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.

Professor Augustus P. Wimple's obsession with a long-lost green mummy takes a deadly turn when his archaeological pursuits unearth more than just ancient artifacts. As he digs through layers of history, he stumbles upon a chilling murder that intertwines his fate with those of his curious acquaintances. What begins as a quest for knowledge spirals into a twisted mystery, forcing Wimple to confront not only the secrets of the past but also the darkness lurking in the present. Join Wimple and his motley crew, including the sharp-witted journalist Clara Tate and the skeptical detective Samuel ...

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.

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.

Step into a world of intrigue with Silent House, a captivating mystery centered around a locked door murder in a house infamous for its haunting reputation. At first glance, the identity of the murderer seems clear-cut, but as the story unfolds, the second half reveals a labyrinth of plot twists and mistaken identities that will keep you guessing until the very last page. (Summary by cherly)

Short Stories by Fergus Hume, a prolific English novelist. - Summary by Wikipedia

When a well known pawnbroker is found strangled, the only clue left behind is an opal serpent brooch pinning his lips shut. As the investigation unfolds, Detective Hurd faces a tangled web of family secrets and claims over the pawnbroker's vast estate. The plot thickens when his beautiful daughter emerges as the primary heir, only to be challenged by another woman who insists she is the rightful child. With two potential heirs and a murder to solve, Hurd must navigate through deceit and betrayal to find the truth. This thrilling tale combines rich characters with a gripping mystery, revealing ...

Immerse yourself in the gripping world of Victorian murder mysteries with The Clock Struck One by Fergus Hume. Our tale begins with Julian Edermont, a man who has lived in near seclusion for two decades, fearing an unknown assailant. His fears come true when he is brutally murdered following a heated argument with his wards fiance, Dr. Allen Scott. A secret is revealed in this confrontation, so profound that it compels Allen to break off his engagement with Dora, the ward, without any explanation. As those around her stay silent, Dora takes it upon herself to unravel the truth and unveil the ...

Who killed the man in the hansom cab? -- Who is Sal Rawlins? -- What will happen to Madge and Brian? -- Murder and family secrets create the intrigue in this excellent Australian mystery. Fergus Hume's novel, originally published in 1886, rapidly became a best-seller. It was very soon published in England and the United States, and over a hundred years later, Geoffrey Haines credited "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab" as doing "more than any book to give the outside world a picture of Melbourne of the late 1880's" (in "A History of Victoria," 2006). This is one of those old-time gems that continues...

A quiet seaside village with an old church and older family and its tyrannical head who tries to mould her adopted son to her whims, the vicar and his beautiful daughter and stranger looking for acceptance among the natives and the invisible bind among them forms the background for this English Mystery - Summary by Yoganandh T

Bishop Pendle is the Church of England bishop in a small fictitious English cathedral town. Several years into his work, he receives a visit from a disreputable-looking visitor. The bishop is much upset. What transpired between them that has so upset the good churchman? And then there is the murder. Fergus Hume was one of the most prolific and most popular of 19th century novelists. "Mr. Hume won a reputation second to none for plot of the stirring, ingenious, misleading, and finally surprising kind, and for working out his plot in vigorous and picturesque English. In "The Bishop's Secret," ...

An eccentric Professor's quest for a green mummy leads him and his acquaintances to a murder and a bizarre adventure - Summary by Yoganandh T

Following the death of her beloved fiancé Roderick, Miss Danby is hounded relentlessly by Dr. Slanton who wants to marry her to access her inheritance. Then one morning, Aileen, the sister of the deceased who lives with her, discovers the doctor's body in the woods near the cottage, and Miss Danby becomes the prime suspect. Although she claims innocence, she refuses to give the details which could prevent her from going the gallows. Aileen and her lover as well as Inspector Trant, who knew Aileen's father years ago, join forces to clear her name. The only clue they have is the word "...

In a quiet cottage on the edge of a dark forest, Miss Danby finds her life turned upside down after the tragic death of her fiancé, Roderick. Instead of mourning, she faces relentless pressure from Dr. Slanton, who seeks to marry her to claim her inheritance. But when Aileen, Roderick's sister, stumbles upon the doctor's lifeless body, everything changes. Suddenly, Miss Danby becomes the prime suspect in a chilling murder case. Despite her claims of innocence, she holds back crucial details that could save her from the gallows. As Aileen and her lover team up with Inspector Trant, they dive ...

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.

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?

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.

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.

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...

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)