The Millionaire Mystery

Wealthy businessman James Lansdale Hampton is murdered at a dinner party, and the main suspect is his nephew, who stands to inherit his fortune. However, the case is complicated by the appearance of a mysterious stranger who claims to be the real heir. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and the truth behind Hampton's death is far more complex than initially suspected.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1901 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Thriller · 24 chapters · 73,316 words

First lines

Steering his course by a tapering spire notched in the eye of the sunset, a tramp slouched along the Heathton Road. From the western sky a flood of crimson light poured over the dusty white highway, which led straightly across the moor. To right and left, acres of sear coarse herbage rolled towards the distant hills, now black against the flaming horizon. In the quivering air gnats danced and flickered; the earth panted with the thirst of a lengthy drought, and the sky arched itself over the heat of a fiery furnace.

What this Textopian page supports

The Millionaire Mystery is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1901 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Fergus Hume
• Date: 1901 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Crime, Thriller, Drama, Gothic
• Length: 73,316 words
• Structure: 24 chapters, 2,085 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Millionaire Mystery by Fergus Hume
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Discussion starters

• What should a reader notice first when entering The Millionaire Mystery?
• How does this novel by Fergus Hume fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Gentleman Who Vanished by Fergus Hume
• The Lady From Nowhere by Fergus Hume
• The Mystery Of A Turkish Bath by Eliza Margaret Jane Humphreys
• The White Room by Fergus Hume
• The Clock Struck One by Fergus Hume
• The Secret Passage by Fergus Hume

Genres

• Mystery — The plot revolves around the mysterious death of Richard Marlow and the subsequent events that unfold, including body-snatching, which are central to the narrative.
• Crime — The story involves criminal activities such as body-snatching and the implications of wealth and morality, which are key themes.
• Thriller — The suspenseful elements, including the protagonist's fear and the tension surrounding the discovery of the body, contribute to a thrilling atmosphere.
• Drama — The interactions between characters and the exploration of themes such as death, wealth, and social status provide a dramatic backdrop.

Tags

Mystery · Thriller · Detective Fiction · Crime · Suspense · Whodunit · Classic · Victorian Era · London Setting · Wealthy Elite · Murder Investigation · Secrets and Lies

Contents

• A Midnight Surprise
• The Hut on the Heath
• An Elegant Epistle
• Another Surprise
• A Nine Days' Wonder
• The Missing Key
• In Dixon's Rents
• An Important Interview
• Investigation
• Another Disappearance
• The Stranger
• A Strange Story
• A Strange Story -- _continued_
• The Enmity of Captain Lestrange
• Trouble
• Alan's Defense
• Joe's Evidence
• A Portion of the Truth
• A Reappearance
• The Amazement Op Alan Thorold
• The Story of the Past
• The Beginning of the End
• One Part of the Truth
• The other Part of the Truth

More by Fergus Hume

• The Mystery Queen (1912)
• The Caravan Crime (1924)
• The Crowned Skull (1908)
• The Green Mummy (1908)
• The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886)
• The Secret Passage (1905)
• Madame Midas (1888)
• Red Money (1892)
• All works by Fergus Hume