
The story revolves around the theft of a valuable jewel called The Mikado, which belongs to the wealthy and influential Lord Harrington. The main suspect is his nephew, Captain Richard Vandenbosch, who is deeply in debt and stands to gain from the jewel's disappearance. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and the true culprit is revealed through a series of unexpected twists and turns.
By Fergus Hume · First published 1893 · Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Drama · 20 chapters · 92,385 words
From the main thoroughfare of Bayswater, where the shops display their goods and the tides of life run strongly, Crook Street extends its long line of ugly dwellings to a considerable distance. Its shape suggests a shepherd's crook, -- hence undoubtedly the name -- as it finally terminates in a curved _cul de sac_, the end of which is blocked by Number One hundred and eleven. This is an imposing, if somewhat dilapidated mansion, standing in its own limited grounds, which are surrounded by a high crumbling wall of brick, more or less overgrown with grimy ivy. There is a small front garden, planted with stunted shrubs; a narrow passage on either side of the house, screened midway by green-painted trellis-work, and -- at the back -- a worn-out lawn, dominated by a funereal cedar. Beneath this, through rain and sunshine, is a rustic table and a rustic seat, where the boarders have afternoon tea in summertime. Everywhere there is a feeling of dampness.
The Mikado Jewel is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1893 CE.
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Mystery · Thriller · Crime Fiction · Detective Novel · Victorian Era · London Setting · Jewel Theft · Murder Investigation · Suspenseful · Plot Twists · Red Herring · Clues