The Big Bow Mystery
A wealthy businessman hires a detective to investigate the murder of his wife, which occurred during a dinner party at their country estate. The detective discovers that each guest had a motive for the crime and must use his skills of observation and deduction to unravel the complex web of relationships and alibis among the suspects.
By Israel Zangwill · First published 1892 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime Fiction · 12 chapters · 58,922 words
First lines
On a memorable morning of early December, London opened its eyes on a frigid grey mist. There are mornings when King Fog masses his molecules of carbon in serried squadrons in the city, while he scatters them tenuously in the suburbs; so that your morning train may bear you from twilight to darkness. But to-day the enemy's manoeuvring was more monotonous. From Bow even unto Hammersmith there draggled a dull, wretched vapour, like the wraith of an impecunious suicide come into a fortune immediately after the fatal deed. The barometers and thermometers had sympathetically shared its depression, and their spirits (when they had any) were low. The cold cut like a many-bladed knife.
What this Textopian page supports
The Big Bow Mystery is listed on Textopian as a novel by Israel Zangwill, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Israel Zangwill
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Crime Fiction, Thriller, Victorian Literature
- Length: 58,922 words
- Structure: 12 chapters, 817 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Big Bow Mystery by Israel Zangwill
- 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 Big Bow Mystery?
- How does this novel by Israel Zangwill fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Mystery — The book is centered around a locked-room murder mystery, which is a classic element of the mystery genre.
- Detective Fiction — The narrative follows a detective's investigation into the murder, a hallmark of detective fiction.
- Crime Fiction — The plot revolves around a crime, specifically a murder, which is central to crime fiction.
- Thriller — The suspense and tension throughout the investigation contribute to the thriller genre.
Tags
Mystery · Detective Fiction · Short Story · Classic Literature · Victorian Era · London Setting · Police Procedural · Whodunit · Plot Twist · Surprise Ending · Social Commentary · Class Struggle
Contents
- CHAPTER I
- CHAPTER II
- CHAPTER III
- CHAPTER IV
- CHAPTER V
- CHAPTER VI
- CHAPTER VII
- CHAPTER VIII
- CHAPTER IX
- CHAPTER X
- CHAPTER XI
- CHAPTER XII