The Solitary Farm by Fergus Hume

The story revolves around a mysterious murder that takes place at the Solitary Farm, a remote farmhouse inhabited by a reclusive family. The victim is a stranger who had arrived at the farm seeking shelter, and the main suspect is the family's daughter, Lucy. As the investigation unfolds, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, and everyone in the household appears to be hiding secrets.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1899 · Genre: Mystery, Drama, Literary Fiction · 25 chapters · 112,928 words

First lines

"S' y' want t' merry m' gel, Bella! " remarked Captain Huxham, rubbing his stout knees slowly, and repeating the exact words of the clerical suitor. "S' thet she may be yer handmaiden, an' yer spouse, and yer sealed fountain, es y' put it in yer flowery pulpit lingo. Jus' so! Jus' so! " and shifting the quid which bulged his weather-beaten cheek, he stared with hard blue eyes. "Jus' so, Mr. Pence!"

What this Textopian page supports

The Solitary Farm 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: Mystery, Drama, Literary Fiction, Romance, Historical Fiction
• Length: 112,928 words
• Structure: 25 chapters, 2,350 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The Solitary Farm 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 Solitary Farm?
• 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 Sealed Message by Fergus Hume
• In Queer Street by Fergus Hume
• The Mystery Of A Turkish Bath by Eliza Margaret Jane Humphreys
• The Lonely House by Marie Belloc Lowndes
• The Spider by Fergus Hume
• The Gentleman Who Vanished by Fergus Hume

Genres

• Mystery — The plot revolves around the tension between characters, particularly the captain's animosity towards Lister, suggesting underlying secrets and potential conflict.
• Drama — The interactions between characters, especially regarding love, marriage, and moral dilemmas, create a dramatic narrative.
• Literary Fiction — The writing style is rich in detail and character development, focusing on the psychological aspects of the characters' motivations.
• Romance — The story includes romantic elements, particularly the courtship of Bella and the rivalry between Pence and Lister.

Tags

Mystery · Thriller · Suspense · Farm Life · Rural Setting · Isolation · Loneliness · Murder · Crime Fiction · Detective Story · Investigation · Clues

Contents

• The Domain of Ceres
• The Wooin' o'T
• A Tardy Lover
• Sudden Death
• A Mysterious Crime
• The Inquest
• Cyril and Bella
• The Witch-Wife
• The Coming of Durgo
• A Lovers' Meeting
• A Recognition
• Cyril's Story
• Mrs. Tunks' Discovery
• What Silas Pence Knew
• Durgo, the Detective
• The Papers
• A Confession
• The Ghost
• An Awkward Position
• The Master Magician
• A Desperate Attempt
• Mrs. Vand's Repentance
• What Luke Tunks Saw
• A Remarkable Discovery
• Run to Earth

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