The Barrel Mystery: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Barrel Mystery: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

The Barrel Mystery is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Flynn, William J. (William James) (1867–1928).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Barrel Mystery" by William J. Flynn is a crime novel written in the early 20th century. Set against the gritty backdrop of New York City, the story revolves around a heinous murder that sparks a deep investigation led by members of the Secret Service. The narrative explores themes of organized crime, particularly focusing on the activities of a group known as the "Black-Hand Society" and the ensuing chaos that follows their violent and criminal dealings. The opening of the book introduces readers to a chilling scene as Mrs. Frances Conners discovers a gruesome sight—a man's body stuffed into a barrel on the streets of New York. This shocking discovery sends shockwaves through the community and prompts a frantic investigation by the police and Secret Service agents. As more details emerge, particularly regarding the victim's ties to a deadly Sicilian gang and counterfeiting operations, tensions rise. The scene sets a suspenseful tone, hinting at a tangled web of greed, violence, and betrayal, establishing a compelling foundation for the unfolding mystery.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Barrel Mystery
- Author credits: Flynn, William J. (William James) (1867–1928)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Detective and mystery stories
- Fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Crime, Thrillers and Mystery
- Category: Novels
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


