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THE WORKS OF
M(ATTHIAS) McDONNELL BODKIN
(1850-1933)

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COMPILED BY ROY GLASHAN FROM THE
WORLDCAT AND FICTIONMAGS INDEX WEBSITES

Version Date: 2022-02-20


ABOUT M. McDONNEL BODKIN


Illustration

M. McDonnell Bodkin



Irish barrister and author of detective and mystery stories Bodkin was appointed a judge in County Clare and also served as a Nationalist member of Parliament. His native country and years in the courtroom are recalled in the autobiographical Recollections of an Irish Judge (1914).

Bodkin's witty stories, collected in Dora Myrl, the Lady Detective (1900) and Paul Beck, the Rule of Thumb Detective (1898), have been unjustly neglected.

Beck, his first detective (when he first appeared in print in Pearson's Magazine in 1897, he was named "Alfred Juggins"), claims to be not very bright, saying, "I just go by the rule of thumb, and muddle and puzzle out my cases as best I can."

...In The Capture of Paul Beck (1909) he and Dora begin on opposite sides in a case, but in the end they are married. They have a son who solves a crime at his university in Young Beck, a Chip Off the Old Block (1911).

Other Bodkin books are The Quests of Paul Beck (1908), Pigeon Blood Rubies (1915), and Guilty or Not Guilty? (1929).

Encyclopedia of Mystery and Detection, Steinbrunner & Penzler, 1976.



THE WRITINGS OF M. McDONNEL BODKIN

* The Adventures of Mr. Alfred Juggins (Paul Beck) (Pearson's Weekly series) (qv)
    Contains the stories:
       01. The Vanishing Diamonds (23 Jan 1897)
       02. By a Hair's Breadth (30 Jan 1897)
       03. Murder by Proxy (6 Feb 1897)
       04. Greased Lightning (13 Feb 1897)
       05. The Dog and the Doctor (20 Feb 1897)
       06. The Poisoner (27 Feb 1897)
       07. Under His Own Hand (6 Mar 1897)
       08. The Slip Knot (13 Mar 1897)
       09. The Miniature Halter (20 Mar 1897)
       10. The Two Kings (3 Apr 1897)
       11. Cabinet Secrets (10 Apr 1897)
       12. The Slump in Silver (17 Apr 1897)
    Collected as Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* "Attention!" (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #34, Aug 1901

* The Baffling of Baffles [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Story-teller, #23, Feb 1909
    Short Stories, April 1918

* A Bear Squeeze: or Her Second Self (novel?)
    Co-authors: Harold Copping and Margaret Bodkin
    Ward, Lock & Company Limited, London, 1901

* The Beck-Myrl Family Omnibus
    Shelburne, Ontarion : Battered Silicon Dispatch Box, 1999
    Contents:
      1. Paul Beck, the Rule of Thumb Detective
      2. Dora Myrl, the Lady Detective
      3. The Quests of Paul Beck
      4. The Capture of Paul Beck
      5. Young Beck: A Chip of the Old Block
      6. Pigeon Blood Rubies
      7. Paul Beck, Detective
  
* Behind the Picture (collection of love stories)
    Ward, Lock & Company, 1914

* A Bird of Prey [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #112, Jul 1914
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* Blessed Bernadette (booklet)
    The Irish Messenger, Dublin, 1929

* Bluff (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #20, Jun 1900

* A Bolt from the Blue (story)
    The Journal. Adelaide, Australia, 8 Feb 1919 

* Borrowed Days (novel)
    Browne & Nolan, Dublin, 1942

* By a Hair's Breadth [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 30 Jan 1897
    Short Stories, Jun 1917

* Cabinet Secrets [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 10 Apr 1897
    Short Stories, October 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* The Capture of Paul Beck (novel)
    T. Fisher Unwin, London, 1909
    Little, Brown, & Company, Boston, 1911
    Chapter Titles:
       01. A Proposal
       02. A Friend in Need
       03. Boom and Crash
       04. A Rescue
       05. A Transformation
       06. Lost And Found
       07. A Rich Revenge
       08. Attack
       09. Defence
       10. The Signed Photograph
       11. To The Rescue
       12. A False Alarm
       13. Turning the Tables
       14. A Warning
       15. "Love's Young Dream"
       16. A Game of Bridge
       17. An Armistice
       18. Plotting
       19. Counter-Plotting
       20. An Encounter
       21. Outwitted
       22. Triumphant
       23. A Truce
       24. A Woman's Will
       25. Trapped
       26. In a Hurry

