The Third Volume by Fergus Hume

Name: The Third Volume
Author: Fergus Hume

The story revolves around a mysterious crime involving a stolen will and a murder. The protagonist, a young lawyer, becomes embroiled in the case and works to uncover the truth behind the theft and the killing. As he delves deeper into the mystery, he uncovers a complex web of deceit and conspiracy that leads him to suspect several individuals, including his own friends and acquaintances.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1895 · Genre: Mystery, Literary Fiction, Drama · 45 chapters · 110,174 words

First lines

WHEN Spenser Tait took his seat at the breakfast table, he cast a look around, according to custom, to see that all was as orderly as he could wish. The neatest and most methodical of men, he was positively old maidish in his love of regularity and tidiness. His valet, Dormer, -- with him for over fifteen years, -- had been trained by such long service into the particular ways of his master, and was almost as exacting as Tait himself in the matter of domestic details. No woman was permitted to penetrate into those chambers in Earls Street, St. James'; but had one been able to do so, she could have found no fault with them, either on the score of taste or of cleanliness. The shell of this hermit crab was eloquent of the idiosyncrasies of its tenant.

What this Textopian page supports

The Third Volume is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1895 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: 1895 CE
Language: English
Genres: Mystery, Literary Fiction, Drama, Social Commentary, Character Study
Length: 110,174 words
Structure: 45 chapters, 2,455 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Fergus Hume fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles

Genres

Mystery — The plot revolves around a mysterious communication that suggests potential blackmail and hidden family secrets.
Literary Fiction — The writing style emphasizes character development and explores themes of friendship, societal norms, and personal habits.
Drama — The interactions between characters and their emotional conflicts create a dramatic tension throughout the narrative.
Social Commentary — The text critiques societal expectations and gender roles, particularly through the characters' discussions about women and modern literature.