# The Paradise Mystery — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The Paradise Mystery by J. S. Fletcher.

- [Only the Guardian](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/i-only-the-guardian.md): The chapter opens with a vivid description of Wrychester Cathedral Close, an idyllic and ancient setting. Dr. Mark Ransford, a prosperous medical practitioner, is at breakfast with his two wards: Mary Bewery, a young wom
- [II: Making an Enemy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/ii-making-an-enemy.md): Dr. Ransford confronts his assistant Pemberton Bryce about his persistent and unwelcome attentions toward Mary Bewery. Despite Ransford's clear dismissal of Bryce's suit, Bryce refuses to back down, leading Ransford to t
- [St. Wrytha’s Stair](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/iii-st-wrytha-s-stair.md): After being dismissed by Dr. Ransford, Bryce prepares to leave the surgery but is interrupted by a well-dressed, nervous stranger asking for Ransford. Bryce directs him through Paradise, a secluded enclosure near the Cat
- [The Room at the Mitre](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/iv-the-room-at-the-mitre.md): Bryce observes Ransford's agitated state before informing him of a stranger's death in Paradise. Ransford's reaction suggests concealed knowledge. At the scene, Varner reports seeing the victim thrown from a doorway by a
- [V: The Scrap of Paper](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/v-the-scrap-of-paper.md): Bryce examines a cryptic scrap of paper found on the dead man, which appears to be a Latin direction to a location in Paradise near Richard Jenkins's tomb. He considers theories about the stranger's death, including Arch
- [By Misadventure](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/vi-by-misadventure.md): The inquest on John Braden concludes with a verdict of death by misadventure, much to Ransford's relief. Bryce, observing Ransford's agitation, pursues his own investigation: he consults the cathedral burial register and
- [The Double Trail](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/vii-the-double-trail.md): Mary Bewery observes Dr. Ransford's unusual distress over the death of the stranger, John Braden, and notes his relief after the inquest. Ransford arranges for a wreath to be placed on Braden's grave, deepening Mary's cu
- [The Best Man](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/viii-the-best-man.md): Bryce travels to Barthorpe and Braden Medworth, where he discovers a marriage record from 1891 between John Brake and Mary Bewery, witnessed by Mark Ransford. He interviews the old parish clerk Charles Claybourne, who re
- [The House of His Friend](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/ix-the-house-of-his-friend.md): Bryce visits the retired vicar of Braden Medworth, Mr. Gilwaters, to uncover the truth about Mary Bewery's parentage. Mr. Gilwaters reveals that Mary Bewery was his governess who married John Brake, with Mark Ransford as
- [X: Diplomacy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/x-diplomacy.md): Bryce, convinced that Mark Ransford killed John Braden (whom he believes to be John Brake), decides to keep his theory secret and instead use it to pressure Mary Bewery into marriage. He waylays Mary on Wrychester Common
- [XI: The Back Room](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xi-the-back-room.md): Mary Bewery learns that gossip about Dr. Ransford is spreading in Wrychester. During lunch, Dick Bewery tells Ransford that townspeople believe Braden visited him before his death. Ransford denies it. Later, Mary and Ran
- [XII: Murder of the Mason’s Labourer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xii-murder-of-the-mason-s-labourer.md): Bryce discovers the location of Richard Jenkins's tomb through Ambrose Campany's drawings, but before he can inspect it, he finds the mason's labourer Collishaw dead in Paradise. Bryce suspects poisoning, and Inspector M
- [XIII: Bryce Is Asked a Question](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-bryce-is-asked-a-question.md): Bryce warns Ransford that the police suspect him of poisoning Collishaw, but Ransford refuses to reveal what he knows about Braden. Mary urges Ransford to speak, but he insists on waiting. Later, Simpson Harker privately
- [From the Past](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-from-the-past.md): Simpson Harker reveals to Bryce that John Braden was actually John Brake, a former bank manager he arrested years ago. Braden had paid back the embezzled money and claimed he never benefited from it. He hired Harker to i
- [The Double Offer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xv-the-double-offer.md): Bryce and Mitchington discuss two competing reward handbills: one from Ransford's solicitors offering £500 for information about the deaths of Braden and Collishaw, and another from Folliot's solicitor offering £1,000 fo
- [Beforehand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-beforehand.md): Bryce prepares to secretly excavate the tomb of Richard Jenkins in Paradise, but discovers that Inspector Mitchington, the Duke of Saxonsteade, and others are already searching the area. With Dick Bewery's help, Bryce ob
- [XVII: To Be Shadowed](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-to-be-shadowed.md): Dick Bewery brings news of a secret nighttime excavation in Paradise that led to the discovery of the stolen Saxonsteade jewels. Later, Inspector Mitchington and Detective-Sergeant Jettison visit Dr. Ransford, revealing 
- [Surprise](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-surprise.md): Mitchington and Jettison visit Bryce late at night, revealing the discovery of the stolen jewels in Paradise. Bryce, having already observed their activities, discloses that Harker is actually a retired detective named H
- [XIX: The Subtlety of the Devil](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xix-the-subtlety-of-the-devil.md): Bryce reveals to Inspector Mitchington and Sergeant Jettison his detailed theory about the Wrychester Paradise mystery. He explains that John Braden was actually John Brake, a former bank manager who was tricked and impr
- [XX: Jettison Takes a Hand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xx-jettison-takes-a-hand.md): Detective-Sergeant Jettison investigates the Collishaw case, visiting the Wrychester Second Friendly Society to learn that Collishaw deposited fifty pounds in gold shortly before his death. He then checks local banks and
- [The Saxonsteade Arms](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-the-saxonsteade-arms.md): Bryce rides to Saxonsteade to find Glassdale, hoping to gather information about John Brake (Braden) and his past. He encounters Glassdale at an inn and learns that Brake never mentioned his family or Ransford, but was o
- [Other People's Notions](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-other-people-s-notions.md): Bryce, determined to act, seeks Mary Bewery but finds her absent from the golf links. He instead lunches with Sackville Bonham, who shares his stepfather Folliot's theory linking the Saxonsteade diamond discovery to the 
- [The Unexpected](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-the-unexpected.md): Mary Bewery confronts Pemberton Bryce in her garden after he arrives with alarming news about Dr. Ransford's imminent arrest. Bryce reveals the police theory that Ransford had a motive to murder John Braden, based on a p
- [Finesse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxiv-finesse.md): Glassdale visits a solicitor in Wrychester to inquire about the two rewards offered for information on the Braden-Collishaw case. The solicitor reveals that the larger reward is offered by Mr. Stephen Folliot. Glassdale 
- [The Old Well House](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxv-the-old-well-house.md): Bryce visits Folliot in his secluded well-house to confront him about his past identity as Falkiner Wraye and his involvement in the events that led to John Brake's imprisonment. Bryce reveals his knowledge of the secret
- [The Other Man](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxvi-the-other-man.md): Glassdale reveals to Inspector Mitchington that Stephen Folliot is actually Falkiner Wraye, a man who cheated John Brake years ago. Dr. Ransford returns from London with confirmation that Folliot is Wraye and that the ve
- [The Guarded Secret](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters/xxvii-the-guarded-secret.md): Mary Bewery waits for Dr. Ransford's return, hoping to confront him about Bryce's accusations. Instead, Dick brings news that Folliot shot Bryce dead and then poisoned himself. Ransford arrives and reveals the full truth

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_paradise_mystery_se/chapters