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The Opal Serpent
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.
- GenresMystery
204 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1905
7 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Fergus Hume
874 books51 followersFergusson Wright Hume (1859–1932), New Zealand lawyer and prolific author particularly renowned for his debut novel, the international best-seller The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886).
Hume was born at Powick, Worcestershire, England, son of Glaswegian Dr. James Collin Hume, a steward at the Worcestershire Pauper Lunatic Asylum and his wife Mary Ferguson.
While Fergus was a very young child, in 1863 the Humes emigrated to New Zealand where James founded the first private mental hospital and Dunedin College. Young Fergus attended the Otago Boys' High School then went on to study law at Otago University. He followed up with articling in the attorney-general's office, called to the New Zealand bar in 1885.
In 1885 Hume moved to Melbourne. While he worked as a solicitors clerk he was bent on becoming a dramatist; but having only written a few short stories he was a virtual unknown. So as to gain the attentions of the theatre directors he asked a local bookseller what style of book he sold most. Emile Gaboriau's detective works were very popular and so Hume bought them all and studied them intently, thus turning his pen to writing his own style of crime novel and mystery.
Hume spent much time in Little Bourke Street to gather material and his first effort was The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886), a worthy contibution to the genre. It is full of literary references and quotations; finely crafted complex characters and their sometimes ambiguous seeming interrelationships with the other suspects, deepening the whodunit angle. It is somewhat of an exposé of the then extremes in Melbourne society, which caused some controversy for a time. Hume had it published privately after it had been downright rudely rejected by a number of publishers. "Having completed the book, I tried to get it published, but everyone to whom I offered it refused even to look at the manuscript on the grounds that no Colonial could write anything worth reading." He had sold the publishing rights for £50, but still retained the dramatic rights which he soon profited from by the long Australian and London theatre runs.
Except for short trips to France, Switzerland and Italy, in 1888 Hume settled and stayed in Essex, England where he would remain for the rest of his life. Although he was born, and lived the latter part of his life, in England, he thought of himself as 'a colonial' and identified as a New Zealander, having spent all of his formative years from preschool through to adulthood there. Hume died of cardiac failure at his home on 11 July 1932.
Hume was born at Powick, Worcestershire, England, son of Glaswegian Dr. James Collin Hume, a steward at the Worcestershire Pauper Lunatic Asylum and his wife Mary Ferguson.
While Fergus was a very young child, in 1863 the Humes emigrated to New Zealand where James founded the first private mental hospital and Dunedin College. Young Fergus attended the Otago Boys' High School then went on to study law at Otago University. He followed up with articling in the attorney-general's office, called to the New Zealand bar in 1885.
In 1885 Hume moved to Melbourne. While he worked as a solicitors clerk he was bent on becoming a dramatist; but having only written a few short stories he was a virtual unknown. So as to gain the attentions of the theatre directors he asked a local bookseller what style of book he sold most. Emile Gaboriau's detective works were very popular and so Hume bought them all and studied them intently, thus turning his pen to writing his own style of crime novel and mystery.
Hume spent much time in Little Bourke Street to gather material and his first effort was The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886), a worthy contibution to the genre. It is full of literary references and quotations; finely crafted complex characters and their sometimes ambiguous seeming interrelationships with the other suspects, deepening the whodunit angle. It is somewhat of an exposé of the then extremes in Melbourne society, which caused some controversy for a time. Hume had it published privately after it had been downright rudely rejected by a number of publishers. "Having completed the book, I tried to get it published, but everyone to whom I offered it refused even to look at the manuscript on the grounds that no Colonial could write anything worth reading." He had sold the publishing rights for £50, but still retained the dramatic rights which he soon profited from by the long Australian and London theatre runs.
Except for short trips to France, Switzerland and Italy, in 1888 Hume settled and stayed in Essex, England where he would remain for the rest of his life. Although he was born, and lived the latter part of his life, in England, he thought of himself as 'a colonial' and identified as a New Zealander, having spent all of his formative years from preschool through to adulthood there. Hume died of cardiac failure at his home on 11 July 1932.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 23, 2019
Really enjoyed my first read by Fergus Hume, a classic murder mystery with lots of twists and turns throughout. It’s set in the early 1900s and has definite lingering Victorian vibes to it, and even a streak or two of Gothic flavor to it with the secrets and jewels and a dash of bigamy. I really enjoyed how twisty the clues kept things and the Librivox recording was well done.
ebook here: https://archive.org/details/opalserpe...
Content: basic cussing and profanity, infrequent
ebook here: https://archive.org/details/opalserpe...
Content: basic cussing and profanity, infrequent
December 27, 2014
Public Domain - Free on Kindle |
Whether a reader likes this book will depend on what they're looking for, as it's not a difficult mystery and the characters have no shades of grey. It's an enjoyable read, however, for anyone interested in the time period and not asking too much from it.
