The Chase Of The Golden Plate

by Jacques Futrelle

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

Genres: Mystery, Classics, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Adult, Crime, Ebooks

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

Jacques Heath Futrelle (1875-1912) was an American journalist and mystery writer. He is best known for writing short detective stories featuring the "Thinking Machine", Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van Dusen. He worked for the Atlanta Journal, where he began their sports section; the New York Herald; the Boston Post; and the Boston American. In 1905, his Thinking Machine character first appeared in a serialized version of The Problem of Cell 13. In 1895, he married fellow writer Lily May Peel, with whom he had two children. While returning from Europe aboard the RMS Titanic, Futrelle, a first-cabin passenger, refused to board a lifeboat insisting his wife board instead. He perished in the Atlantic. His works include: The Chase of the Golden Plate (1906), The Simple Case of Susan (1908), The Thinking Machine on the Case (1908), The Diamond Master (1909), Elusive Isabel (1909), The High Hand (1911), My Lady's Garter (1912), Blind Man's Bluff (1914).

Reviews

[Armin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ein vermeintlich toter Kleptomane aus guter Familie richtet im früheren Freundeskreis jede Menge Unheil an.

[Bandit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Selected on the strength or, more appropriately, immense likeability of The Diamond Master, this mystery has Futrelle's detective extraordinaire The Thinking Machine. I suppose at that time all authors wanted to be Conan Doyle and create their own Sherlocks. Futrelle has tried, but of course Sherlock is inimitable and so The Thinking Machine, logical and quirky as he may be, falls short by comparison, particularly through his drawn out and clunky explanations. Nevertheless, this was an entertaining quick read, only slightly convoluted in trying too much, but fun all the same. Primarily due to Futrelle's charismatic narrative, if narratives can be charismatic. Fans of classic detective stories would enjoy this most likely.

[raafi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sudah lama sejak membaca kisah bergenre misteri-detektif, buku ini membawa angin segar. Meski gaya bahasanya terkesan kurang luwes (yang sepertinya bukan karena penerjemahannya tetapi memang ini karya klasik yang sudah hadir sejak lebih dari 100 tahun lalu sehingga membentuk gap bahasa), aku bisa lumayan menikmatinya.

Cerita berpusat pada kediaman seorang konglomerat yang membuat pesta topeng. Sebagaimana temanya, semua tamu undangan menggunakan penutup muka termasuk seorang yang punya niat buruk. Tak dinyana ternyata terdapat pencurian beberapa piring emas yang konon bernilai mencapai lima belas ribu dolar. Peliknya, pencuri tersebut juga membawa seorang gadis cantik berambut pirang.

Pihak berwajib kesulitan mencari tahu siapa pelakunya karena tidak ada ciri-ciri apa pun yang bisa dikenali dari sang pencuri. Sang gadis cantik pun tidak membantu. Seorang wartawan yang penuh rasa ingin tahu ikut-ikutan mengusut kasus ini sampai akhirnya dia punya lebih banyak informasi dan fakta ketimbang pihak berwajib yang seharusnya.

Menjadi amat seru karena motif pencurian ini ternyata tidak sederhana, aku sempat dibuat salah terka. Meski begitu, aku pikir si wartawanlah yang akan mengungkap kasus ini. Namun, ada seorang lainnya yang dijuluki sang Mesin Berpikir yang menguraikan dan menyelesaikannya. Ini seperti aku mengira Sherlock Holmes yang jadi tokoh utamanya, tapi ternyata bukan.

Ada bagian di mana buku ini terasa merendahkan perempuan, terutama si gadis cantik itu, apalagi mengingat pengarangnya adalah seorang laki-laki. Di sebuah bagian tertulis: "Oh, wanita! Wanita pengkhianat, tak tulus, setia, menawan! Semua benang kusut dalam kehidupan adalah hasil karya jemari lentikmu. Semua dosa dan duka adalah akibat kelakuanmu!" (hlm. 110)

Sebutlah aku sok open-minded atau woke, tapi membaca bagian itu membuatku tak nyaman. Dan rasanya bagian meremehkan perempuan bukan bagian itu saja.

Terlepas dari itu, setiap masalah pasti ada akhirnya dan buku ini mengakhiri kasusnya dengan cukup masuk akal walau tidak terlalu berkesan. Ada satu ucapan sang Mesin Berpikir (yang aku yakin merupakan pernyataan khas si tokoh) sebagai berikut.

"Yang terburuk dari sebuah masalah adalah masalah itu sulit, tapi semua masalah bisa dipecahkan sama pastinya dengan dua ditambah dua jumlahnya empat—bukan terkadang, tapi selalu. Tolong jangan bilang tidak mungkin." (hlm. 130)

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

At a masked ball at the home of Mr Stuyvesant Randolph gold plates are stolen. Presumed by people to be by people dressed as a burglar and cowgirl. Reporter, Hutchinson Hatch investigates. But soon approaches detective Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Risen a.k.a. The Thinking Machine to solve the case.
An enjoyable historical mystery
Originally published in 1906

[Sulhan Habibi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cukup menarik.
Terjemahannya asyik. Rasa klasik di terjemahannya kerasa banget. Bahkan cara berbicara sang tokoh perempuan terbayang2.