* The Casebook of Paul Beck. See Paul Beck, Detective

* The Choice of Weapons (story)
    Pan: The Fiction Magazine, #6, Dec 1921

* A Considered Judgement: A Report (booklet)
    Talbot Press, Dublin, 1921

* The Consolation Stakes (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #48, Oct 1902

* Counsel and Culprit (story)
    The Harmsworth London Magazine, Aug 1901

* Cupid in a Bunker (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #68, Nov 1910

* The Dead Hand [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #109, Apr 1914
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* Diamond Cut Diamond (story)
    The Western Mail, Perth. Australia 3 Dec 1931 

* The Dog and the Doctor [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 20 Feb 1897
    Short Stories, Mar 1918
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* A Dog's Death [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #148, Jul 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* Dora Myrl — The Lady Detective (collection)
    Chatto & Windus, London, 1900
    Contains the stories:
       01. The False Heir and the True
       02. The Hidden Violin
       03. How He Cut His Stick
       04. The Palmist
       05. The Last Shall Be First
       06. Clue
       07. A Railway Race
       08. The Pauper's Legacy
       09. Was it a Forgery?
       10. Hide and Seek
       11. Weighed and Found Wanting
       12. The Wings of a Bird
	
* The Dream and the Waking [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #146, May 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* Driven Home [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #108, Oct 1907

* A Drop Of Blood (story)
    The Age, Melbourne, Australia, 8 Jan 1926 

* Drowned Diamonds [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #103, May 1907

* The Electric Trap [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Detective Magazine, #21, 31 Aug 1923

* The Eye of the Microscope [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Detective Magazine, #13, 11 May 1923

* Famous Irish Trials (non-fiction)
    James Duffy, Dublin, 1928

* Find the Forger (story)
    The Saturday Journal, Adelaide, Australia, 17 Nov 1928 

* The Fortune-Teller (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #15, Jan 1900
    Everybody's Magazine, Mar 1900

* Golf for Duffers, (??)
    Fry's Magazine, #67, Oct 1909

* The Grand Slam (story)
    The Smart Set, May 1911

* Greased Lightning [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 13 Feb 1897
    Short Stories, Dec 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective,     C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* Halt, Invader! (non-fiction)
    Browne & Nolan, Dublin, 1940

* Her Second Self (novel?)
    See A Bear Squeeze: or Her Second Self

* His Brother's Keeper (novel?)
    Hurst & Blackett, London, 1913

* His Hand and Seal [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #111, Jan 1908

* Hunt the Hare: A Humorous Play in Two Scenes
    James Duffy, Dublin, 1926

* In Defence of the Detective Story (article)
    The Detective Magazine, #62, 27 Mar 1925

* In the Days of Goldsmith (historical novel?)
     John Long, London, 1903

* In Safe Keeping (story)
  The Herald (Tamworth), 30 May 1931

* Irish Characters and Irish Wit (article)
   The Strand Magazine, #302, Feb 1916

* Kitty the Madcap. A Romance of To-day
    Talbot Press, Dublin, 1927

* Laughter in Court, (ar)
    Pearson's Magazine, #287, Nov 1919

* The Leaden Casket [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Detective Magazine #14, 25 May 1923
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* The Locked Door [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #141, Jul 1910

* Lord Edward Fitzgerald: An Historical Romance
    Phoenix, Dublin, 1986?

* Lord Edward: A Tragedy in Five Acts, Four Scenes (play)
    James Duffy, Dublin, 1918

* The Lottery; A Comedy in One Act
    James Duffy, Dublin, 1927

* A Madcap Marriage (novel)
    John Long, London, 1906

* The Matchmaker (story)
  The World's News, Sydney, Australia,  29 Jun 1918 

* The Miniature Halter (story)
 Pearson's Weekly, 20 Mar 1897
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* A Modern Miracle (novel?)
    Co-Authors: Henry Austin and Margaret Bodkin
    Ward, Lock & Company, London, 1902

* A Modern Robyn Hood (book)
    Ward, Lock & Co., London, 1903
       Contains the stories:
       Run to Win
       (no further data found)

* Murder by Proxy [Paul Beck], (nv)
    Pearson's Weekly, 6 Feb 1897
    Short Stories, Jan 1918

* The Murder on the Golf Links [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #105, Jul 1907

* My Best Story — A Wrong Turning (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #27, Jun 1907

* The New Departure in Catholic Liberal Education (non-fiction)
    Gill, Dublin, 1878

* Old Rowley (novel)
    Co-author: Margaret Bodkin
    Holden & Hardingham Limited, London, 1916