This is the second Fergus Hume novel I've read, and I'm going to go ahead and extrapolate a generalization here. Hume likely was impressed by Wilkie Collins, saw how successful Collins was with some of his works, and took a couple pages from his book without truly understanding what made Collins so good. I suspect that all or most of Hume's novels will be similar to the two I've read: the heroes are true-blue, good-to-the-bone, heart-and-soul heroes. The villains are obvious from the first moment they're introduced and have very little making up their character besides being bad. The mystery is built on conveniences and contrivances, and any 'twist' will be relatively unsurprising. The legal and social inequities of the time will be heavily involved.
For what it is, it's enjoyable enough to read more of his work. I find it fascinating to read about the late 1800s and the turn of that century, written as it was in the time, not by those looking backward. These are quick reads, too, just a couple hours.
Whether a reader likes this book will depend on what they're looking for, as it's not a difficult mystery and the characters have no shades of grey. It's an enjoyable read, however, for anyone interested in the time period and not asking too much from it.
This is the second Fergus Hume novel I've read, and I'm going to go ahead and extrapolate a generalization here. Hume likely was impressed by Wilkie Collins, saw how successful Collins was with some of his works, and took a couple pages from his book without truly understanding what made Collins so good. I suspect that all or most of Hume's novels will be similar to the two I've read: the heroes are true-blue, good-to-the-bone, heart-and-soul heroes. The villains are obvious from the first moment they're introduced and have very little making up their character besides being bad. The mystery is built on conveniences and contrivances, and any 'twist' will be relatively unsurprising. The legal and social inequities of the time will be heavily involved.
For what it is, it's enjoyable enough to read more of his work. I find it fascinating to read about the late 1800s and the turn of that century, written as it was in the time, not by those looking backward. These are quick reads, too, just a couple hours.
March 3, 2013
Another good old fashioned page turner from Fergus Hume. I enjoyed it. However, as with a lot of the books of this period (I find) there is too much reliance on coincidence. The Opal Serpent is a jewelled brooch given to someone's mother donkeys years ago. She gives it to her son who just happens to bump into the person who originally had it. This was in London which although less populous than it is now, it would still have been a many millions to one chance. Can't say any more without revealing the plot which is convoluted to say the least.
November 25, 2024
Твердая четвёрка. Интрига с убийством держится до последнего, достаточно персонажей, которые могли бы совершить злодеяние и все карты открываются читателю по мере продвижения сюжета.
Из минусов: подробное описание кто во что был одет и как обставлены комнаты, к тому же главные герои слишком уж благородны. Сейчас это выглядит преувеличенно, но для времени, когда был написан роман, это, наверное, было книжной нормой.
Из минусов: подробное описание кто во что был одет и как обставлены комнаты, к тому же главные герои слишком уж благородны. Сейчас это выглядит преувеличенно, но для времени, когда был написан роман, это, наверное, было книжной нормой.
April 17, 2018
Twists, murder, greed, romance and Richard Kilmer (narration) - what more can you ask of a good read?!? A classic... Recommended.
July 29, 2023
A starving artist, a knock-off Peggotty, cruel fathers, scheming widows, and gruesome murders, all mixed together with some of the wildest twists I’ve come across in a mystery book. It was really a rather tame murder mystery right up until the end. Then! Wow! What a series of revelations. Hume did a very good job of laying the ground work so they neatly fit all those little clues (many of which I missed) and red herrings fall neatly into place. I really enjoyed it.
Personal supposition… I think the author might have just read David Copperfield before writing this one. Not only is one of the characters very nearly a twin of Dicken’s Peggotty, but there is also a Steerforth rip-off. I rather enjoyed all those nods to my favorite author. Even the ending had Dickensian overtones.
Personal supposition… I think the author might have just read David Copperfield before writing this one. Not only is one of the characters very nearly a twin of Dicken’s Peggotty, but there is also a Steerforth rip-off. I rather enjoyed all those nods to my favorite author. Even the ending had Dickensian overtones.
September 25, 2020
First I have read by this author but probably not the last. The mystery, the unspooling of the story, was very interesting. What was a bit odd was how the detective kept switching subjects..and saying each time “everything points to so-and-so, he/she must be the murderer” only 2 chapters later to say the same thing about a different character!
July 31, 2023
This was one of Fergus Hume's exciting and outrageous mysteries, which were really the only sort he wrote. That's why I love them so much. Popcorn for my brain. As usual, there was an unexpected twist at the end. Honestly, I didn't see it coming. Perfect summer reading!
January 5, 2019
Good read
A good book, old style of writing but enjoyable to me. Would recommend to anyone who likes old books, enjoy!
A good book, old style of writing but enjoyable to me. Would recommend to anyone who likes old books, enjoy!
January 28, 2019
Enjoyable classic reading for those who are fans of old style mysteries. Like the book.
July 2, 2024
3.75⭐
August 19, 2025
Not a bad mystery. I liked the detective and his show biz sister. Needs tightening up. It would be fun to compare to a modernity edited version.
March 6, 2014
Not the best example of Hume's repertoire.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews