The Silent House by Fergus Hume

A wealthy businessman dies under mysterious circumstances in his country house, and the investigation that follows uncovers a web of deceit, blackmail, and hidden relationships among the dead man's family and servants. As the police dig deeper, they uncover a complex pattern of motives and alibis, leading them to suspect everyone from the widow to the butler.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1899 · Genre: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller · 34 chapters · 90,619 words

First lines

Lucian Denzil was a briefless barrister, who so far departed from the traditions of his brethren of the long robe as not to dwell within the purlieus of the Temple. For certain private reasons, not unconnected with economy, he occupied rooms in Geneva Square, Pimlico; and, for the purposes of his profession, repaired daily, from ten to four, to Serjeant's Inn, where he shared an office with a friend equally briefless and poor.

What this Textopian page supports

The Silent House is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1899 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: 1899 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Gothic Fiction, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Literary Fiction, Drama
• Length: 90,619 words
• Structure: 34 chapters, 2,065 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Silent House 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 Silent House?
• How does this novel by Fergus Hume fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Gothic Fiction first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• The Lone Inn by Fergus Hume
• The Gentleman Who Vanished by Fergus Hume
• The Yellow Holly by Fergus Hume
• The Dead Smile by F. Marion Crawford
• The Amethyst Cross by Fergus Hume
• The Gilded Chair by Melville Davisson Post

Genres

• Gothic Fiction — The presence of a haunted house, supernatural elements, and a dark atmosphere are central to the narrative.
• Mystery — The plot revolves around the enigmatic character of Mr. Berwin and the secrets surrounding the Silent House.
• Psychological Thriller — The exploration of characters' inner turmoil, particularly Berwin's self-pity and guilt, adds a psychological depth to the story.
• Literary Fiction — The writing style is reflective and character-driven, focusing on themes of isolation and societal judgment.

Tags

Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Detective Fiction · Classic Literature · Victorian Era · Gothic Fiction · Haunted House · Family Secrets · Murder Investigation · Country Estate · Wealthy Family

Contents

• The Tenant of the Silent House
• Shadows on the Blind
• An Unsatisfactory Explanation
• Mrs. Kebby's Discovery
• The Talk of the Town
• Mrs. Vrain's Story
• The Assurance Money
• Diana Vrain
• A Marriage that was a Failure
• The Parti-Coloured Ribbon
• Further Discoveries
• The Veil and its Owner
• Gossip
• The House in Jersey Street
• Rhoda and the Cloak
• Mrs. Vrain at Bay
• A Denial
• Who Bought the Cloak?
• The Defence of Count Ferruci
• A New Development
• Two Months Pass
• At Berwin Manor
• A Startling Theory
• Lucian is Surprised
• A Dark Plot
• The other Man's Wife
• A Confession
• The Name of the Assassin
• Link Sets a Trap
• Who Fell into the Trap?
• A Strange Confession
• The Confession (_continued_)
• What Rhoda had to Say
• The End of it All

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