The Riddle of Cell No. 13

The main character of ten detective novellas that make up the collection, Professor Van Duzen, is a man with a bad temper but a powerful intellect, which has earned him the nickname the Thinking Machine. The professor effortlessly unravels criminal... mysteries and snaps through crime puzzles like nuts. The novella "The Riddle of Cell No. 13," which opens the collection, was written in 1905 and is included in the list of the hundred best detective stories in the English language. The “Thinking Machine” makes an unusual bet with his friends: Van Duzen suggests locking him in solitary confinement in the most secure prison and promises to escape within a week. The professor only has his own considerable mind, logical constructs, and knowledge of human psychology at his disposal. His friends shrug their shoulders and laugh, while the professor remains calm and confident. What does he hope for and how does he plan to win the bet?