wendover, his very own Watson, Sir Clinton once again succeeds in piecing together a solution as the novel reaches its thrilling climax."

Nemesis at Raynham Parva

J.J. Connington

1929

A Clinton Driffield novel.

Published in the US as Grim Vengeance.

"When Sir Clinton Driffield travels to the village of Raynham Parva to visit his sister, he little imagines that his latest case will involve his own family. His niece has married an Argentinian, and the village is soon filled with exotic incomers, one of whom appears to have been a foreign agent. This unusual case presents Sir Clinton with three interlocking mysteries, which lead to a startling conclusion."

The Eye in the Museum

J.J. Connington

1929

"The terms of her father's will tie Joyce to her Aunt Evelyn until she is 25 - or Evelyn will inherit the entire estate. But Joyce wants to marry Leslie, and the money she will eventually inherit would be a considerable help to him in his career. Aunt Evelyn is a violent drunk, and one evening Joyce speculates to Leslie that if she fended of one of her aunt's violent attacks and her aunt died of 'one of her heart attacks' she could hardly be held accountable - could she? Leslie isn't really sure. And the next day Aunt Evelyn dies suddenly."

The Two Tickets Puzzle

J.J. Connington

1930

"When Oswald F. Preston is shot dead on the 10.35 local train from Horston, two obvious suspects are immediately in the frame: his wife's lover and an employer with a grudge. With red herrings a-plenty, and a number of other contenders for murderer, including a young heiress, Superintendant Ross has his work cut out for him."

The Boathouse Riddle

J.J. Connington

1931

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When Chief Constable Sir Clinton Driffield goes to stay with his friend Wendover, mysterious goings-on in the boathouse he owns soon attract the duo's attention. Lights go on and off, strangers come in and out, and a game warden is found murdered nearby. And as they work to solve the crime, a second body is dredged up from the lake."

The Sweepstake Murders

J.J. Connington

1931

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"Nine men formed a sweepstake syndicate. One man died. To forestall legal argument they agreed that only living members should share any winnings. They won £241,920. And then the deadly arithmetic began. Nine less one left eight shares worth £30,240; Eight less one left seven shares worth £34,560; Seven less one left six shares worth £40,320; Six less one left five shares worth £48,384. Who was killing for profit? And who would be left to collect?"

The Castleford Conundrum

J.J. Connington

1932

"Philip Castleford was more than worried. Were all those years he had spent attending to Winifred's whims, enduring her habits, to count for nothing? He hadn't minded it too much for he thought that his daughter Hilary would have security - but now he found her shabbily treated and his own position undermined by his wife's grasping brothers. Such were the affairs at Carron Hill one fine morning when Winifred was discovered murdered in the deserted summer house."

Tom Tiddler's Island

J.J. Connington

1933

Published in the US as Gold Brick Island.

"A young couple, the Trents, arrive on the lonely islet of Ruffa - where a large house has been lent to them for part of their honeymoon - and stumble upon mystery. Gold is being exported from Ruffa in quantity. Where does it come from? From the Armada wreck in the bay? Or from some old Norseman's hoard like the Traprain Law treasure. Or has the other tenant discovered the secret of making gold? The Trents are set on a surprising course to find out."

The Ha-Ha Case

J.J. Connington

1934

A Clinton Driffield novel.

Published in the US as The Brandon Case.

"It was at the hidden stone wall in the spinney that Johnnie Brandon, rabbit shooting with a party of guests, was instantly killed by a shotgun charge. Only that day he had attained his majority; only the night before he had been discovered in a compromising situation with the wife of the man who had been his mentor. Everyone agreed with the finding of the coroner's jury, "Accidental death"-especially his nearest kin, on tenterhooks lest someone mention suicide. Everyone, that is, except Inspector Hinton, who went ahead preparing one of his letter-perfect reports. But he had not gone far before the outline of murder inescapably formed itself in his notes. The murderer? That was another matter, as he reluctantly admitted when the acumen of the Chief Constable, Sir Clinton Driffield, was brought to bear on the case."

In Whose Dim Shadow

J.J. Connington

1935

A Clinton Driffield novel.

Published in the US as The Tau Cross Mystery.

"In this, the tenth Clinton Driffield mystery, the action moves away from a country setting to the English suburbs, inhabited by a cast of unusual diversity: an ambitious young policeman, a naive journalist, an elderly clerk with dreams of foreign travel and an unhappily married Frenchwoman. This meticulously clued mystery shows Connington at his compelling best and ends with a satisfying flourish."

A Minor Operation

J.J. Connington

1937

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"There was blood on the drawing-room floor and Hazel Deerhurst had disappeared wearing slippers over walking shoes, two pairs of stockings and a bright silk kimono. First investigations shed interesting light on Hazel. A mysterious machine is found at her home, some paintings and a cryptic telegram. She was also secretary to a man whose secrets involved the future of the empire. Is she victim or villainess?"

