Average Jones (Library of Congress Crime Classics)

Average Jones is a brilliant young man of independent means, thanks to the bequest of a wealthy yet jaded uncle. Five years after graduating college, he finds himself bored with travel and his bon vivant lifestyle, and restless for some meaningful hobby to occupy his mind. On the advice of a friend, he decides to set up a business as an "Ad-Visor," warning potential buyers of goods and services of potential scams. Each "ad-vising" case turns into a crime-detecting story showcasing the amateur sleuth's deductive reasoning, a la Sherlock Holmes. At times bizarre, at times humorous, this collection is highly entertaining, featuring stories such as "The B-flat Trombone," "The Man Who Spoke Latin," and "The Million-Dollar Dog."