* Only a Voice (story)
    The World's News, Sydney, Australia, 13 Mar 1920 
    
* Overruled (story)
    The Canadian Magazine, Sep 1922

* The Passion of Mary (booklet)
    Clonmore & Reynolds, Dublin, 1962
    Burns & Oates, London, 1962

* Patsey the Omadaun (novel)
    Chatto & Windus, London, 1904

* Paul Beck, Detective (collection)
    Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929
    Black Heath Editions, 2019, as The Casebook of Paul Beck 
    Contains the Stories
       01. The Leaden Casket
       02. The Pearl in the Pill Box
       03. Two Penny Stamps
       04. A Wedding Tragedy
       05. The Phoenix
       06. A Dog's Death
       07. The Dream and the Waking
       08. The Dead Hand
       09. A Snapshot
       10. A Bird of Prey

* Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective (book)
    C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898
    First published in Pearson's Weekly as The Adventures of Mr. Alfred Juggins
    Contains the stories:
       01. The Vanishing Diamonds
       02. The Miniature Halter
       03. By a Hair's Breadth
       04. Murder by Proxy
       05. Greased Lightning
       06. The Dog and the Doctor
       07. Under His Own Hand
       08. The Poisoner
       09. The Slip Knot
       10. The Slump in Silver
       11. Cabinet Secrets
       12. The Two Kings

* The Pearl in the Pill Box [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #147, Jun 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* The Phoenix [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #108, Mar 1914
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* Peggy Dillon, the Midwife, and the Brave Mr. Balfour (pamphlet)
    W.P. Swan, Dublin, 1889

* Pigeon-Blood Rubies [Paul Beck] (novel)
    Eveleigh Nash, London, 1915
    Detective Story Magazine, 5 Jun-5 Aug 1916 (5 parts)
    Chapter Titles:
       01. Sudden Death
       02. "Like Father, Like Son"
       03. A Discovery
       04. Suicide or Murder?
       05. Again
       06. A Trap
       07. The Arrest
       08. Committed
       09. Temptation and Evasion
       10. Alex as a Detective
       11. The Clues Accumulate
       12. Free
       13. Son and Heir
       14. A Motiveless Murder
       15. Lord Wickham
       16. The Black Pearls
       17. A Thief in the Night
       18. On the Track
       19. Death and Desertion
       20. Peter's Guardian Devil
       21. A Fascinating Danger
       22. Failure, Flight and Fall
       23. A Pantomime on the Golf Links
       24. A Disconcerting Resemblance
       25. Lip-Reading
       26. The Awaking of Love
       27. Rosie Finds Her Father
       28. The Time at Hand
       29. Algernon Is Turned Down
       30. The Ordeal of Algernon
       31. Beck Meets With an Accident
       32. Peter Disappears
       33. "The Game Is Up!"
       34. A Candid Scoundrel
       35. Way Out

* The Poisoner [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 27 Feb 1897
    Short Stories, Feb 1918
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* Poteen Punch (collection)
     Irish after-dinner stories (mostly from Christmas numbers of United Ireland
     M.H. Gill, Dublin, 1890

* The Quests of Paul Beck (The Royal Magazine series)
    Contains the stories:
       01. The Voice from the Dead (Mar 1907)
       02. Trifles Light as Air (Apr 1907)
       03. Drowned Diamonds (May 1907)
       04. The Spanish Prisoner (Jun 1907)
       05. The Murder on the Golf Links (Jul 1907)
       06. The Rape of the Ruby (Aug 1907)
       07.The Ship's Run (Sep 1907)
       08. Driven Home (Oct 1907)
       09. 'Twixt the Devil and the Deep Sea (Nov 1907)
       10. The Unseen Hand (Dec 1907)
       11. His Hand and Seal (Jan 1908)
       12. Quick Work (Feb 1908)

* The Quests of Paul Beck (book)
    T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908
    Contains the stories:
      01. The Voice from the Dead
      02. Trifles Light as Air
      03. Drowned Diamonds
      04. The Spanish Prisoner
      05. The Murder on the Golf Links
      06. The Rape of the Ruby
      07. The Ship's Run
      08. Driven Home
      09. 'Twixt the Devil and the Deep Sea
      10. The Unseen Hand
      11. His Hand and Seal
      12. Quick Work

* Quick Work [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #112, Feb 1908
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* The Rape of the Ruby [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #106, Aug 1907
    Short Stories Sep 1917, as "The Ravished Ruby"
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* The Ravished Ruby [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #106, Aug 1907, as "The Rape of the Ruby"
    Short Stories, Sep 1917
    Collected as "The Rape of the Ruby" in The Quests of Paul Beck,
    T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* The Rebels: A Romance of Ireland in 1798 (novel)
    Talbot Press, Dublin, 1921

