The Peacock of Jewels by Fergus Hume

Name: The Peacock of Jewels
Author: Fergus Hume

The story revolves around a stolen gemstone called the Peacock of Jewels, which is said to bring misfortune to its owner. The protagonist, a young woman named Lucy, becomes embroiled in a mystery surrounding the gem's theft and subsequent murder. As she delves deeper into the case, she uncovers a web of deceit and conspiracy involving various characters, including her own family members.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1891 · Genre: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction · 22 chapters · 121,583 words

First lines

To find Barkers Inn was much the same to an ordinary person as looking for a needle in the proverbial haystack. Dick Latimer, however, knew its exact whereabouts, because he lived there, and on this foggy November night he was making for it unerringly with the homing instinct of a bee. Leaving Fleet Street behind him, somewhere about eleven-thirty, he turned into Chancery Lane, and then struck off to the right down a by-road which narrowed to an alley, and finally ended in a cul-de-sac. Here the young man hurried through the rusty iron gates of a granite archway, and found himself in an oblong courtyard paved with cobble-stones and surrounded by tumble-down houses with steep roofs of discolored tiles. A few steps took him across this to a crooked little door, which he entered to mount a crooked little staircase, and in one minute he was on the first-floor landing, where a tiny gas-jet pricked the gloom with a bluish spot of light.

What this Textopian page supports

The Peacock of Jewels is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1891 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: 1891 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Crime, Detective Fiction, Literary Fiction, Thriller
Length: 121,583 words
Structure: 22 chapters, 2,711 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around a murder investigation and the search for a valuable jewel, central to the narrative.
Crime — The story involves criminal activities, including murder and theft, as characters seek to uncover the truth behind the crime.
Detective Fiction — The narrative features elements typical of detective fiction, including an investigation led by journalists and the piecing together of clues.
Literary Fiction — The writing style is descriptive and character-driven, focusing on the lives and interactions of the protagonists.