The Crimson Cryptogram is a detective story by Fergus Hume. The novel follows the thrilling investigation of a mysterious cryptogram, as the protagonist navigates a world of intrigue, deception, and danger. Hume's engaging storytelling and well-crafted plot create a suspenseful and captivating reading experience for fans of detective fiction.

Four school friends arrange an appointment in 15 years and are committed to keeping it, no matter what surprises and unforeseen adventures are prepared for them by life. A novel starts with the reflections of one of the protagonists on whether the others will keep the promise or he is the only one to keep the foolish promise of childhood. All four come. Father Time has given each of them a peculiar role in life. One is a respected doctor. The other one is an archeologist. The third one is a correspondent. The fourth hero is a traveler. Neither of them is married, and that means they are free...

"The Red Window" by Fergus Hume is a mystery novel with a tale of crime and intrigue. Excerpt: "Both the young men were handsome in their several ways. The yeoman was tall, slender, dark and markedly quiet in his manner. His clear-cut face was clean-shaven; he had black hair, dark blue eyes, put in-as the Irish say-with a dirty finger, and his figure was admirably proportioned. In his khaki he looked a fine specimen of a man in his twenty-fifth year. But his expression was stern, even bitter, and there were thoughtful furrows on his forehead which should not have been there at his age....

"The Lost Parchment" is a detective story written by Fergus Hume. It revolves around the inheritance of a squire, the murder of the vicar at the squire's home, and the appearance of Carrington, the squire's old schoolmate who is a lawyer and blackmailer, along with the squire's cousin Mallien and his daughter Dorinda. The vicar tells the squire that he has found a will that disinherits him and names Mallien as the inheritor. However, the vicar is murdered at the squire's home, and the culprit is unknown. Rupert, the squire, is torn between keeping Mallien's potential guilt a secret for the...

This work is a fictionalized true crime based loosely on a real-life female Australian mining speculator of the late 19th Century, Alice Cornwell. When the sophisticated French prisoner Gaston Vandeloup flees to the goldfields of Ballarat, he meets the remarkable Madame Midas, who has made her fortune in Ballarat's incredible mines industry. But her wealth makes her prey to a series of awful events. A gripping plot that moves at the right pace and makes you want to know what's next. It is a melodrama full of twists and turns at the height of its fame with false identities, mysteries,...

Fergus Hume's 'The Mystery of a Handsome Cab' is a riveting detective novel set in late 19th-century London. Known for pioneering the detective fiction genre, Hume's novel features a compelling plot filled with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected twists. The book is written in a straightforward, yet engaging style that keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they follow the protagonist in unraveling the mysterious death of a cab driver. Fergus Hume, a prolific writer of his time, was inspired to write 'The Mystery of a Handsome Cab' after the success of his debut novel, 'The Mystery of a...