The Secret Passage - Fergus Hume

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Résumé :
The Secret Passage is a fantastic murder mystery by Fergus Hume. It has contrived another of his hide-and-seek, jack-o'-lantern murder mysteries. The story starts with an elderly, wealthy, and queer woman who was found stabbed to death on her chair with no sign of the culprit. Then, there are so many new clues that even the fictional investigator is perplexed. Then almost everyone is shown to be someone else using an alias, and all the leads are in vain.Young Susan Grant, who is looking for work, turns up at Miss Loach's house, Rose Cottage. Susan is hired as a parlor maid after a quick but intensive interview, and she soon learns about the high expectations Miss Loach has for her staff. Her sister Mrs. Octagon, a self-promotional writer who lives across the street with her husband Peter and daughter Juliet, is a writer. One day, after having afternoon tea with Juliet, Mrs. Octagon brings up her sister, whose peaceful existence she much disapproves of. Her husband unexpectedly enters the room at this precise time with the news of Miss Loach's murder.Was it Susan, whose prior experience working for a shady Spaniard seems dubious at best? Was it Mrs. Octagon, who always reacted with the worst of insults when she brought up her sister?

Biographie:
Ferguson Wright Hume, more commonly known as Fergus Hume, was a renowned English novelist primarily celebrated for his works in detective fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. Born on July 8, 1859, in England, Hume gained widespread recognition for his mastery in crafting suspenseful plots and intriguing characters. His breakthrough came with the publication of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab, a work that established him as a prominent figure in the genre. Throughout his career, Hume produced numerous works, many of which revolved around complex crimes and the meticulous investigations that followed. He was known for his ability to keep readers on edge with unpredictable twists and well-constructed narratives. Hume lived much of his later life in Thundersley, where he passed away on July 12, 1932, at the age of 73. His literary legacy endures, particularly in the realm of detective fiction, where he remains an influential figure. His parents were James Hume and Mary Ferguson. Hume s ability to combine suspense with complex characters earned him a loyal readership and cemented his place in literary history....

Sommaire:
The Secret Passage is a fantastic murder mystery by Fergus Hume. It has contrived another of his hide-and-seek, jack-o'-lantern murder mysteries. The story starts with an elderly, wealthy, and queer woman who was found stabbed to death on her chair with no sign of the culprit. Then, there are so many new clues that even the fictional investigator is perplexed. Then almost everyone is shown to be someone else using an alias, and all the leads are in vain.Young Susan Grant, who is looking for work, turns up at Miss Loach's house, Rose Cottage. Susan is hired as a parlor maid after a quick but intensive interview, and she soon learns about the high expectations Miss Loach has for her staff. Her sister Mrs. Octagon, a self-promotional writer who lives across the street with her husband Peter and daughter Juliet, is a writer. One day, after having afternoon tea with Juliet, Mrs. Octagon brings up her sister, whose peaceful existence she much disapproves of. Her husband unexpectedly enters the room at this precise time with the news of Miss Loach's murder.Was it Susan, whose prior experience working for a shady Spaniard seems dubious at best? Was it Mrs. Octagon, who always reacted with the worst of insults when she brought up her sister?...