The Turnpike House by Fergus Hume

Name: The Turnpike House
Author: Fergus Hume

The story revolves around the mysterious death of a wealthy businessman, whose body is found at the Turnpike House, an old inn on the outskirts of London. The investigation that follows reveals a complex web of relationships and motives among the victim's family members, business associates, and acquaintances. As the detective digs deeper, he uncovers a tangled network of deceit, blackmail, and hidden secrets, leading him to unravel the truth behind the murder.

By Fergus Hume · First published 1896 · Genre: Drama, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary · 30 chapters · 95,979 words

First lines

It stood where four roads met -- a square building of two storeys, with white-washed walls and a high slate roof. The fence, and the once trim garden, had vanished with the turnpike gate; and a jungle of gooseberry bushes, interspersed with brambles, shut off the house from the roads. And only by courtesy could these be so-called, for time and neglect had almost obliterated them.

On all sides stretched a flat expanse of reaped fields, bleak-looking and barren in the waning November twilight. Mists gathered thickly over ditch and hedge and stubbled furrow a constant dripping could be heard in the clumps of trees looming here and there in the fog.

What this Textopian page supports

The Turnpike House is listed on Textopian as a novel by Fergus Hume, dated 1896 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: 1896 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Psychological Fiction, Tragedy
Length: 95,979 words
Structure: 30 chapters, 2,141 paragraphs
Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)

Good citation fit

Work identity for The Turnpike 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
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Discussion starters

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

Similar titles

Genres

Drama — The intense emotional conflicts and character-driven narrative focus on personal struggles and relationships.
Literary Fiction — The exploration of themes such as poverty, familial relationships, and societal issues reflects a literary style.
Social Commentary — The text critiques social conditions, particularly regarding class and gender roles.
Psychological Fiction — The characters' internal struggles and psychological states are central to the narrative.