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.

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.

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 "...

Delve into a thrilling tale of love, class, greed, and mystery as we unravel the secrets of a traditional English Christmas celebration gone awry in Coin Of Edward VII. The wealthy Daisy is murdered, leaving behind a trail of suspects, each with their own motives. The primary suspect is the elusive governess Anne Denham, who confessed her desire to trade places with Daisy and disappeared shortly after the murder, leaving the man she loves, Giles, and detective Mr. Steel to investigate. As they delve deeper into the case, the narrative uncovers more than a simple murder mystery. Its also a ...

As the P. and O.s liner Neptune departs Australia for Britain, Ronald Monteith, a prosperous young Australian, is drawn into the haunting tale of Lionel Ventin, a fellow passenger with a tragic past. When Ventin is found murdered in his cabin, Monteith commits to solving the crime, assuming the culprit is Ventins vengeful ex-wife. Upon reaching London, he enlists a barrister and a detective to aid his quest. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he is horrified to discover that the evidence is pointing towards the woman hes fallen for - the girl from Malta... - Summary by Celine Major

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.

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)

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.

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)

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)

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.

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.

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.