Most Popular Oppenheim Titles


Choosing from among the more than 150 Oppenheim volumes can be a daunting task. In selecting one of his novels or short story collections to read, consider taking your lead from what the market place favored. That is to say, his best selling books are likely to be the ones that will hold the most appeal for the most readers.

Here is a ranking of the top 25 best-selling Oppenheim books. This ranking is based on the number of copies of these books currently available on the used book market. The secondary book market is a good indicator of the total number of books published throughout the years.

  1. The Great Impersonation
  2. Matorni's Vineyard
  3. The Great Prince Shan
  4. The Treasure House of Martin Hews
  5. The Double Traitor
  6. The Dumb Gods Speak
  7. Envoy Extraordinary
  8. Mr. Grex of Monte Carlo
  9. The Man From Sing Sing
  10. Floating Peril
  11. The Mayor on Horseback
  12. Peter Ruff and the Double Four
  13. Up the Ladder of Gold
  14. The Wrath to Come
  15. The Golden Beast
  16. Maker of History
  17. Colossus of Arcadia
  18. The Lion and the Lamb
  19. Battle of Basinghall Street
  20. The Light Beyond
  21. The Strange Boarders of Palace Crescent
  22. The Devil's Paw
  23. The Yellow House
  24. The Malefactor
  25. Exit a Dictator

Some personal favorites:

The Great Impersonation is the most well-crafted of all the Oppenheims I have read. It is a mystery about a man who switches identity with another man. The book keeps you guessing until the last page. It is still in print and has gone through many editions through the years. It is far and away the most popular of all Oppenheim novels -- selling more than twice the number of its nearest competitor.

The Treasure House of Martin Hews is my favorite Oppenheim novel, probably because the main character in the book is a collector, like myself. It is a crime story and is not terribly sophisticated, but I do like Martin Hews.

Peter Ruff and the Double Four is a wonderful collection of stories about an unlikely detective. It is classic Victorian/Edwardian detective fiction with a clever sleuth. This is as close as Oppenheim comes to Conan Doyle or Arthur Morrison.

The Lion and the Lamb is a hard-boiled noir story about a couple of criminal low-lifes just released from prison. Great story.


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