Truth Comes Limping

J.J. Connington

1938

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When two corpses are found in a small English village, all who have a go at solving the crime are completely baffled, and spur the local Chief Constable to investigating. Local gossip, blackmail and a family feud form the ingredients that point towards the perpetrator."

For Murder Will Speak

J.J. Connington

1938

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"Thief, criminal and probably a coward, would Hyson have had the courage to kill himself or did someone catch up with him? Did his death have anything to do with Mrs Telford, who committed suicide shortly before? The Inspector, anticipating a routine investigation, finds conflicting stories, poison pen letters, and damning information about Hyson. It takes Sir Clinton Driffield to untangle the case and prove that the cast-iron alibi is the one which should arouse suspicion."

The Counsellor

J.J. Connington

1939

"Every Sunday on Radio Ardennes, the Counsellor had his hour. His voice clear, expressive and sympathetic as it answered a selection of the queries that crowded his post-bag. 'Just ask a question' was his motto. But even he did not expect Wallace Whatgift to ask for his help in solving the mysterious disappearance of a young woman."

The Four Defences

J.J. Connington

1940

"An unidentified body is found in a blazing car. A man in the locality is missing. But the corpse in the car is not that of the missing man, though someone has made an uncommonly thorough job of faking it to seem so. And just because his unknown opponent had gone to such lengths to prevent an investigation going further, Detective Mark Brand aka The Counsellor's 'satiable curiosity' is up."

The 21 Clues

J.J. Connington

1941

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"The Constable was content to call it a suicide pact. All the evidence was there. The bodies of John Barratt and Mrs Callis were discovered in a lovers' nook among some bracken. Beside them was a pistol with Barratt's fingerprints on it, and torn up letters in the handwriting of Barratt and Mrs Callis were scattered around. Arrangements for the elopement had apparently been complete. Why had their plans fallen through? Why had they turned their backs on the railway station with tickets to London in their pockets? Sir Clinton Driffield is not so sure that the obvious solution is the right one."

No Past Is Dead

J.J. Connington

1942

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"It was not altogether surprising that Ambrose Brenthurst was found brutally murdered outside Fountain Court the night he had presided over the diner meeting of the 'Hernshaw Thirteen Club'. Many were the potential murderers - some of them guests at the diner. But when a second murder takes place it precipitates a crisis in which investigator Sir Clinton Driffield must penetrate a maze of conflicting evidence to spot the murderer."

Jack-in-the-Box

J.J. Connington

1944

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When recently exhumed church relics are stolen from a small English village the theft is quickly followed by four murders. The joint inheritance of a piece of property supplies a motive but the cause of death is mystery. Cue Sir Clinton Driffield, who investigates and makes an on-the-spot arrest of the culprits and their super-scientific death machine."

Common Sense Is All You Need

J.J. Connington

1947

A Clinton Driffield novel.

"When Pickford's body was found hanging from a beam in his garage, Inspector Loxton was sure that it was a case of suicide following a series of financial and domestic worries. Then came the criminologist with his slogan, 'Common sense is all you need', and in ten minutes he upset the inspector's hypothesis. Further evidence pointed so clearly in one direction that the arrest and the conviction of the criminal seemed almost a matter of form. But both the Inspector and the expert are way off course, and it is left to the Chief Constable to clear up the mystery."

• Stereochemistry, A.W. Stewart, Longmans, Green & Co, 1907
• Recent Advances in Organic Chemistry, A.W. Stewart, Longmans, Green & Co, 1908
• Recent Advances in Physical & Inorganic Chemistry, A.W. Stewart, Longmans, Green & Co, 19??
• Chemistry And Its Borderland, A.W. Stewart, Longmans, Green & Co, 19??
• Some Physico-Chemical Themes, A.W. Stewart, Longmans, Green & Co, 19??

Masters of the Humdrum Mystery

Cecil John Charles Street, Freeman Wills Crofts, Alfred Walter Stewart and the British Detective Novel, 1920-1961

Curtis Evans

2012

"In 1972, in an attempt to elevate the stature of the 'crime novel,' influential crime writer and critic Julian Symons cast numerous Golden Age detective fiction writers into literary perdition as 'Humdrums,' condemning their focus on puzzle plots over stylish writing and explorations of character, setting and theme. This volume explores the works of three prominent British 'Humdrums' - Cecil John Charles Street, Freeman Wills Crofts, and Alfred Walter Stewart - revealing their work to be more complex, as puzzles and as social documents, than Symons allowed. By championing the intrinsic merit of these mystery writers, the study demonstrates that reintegrating the 'Humdrums' into mystery genre studies provides a fuller understanding of the Golden Age of detective fiction and its aftermath."