* Recollections of an Irish Judge (autobiography)
    Hurst & Blackett, London, 1914
    Dodd, Mead, New York, 1914

* The Rod and the Ring (story)
    The Grand Magazine, #89, Jul 1912

* Run to Win (story)
    A Modern Robyn Hood, Ward, Lock & Co., London, 1903
    The Monthly Story Magazine, Jun 1906

* Safe Bind, Safe Find (story)
    The Chronicle, Adelaide, Australia 19 Sep 1929 

* Science or Superstition (article)
    The Cornhill Magazine, #297, Mar 1921

* Shillelagh and Shamrock (novel?)
    Chatte & Windus, London, 1902.

* The Ship's Run [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine #107, Sep 1907
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908 

* A Singular Duel (story)
    The Royal Magazine #31, May 1901

* The Slip Knot (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 13 Mar 1897
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* The Slump in Silver (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 17 Apr 1897
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* A Snapshot [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #111, Jun 1914
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* The Sniper Sniped (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #224, Jun 1917

* So Much Excellence: The Life of Saint John de Brébeuf, S.J. (booklet)
   The Irish Messenger, Dublin, 1950

* The Spanish Prisoner [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #104, Jun 1907
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* A Stolen Life (collection of Irish stories)
    Co-authors Frances A.E. Ewan and Margaret Bodkin
    Ward Lock & Company Limited, London, 1899

* The Test (novel?)
    Everett & Company, London, 1914

* The Torpedo (story)
    The World's News, Sydney, Australia, 13 Oct 1923 

* Trifles Light as Air [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #102, Apr 1907
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* A Trip Through the States and a Talk with the President (booklet)
     James Duffy, Dublin, 1907

* Trueman and Traitor; or The Rising of Emmet (novel)
    Talbot Press, Dublin, 1921

* 'Twixt the Devil and the Deep Sea [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #109, Nov 1907
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* The Two Kings [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 3 Apr 1897
    Short Stories, Jul 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* Two Penny Stamps [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #110, May 1914
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* Ulster's Opportunity: A United Ireland (booklet)
    James Duffy & Company Limited, London, 1917

* Under His Own Hand [Paul Beck] (story)
    Pearson's Weekly, 6 Mar 1897
    Short Stories, Aug 1917
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* The Unseen Hand [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine, #110, Dec 1907
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* The Vanishing Diamonds [Paul Beck] (novelette)
    Pearson's Weekly, 23 Jan 1897
    Short Stories May 1917
    Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (USA), #69, Aug 1949
    Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine (Australia), #36, Jun 1950
    Mike Shayne Mystery Magazine, Oct 1973
    Collected in Paul Beck, The Rule of Thumb Detective, C. Arthur Pearson, London, 1898

* The Voice from the Dead [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Royal Magazine #101, Mar 1907
    Collected in The Quests of Paul Beck, T. Fischer Unwin, London, 1908

* A Wedding Tragedy [Paul Beck] (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #107, Feb 1914
    Collected in Paul Beck, Detective, Talbot Press, Dublin, 1929

* White Magic (novel)
    Chapman and Hall, London, 1897

* The Will and the Man (story)
    The Blue Book Magazine May 1907

* A Wrong Turning (story)
    The Novel Magazine, #27, Jun 1907
    The World's News, Sydney, Australia, 27 Jul 1907

* Young Beck: A Chip of the Old Black (episodic novel)
    T. Fisher Unwin, London, 1911
    The Copp Clark Company Limited, Toronto, 1912
    Little, Brown & Company, Boston, 1912
    24 chapter with 12 stories of 2 chapters each
    Chapter titles:
      01. The Bertram Twins
      02. The Grand Slam
      03. A Derby Favourite
      04. A Close Shave
      05. Flight
      06. Capture
      07. A Panic in Parliament
      08. The Understudy
      09. Fairy Lilian
      10. "Two Are Company"
      11. Gertrude's Queer Lover
      12. The Locked Door
      13. The Blue Diamond
      14. Hide and Seek
      15. The Finger-Marks on the Cuff
      16. The Alibi
      17. Death's Threshold
      18. Nurse Elinor
      19. An Epidemic of Murder
      20. In the Grip of the Hypnotist
      21. Held Up
      22. "Flat Burglary"
      23. Margery Says "No"
      24. The "Glacier"

THE END


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