7 h 48 minAudiobook14 minSummaryRead it, hear it, the 15-minute summary, and print and large print at cost
Audiobook edition · 7 h 48 minPaperback · 6 × 9 in · printing soonHardcover · 6 × 9 in · printing soonAbout this book
What if the person you cannot trust is already inside your small circle?
First published in 1919, Simon is J. Storer Clouston’s Scottish country mystery of a killer hidden in plain sight. Clouston knows the north of Scotland well, and his story draws you into a close community that hides more than it shows. A small circle holds private secrets, and suspicion moves from face to face.
This is a mystery driven by doubt rather than constant action. Clues and character invite you to look closely, weigh what people say, and question what they guard. As you read, each account of where someone was and when becomes something to consider, not simply accept.
What you’ll discover
- A watchful Scottish world Enter a country setting where a close community keeps its secrets near at hand.
- A circle of suspects Study a small cast that gives you room to weigh each person's possible part.
- Secrets behind familiar faces Wonder what each person guards, and how much those private secrets might matter.
- The pull of doubt Follow suspicion as it shifts, making trust itself part of the mystery.
- Clues worth your patience Read slowly and test what people say about where they were and when.
Who will love it
Readers who love country murder puzzles, a comic streak, and a hero who solves mysteries by listening will enjoy this novel. It also suits fans of Scottish settings and gentle romance.
What’s inside
The key ideas, in the 15-minute summary
- A hidden traveler brings trouble to Simon Rattar
- Three visitors bring Simon three different troubles
- Locked rooms and a drive home fill one day
- A quarrel by letter ends in a murder
- Motive turns suspicion toward two young people
- A sporting stranger starts asking about fishing
- Carrington tests his suspects one by one
- Appearances can mislead a whole county
- Rumor grows faster than proof
- Humor and fair clues shape the telling
Who’s who
- Simon RattarThe silent, respected procurator fiscal and family lawyer of the county, whose behavior grows strange after a night of footsteps.
- Ned CromartyThe one-eyed laird of Stanesland, a blunt former frontiersman who wants to clear the people he cares about.
- Cicely FarmondA young woman in mourning who wants to know who her parents were and finds herself suspected.
- F. T. CarringtonA monocled private inquiry agent who poses as a sporting visitor and gets everyone to talk.
- James BissetThe butler at Keldale, a self-taught philosopher who loves deductions and explaining principles.
- Malcolm CromartySir Reginald's artistic young heir, in debt and in love with his own troubles.
- Mary MacLeanSimon's nervous Highland housemaid, who notices small oddities and fears something is wrong in the house.
- Lilian CromartyNed's polished older sister, who likes comfort and hopes to see him married well.
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Simon
by J. Storer Clouston · 1919
A lawyer called Silent Simon cuts his chin, locks his attic, and flinches at every footstep in a quiet Scottish town.
Medium level5–10 hours to readfrançais
Excellent
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In short
A man lies flat on the floor of a railway carriage as the train slows for a station. Nobody must see him.
From the 15-minute summary · Key idea 1
A hidden traveler brings trouble to Simon Rattar
The story opens with a man who works hard not to be seen. He changes carriages whenever company arrives and lies flat under the seat as the train passes the last platform.
He steps down on the wrong side of the track and walks into town like someone who knows every corner. Later he hides among the trees of a villa drive while two women hurry past.
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Which edition is right for me
- 15-minute summary
- The key ideas of the whole book in about 14 minutes. A good first look, or a refresher.
Details
- First published
- 1919
- Language
- français
- Reading time
- 5 h 0 min
- Level
- Medium level
Cite this edition
Clouston, J. Storer. Simon. Library of Alexandria, 2026, libraryofalexandria.com/products/simon.
Clouston, J. S. (2026). Simon. Library of Alexandria. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/simon (Original work published 1919)
Clouston, J. Storer. Simon. Library of Alexandria, 2026. https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/simon.
@book{clouston2026simon,
author = {Clouston, J. Storer},
title = {Simon},
publisher = {Library of Alexandria},
year = {2026},
url = {https://libraryofalexandria.com/products/simon},
note = {First published 1919}
}
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What is Simon by J. Storer Clouston about?
It is a Scottish detective novel about the murder of Sir Reginald Cromarty in his library. Rumor blames two young people, while a lawyer, a laird, a butler, and a monocled inquiry agent each play a part in finding the truth.
Who is F. T. Carrington in Simon?
Carrington is a private inquiry agent who arrives at the Kings Arms in the guise of a sporting visitor. His open manner and monocle make people trust him, and he solves the case by listening.
Why is Simon Rattar called Silent Simon?
Because he says little and mostly grunts, nods, and watches with steady eyes. People assume his silence hides great wisdom, so his reputation for shrewdness rests on what he does not say.
The author
J. Storer Clouston
1870–1944 · Scottish novelist and historian
J. Storer Clouston (1870–1944) was a British novelist and historian who lived in Orkney. He wrote fiction and works about Orkney’s history. His novels included The Lunatic at Large, published in 1899, and The Spy in Black, published in 1917. He also wrote the novel Simon.
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