Raffles

Raffles, the famous cricketer and amateur cracksman, is back in an original adventure. Harry "Bunny" Manders, Raffles' biographer and accomplice, recounts the tale of the time they broke into the bookshop Hatchard's of Piccadilly. Their mission? To steal a letter, formally owned by one Rene d'Aramis, which if published could compromise a prominent member of the government. Yet even more intriguing than their employment is their employer - a certain Mr Sherlock Holmes of 221b Baker Street.

Raffles decides to undertake a job close to home, at the Albany. His new neighbour is Rupert Robert Fuller, a powerful - and odious - financier. In order to distract Fuller, whilst he breaks into the banker's opulent apartment, Raffles calls upon his friend - the cricketing legend C.B. Fry. Yet how much is Raffles being distracted himself Mary Flanagan, Fuller's beautiful and enigmatic maid? Has someone finally stolen the gentleman thief's heart?

Raffles The Gentleman Thief returns in this magnificent third instalment of Richard Foreman's new series based upon the adventures of one of the classic characters of British fiction. In Raffles: A Perfect Wicket, Bunny is worried for his great friend. Since the disappearance of Mary Flanagan (the events of which are contained in the story Raffles: Bowled Over) Raffles has grown despondent, sick with boredom. Thankfully a remedy is found, in the form of an invite to a party.

Raffles: Caught Out follows on from the events of Raffles: A Perfect Wicket. Harry "Bunny" Manders returns to London to find a message in his apartment from Raffles, summoning him to the Albany. Their mutual friend "Ranji", the great batsman of the age, has been compromised by a beautiful and mysterious widow, Iris Adams. Their task is to retrieve a ruby ring in her possession - and if diplomacy fails Raffles vows to use his skills as a cracksman.

In this tale, Harry "Bunny" Manders finds himself badly in debt. Bunny must pay off a loan to an unscrupulous moneylender, Alexander "Shylock" Cardinal, or else lose all of his assets - or worse, his life. Bunny puts his faith in his best friend to save the day but can even Raffles pull off a job at such short notice - and raise such a large sum of money?

A.J. Raffles has left the country in mysterious circumstances. Harry "Bunny" Manders is left back in London, to worry about his friend and listen to all sorts of rumours concerning his sudden disappearance. Bunny has troubles of his own however. The father of Lucy Rosebery, Prescott Rosebery, will not consent to his daughter marrying someone with so little social standing and income. Raffles suddenly returns though - and one of his first tasks is to arrange a cricket match against a highly accomplished team, captained by Prescott Rosebery.