Showing results by author "Fergus Hume" in All Categories

A selection of 17 classic stories of horror and the supernatural by some of the greatest writers in the genre. This compilation includes a mix of well-known classics by authors such as Charles Dickens and M. R. James, alongside several unjustly overlooked gems by less familiar names who were hugely popular and prolific in their day.

One lonely night, a cabbie discovers that his intoxicated passenger has been suffocated with a handkerchief saturated in chloroform. The murderer, the victim, and the motive are all unknown. Fergus Hume's first literary attempt, became the best-selling mystery novel of the 19th century.

Mr. Royston is driving his hansom through the night-time streets of Melbourne when he is hailed by a man supporting a slumped, intoxicated figure and requesting that the cabman take the unfortunate fellow home - before proceeding to drop his burden and make a rapid exit.

Arthur Vernon, a distinguished member of the Athenian club, harbors a secret that could shatter his carefully crafted life. Following the death of his father, he finds himself destitute and has started a private investigation agency under the alias “Nemo.” The potential fallout from his new venture could be catastrophic, especially if his high-society peers or his future in-laws were to discover the truth. Just when he believes he can keep his dual life hidden, an unexpected visit from his old college classmate, Constantine Maunders, turns his world upside down. Maunders, privy to Vernon...

Set against the backdrop of a tranquil seaside village, this English mystery unfolds through the life of an old family and their domineering matriarch. Striving to shape her adopted son according to her will, she finds herself entangled with the local vicar and his enchanting daughter. A stranger seeking acceptance among the villagers adds another layer of intrigue. The narrative weaves a tale of unseen connections and hidden secrets, all coming together to form an engrossing drama.

Dive into the enigmatic world of a murder mystery that unraveled in the heart of Melbourne. This cold-blooded crime committed by an elusive assassin shakes the city to its core. The mystery unfolds when a hansom cab pulls up at the Grey Street police station in St. Kilda, with the driver revealing a chilling discovery - a lifeless body that he suspects has been murdered. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction in this gripping narrative. (Excerpt from the first chapter.)

I shall never forget the terrible Christmas I spent at Ringshaw Grange in the year 1993. When Dr Lascelles is invited to spend Christmas at Ringshaw Grange with Frank Ringan and his cousin Percy, he doesn't expect it to be such a noteworthy episode. But with talk of the Grange's ghost, Lady Joan, events take a darker turn.

Whatever you do, don't go on to the beaches at dusk, or the Sand-Walker will come to your window at night. Such is the sinister warning given to the new lodger at the Beach Farm, a lonely house on the North Sea coast of England. But who, or what, is the Sand-Walker?

In a striking yellow boudoir, a mysterious woman is discovered murdered. Who is she, and what secrets does her past hold? Join Detective Absalom Gebb as he delves into a web of intrigue and deception to uncover the truth. (Introduction by MaryAnn)

In a shocking turn of events, an old pawnbroker is discovered strangled, with his lips eerily sealed by an opal serpent brooch. His stunning daughter is poised to inherit his considerable estate, but the arrival of another woman claiming to be the true daughter complicates matters. Join detective Hurd as he navigates a web of deception and intrigue to uncover the truth behind the pawnbroker’s mysterious death and determine who truly deserves to claim the legacy. (Summary by Richard Kilmer)

"The Lady from Nowhere" is a detective novel by Fergus Hume. Excerpt from the book: On the night of July 24th, in the year 1896, between the hours of eleven and twelve, Grangebury, a little-known suburb of London, was wrapped in slumber. The lamps were then extinguished by order of an economical municipality, the few lights still twinkling from the upper windows of various houses disappeared, and the little town lay under moon and stars as silent and almost as lonely as the spell-bound cities in eastern fables.

Orphaned heiress Miss Curtis, daughter of a successful mine owner, is the belle of Melbourne. Despite being inundated with suitors, she marries the penniless Randolph Villiers, against the advice of her friends. Mr Villiers proceeds to fritter away his wife's fortune on gambling and riotous living, while Mrs Villiers, too proud to admit her mistake in marrying him, suffers in silence.

Ferguson Wright Hume was born in Powick, Worcestershire on the 8th July 1859. He moved to become a barrister’s clerk to Melbourne and once there also began writing plays. The local theatres were not interested in his works, and it was only after one was stolen and presented as being by someone else that his stock rose at all. Most of his output was detective stories, thrillers and mysteries.

Published in 1899, The Second Customer and the Amber Beads by Victorian novelist Fergus Hume is about a smart, attractive, and resourceful Gypsy pawn shop owner named Hagar who clears an innocent person framed for murder.

The Green Mummy by Fergus Hume is a novel likely written during the late 19th century. The story revolves around a young couple, Archie Hope and Lucy Kendal, as they navigate romance against a backdrop filled with mystery and intrigue, particularly centering on a rare mummy that Lucy’s archaeologist stepfather, Professor Braddock, is eager to acquire.

In the heart of the English countryside, Dr. Jim Herrick and his companion Robin stumble upon a spine-chilling scene at a grand, eerily lit house - the body of the widely despised Colonel Carr, lifeless from a gunshot wound. Instead of leaving it to the authorities, Dr. Jim embarks on a gripping quest to unravel the mystery behind the murder in this classic who done it tale. Penned by a highly regarded British mystery writer, this engrossing narrative will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. (Summary by Richard Kilmer)

Immerse yourself in the enthralling mystery penned by Fergus Hume, a prolific author of the 19th century. This thrilling tale, comparable to his renowned work, The Mystery of the Hansom Cab, follows George in his quest to prove his fathers marriage. His pursuit is fueled by his desire to secure his future wife, Dorothy, against her avaricious mother Mrs. Ward, and to claim his rightful inheritance as Lord Derrington. As the plot unfurls, past and present murders intertwine, raising questions that only multiply. This masterfully crafted narrative will keep you second-guessing until the shocking...

The unsolved murder case that shocked the nation 25 years ago is once again in the limelight, thanks to the best-selling novel, “A Whim of Fate. Spencer Tait prepares to dive into the pages, while his best friend, Claude Larcher, is hit with the news of his fathers death. A death that eerily replicates every detail in the new book. Convinced that this cant be mere coincidence, they embark on a journey to unravel the true events of the past. But as they delve deeper, they find themselves tangled in a web of motives, evidence, and suspects. Will they ever uncover the truth behind the ...

Join us as we delve into the riveting world of Fergus Hume, an acclaimed author celebrated for his masterful crime and detective narratives. In Turnpike House, Hume showcases his knack for crafting intricate mysteries. This excerpt sets the chilling scene A cry of human agony cuts through the silence. The light snuffs out, and the mists swirl thick and ominous around the dilapidated building, as if to shield the horrors within. If the walls could speak, they would cry Murder! with a voice as loud as thunder. Yet, in an age devoid of miracles, the walls remain silent, bearing mute witness to ...

Immerse yourself in the thrilling world of Fergus Humes crime novel. Meet Mr. Fanks, a Scotland Yard detective with a secret double life as wealthy socialite Octavius Rixton. When the whiff of murder catches his attention, the detective in him springs into action. His investigation is convoluted by a devious innkeeper known as Queen Beelzebub and a dubious doctor named Renshaw. The corpse, a man with a half-erased tattoo, further thickens the plot. In a world where appearances are deceptive, the mystery only deepens before finally unwinding. - Summary by Don W. Jenkins