Kindle Price: $0.99

Save $6.00 (86%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Russell Thorndike
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Doctor Syn Kindle Edition

by Russell Thorndike (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 251 ratings
See all formats and editions
Christopher Syn, the kindly vicar of the little town of Dymchurch. Syn seems pleasant, but we soon learn that he has a sinister past.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    206 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    April 29, 2014
  5. File size
    614 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00K1G5MW4
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 29, 2014
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 614 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 206 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 251 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Russell Thorndike

Russell Thorndike

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
251 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Patrick King
5.0 out of 5 stars Edgier than Stevenson, Thorndyke brings the 18th century alive
Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
Thorndyke's writing is very evocative of the era and place. More importantly he offers us very strong questions about morality and the poor. He introduces us to poor who will not take poverty lying down. He introduces us to a church leader who, while taking Christ's lessons literally, has a very broad method of interpreting them.

These are adventure stories and can be enjoyed as such. But if you like to have your understanding of right and wrong challenged, if you like your characters in shade of gray rather than black and white, these are thinking people's adventure stories. No one here is exactly who they first seem to be.

Thorndyke's writing is beautiful and skillfully crafted. He writes like a fine illustrator draws and he brings the coast of England and its marshes alive. After reading a couple of these tales you'll want to see the places he writes about for yourself.

Suspenseful, exciting, not inappropriate for children but be prepared for some questions that may not be easy to answer.
15 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Victor Rodriguez
4.0 out of 5 stars Evocative and thoroughly enjoyable.
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
The setting of this atmospheric romantic adventure novel, the author immediately informs us, takes place in the seaside village of Dymchurch-under-the-Wall, between the villages of Hythe and Romney, in the southeast corner of Kent, England, during the reign of King George III (remember him?). In this seemingly tranquil parish lives Doctor of Divinity Christopher Syn, vicar of Dymchurch. By all appearance Syn—get it?—is a typical small town cleric whom everyone there respects, but we soon learn that he has a malevolent past: he was once the notorious pirate Captain Clegg; and now the masked leader—known as the mysterious Scarecrow of Romney Marsh—of a gang of local smugglers. Eventually, the British government sends a certain Captain Howard Collyer of the Royal Navy to unmask the smugglers’ leader and break the ring, but Syn evades capture time and again. Among the intriguing characters in this engaging novel is a mute who was a former pirate crewman whom Captain Clegg left to die on a desert isle, but has returned with a sharp harpoon to seek revenge. Although "Doctor Syn" is not classic literature, it nonetheless is an enjoyable read with, I dare say, a style reminiscent of Robert Louis Stevenson or Daphne du Maurier. With flair and skill Russell Thorndyke renders in "Doctor Syn" some flat but amusing characters, witty dialogue, knee-slapping humor, mysterious deaths, harrowing escapes, fun-filled action, a foggy Kentish backdrop—ah, I can still see masked, glowing riders dashing along the Romney Marsh in the dead of night.

Although "Doctor Syn" was followed by six other thrillers in a series, Wildside Press is the only reputable publisher with enough pluck to have released at least this one. The original first editions are available, but difficult to find, overpriced or as yellow as an old phonebook. Also available are those slipshod, overpriced, print-on-demand publications that do classics and noteworthy books a grave injustice by their sheer presence. Pity; we’d like to enjoy more good Syn.

-Victor Rodriguez, author of Taíno Sunrise.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
BlendingIn
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful World of the Scarecrow
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
This book, although first from a publication perspective, is really the last of the Scarecrow's adventures. Perhaps it sets the stage for the retrospective books to follow, but I would have preferred to read it last, myself, assuming I can find all the other books in the series.

I think most readers who pick up Thorndyke's tales are familiar with the Scarecrow, thanks to the Disney two- or three- part series we adored in the 1960's. Of all Thorndyke's tales, this is the closest to that Disney tale: the king's men have come to Romney Marsh to search for smugglers. They are greeted by the local minister, as well as various local characters, and the magistrate. A number of tales are told to the searchers; unusual happenings occur - and a famous pirate, long thought dead, seems to be alive.

The Sabatini-like prose isn't fast moving, but the book nonetheless offers a plot twist or two. The Disney team took their liberties (there's an impossible-to-find screen2print book from that effort in addition to the more straightforward Vic Crume book) to tighten up the story and make it work within the limitations of the Wonderful World of Color. So when you do pick this original up, there are a few surprises and it's worth persevering. On its own, this is an incredibly creative story, and, if you weren't already familiar with the characters, no doubt a bit frightening. You can see what inspired the Disney team. It's a pity they didn't embark (forgive the pun) on producing a few more adventures.

With this promising beginning, though, I'm embarking on my own voyage to read all these stories. I can't wait.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

donaldo
5.0 out of 5 stars Solid Piece of Work
Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2021
Verified Purchase
Tightly written with an interesting plot line. Good descriptions of local colour depicting historical events in period language. Will reread.
Report
M G Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent yarn
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 8, 2010
Verified Purchase
Remember reading these tales when I was at school and they have not lost any of their pace. The book cover caught the attention of my grandchildren and got them from their Wii. They thoroughly enjoyed reading the story as the knew of Dr. Syn from repeats on BBC 7. Would recommend for getting boys interested as the format is not novel like and the print easy to read.
6 people found this helpful
 Report
Susan Normington
5.0 out of 5 stars Exciting story great for teenagers
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2019
Verified Purchase
I bought the book as an Easter present. I remembered enjoyingt it myself. I don't think he has read it yet so I can't tell hether he enjoyed it or not.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Red Rob
4.0 out of 5 stars Dr Syn
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
Although this is the first book that Russell Thorndyke wrote in his Dr Syn series, it ultimately starts at the end of the Dr Syn story
but because so many people enjoyed it back in 1915, he then wrote 6 'prequels' (of which I have only read the first one, Dr Syn on the High Seas).
I therefore recommend that any other reader who wants to embark of this series of books does so in chronological order, so that they can build a better picture of the main character and subsequent characters that he encounters along the way.
This will make this final book in the story much more enjoyable.

Things I didn't like about this book:
Were some of the spelling mistakes not picked up at the proof reading stage and the author's use of the word 'ejaculated' everytime someone says something with gusto! (Page 155 being a classic example)
12 people found this helpful
 Report
Rosalynde Woodcock
5.0 out of 5 stars So pleased to see two of these on ebook
Reviewed in Canada on July 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
I read the Dr. Syn books when very young. I own all seven out of print books. So pleased to see two of these on ebook. Hope they issue the others. Great stories of adventure and romance.
Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report