[Rene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jacques Futrelle was the American counterpart of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, or you could see him as such. He wrote many short detective stories and several short novels. This is one of them, and a fine one.
Simple as the story may seem, Futrelle nevertheless knows how to put us on the wrong leg several times, before we know what really happened. 
This small novel is written in a highly entertaining style and keeps our attention to the last page. A detective story that is 98 years old! And it will keep your attention from start to finish. It is a shame that this master of the word died so young. He was one of the people who died in 1912 on the Titanic.

[Estott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Futrelle is now remembered for his "Thinking Machine" short stories, but this is a light bit of romantic fluff with a thread of mystery/detection running through it. If you have a taste for turn of the century romances (such as Robert W. Chambers) this is a pleasant diversion. If you are expecting a detective novel, be warned- it isn't. Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Deusen does turn up at the conclusion but he plays no great part in the detection & is mostly there for eccentricity.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's not a lot to this novella, but what little there is is well worth the time. All in all, a quick, enjoyable read from the turn of the century--the last century, not this one.

[cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dari segi premise, penulisan, alur cerita dan misteri pencurian yang dibawakan novel ini sebenarnya cukup bagus. Membaca pembukaan kisah di mana sedang berlangsungnya sebuah pesta kostum seru, sekian banyak skenario apa yang mungkin terjadi langsung memenuhi benakku. Mengasyikkan tampaknya.

Namun kemudian, semakin dibaca, semakin banyak kelemahan ceritanya. Awalnya aku berpikir hal ini lumrah saja karena kisah klasik biasanya memang cenderung menyederhanakan masalah. Tapi menjelang akhir, yah kayaknya memang aku kurang sreg dengan penyelesaiannya. Mulai dari karakterisasi ceweknya yang "aduh kok bodoh sekali gak bisa mbedain pacarnya sendiri" sampai deus ex machina jedher mesin pemikir, sim salabim muncul karakter penjahat tiba-tiba. Belum lagi pembuktian misterinya yang nanggung bangeett, mau memakai pemikiran logis dan psikologis, terus tiba-tiba ada tes darah ala-ala periksa dna purba, ehh....

Endingnya juga aneh. gimana caranyaaa itu piring-piring bisa direbut kembali oleh si herbert dari si pencuri??? Kalau herbert tahu si pencuri bukan harry meredith, lah kenapa repot, langsung lapor polisi ae lah.

Untuk penulisannya sendiri, aku cukup suka dengan multi pov yang dipakai, tapi sudut pandang ketiga dari prof van dusen si mesin berpikir dan hatch si wartawan ini serasa kurang selaras. Kesannya seperti tiruan kasar dari poirot/hastings atau holmes/watson. Aku merasa harusnya endingnya bisa digarap lebih mencorong.

Terjemahannya enak dibaca, mengalir dan pemilihan kosa katanya pas. Aku juga suka ilustrasi cover edisi laksana ini. Unik aja. Selera.

[chi zuu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cerita bermula dengan pesta topeng yang diadakan oleh Stuyvesant Randolph, seorang jutawan pemilik Seven Oaks. Ditengah pesta terjadi pencurian piring emas berharga yang menjadi simbol keluarga. Piring itu bukan sekedar benda mewah, melainkan memiliki nilal sejarah dan sentimental tinggi.
Fakta yang membuat kaget yaitu pencuri itu dilakukan oleh salah satu tamu dan membawa pistol berisi peluru. Pencuri itu pun relarikan diri bersama seorang gadisd cantik berambut pirang.

Kelebihan Buku :
-Menghadirkan tokoh detektif yang cerdas dan unik. Menggunakan logika murni dan analisis rasional tanpa intuisi dan tebakan.
-Cerita penuh teka-teki dan kejutan logis.
-Menyelipkan penjelasan tentang sifat manusia: keserakahan, ambisi dan obsesi terhadap status sosial.
-Bagi pembaca yang suka menebak dan menganalisis, buku ini memberi kepuasan tersendiri.

Kekurangan Buku
-Gaya bahasa terasa berat dan kaku, karena merupakan karya awal abad ke-20
-Alur di awal terasa lambat, karena cenderung membangun suasana.

Pesan yang Dapat Dipelajari :
-Sumber kehancuran sering terjadi karena keserakahan.
-Fakta tidak selalu tampak jelas, jadi perlu diselidiki lebih dahulu.
-Logika bisa menyingkap kebenaran yang tersembunyi dibalik kebingungan.

Buku ini menampilkan benturan antara logika dan sifat manusia. Pembaca intelektual. bisa terpuaskan secoue Aku beri 🌟 4/5.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jacques Futrelle was an early 20th century detective author, and creator of one of its more annoying savant detectives (if you're not a fan of Nero Wolfe types, skip this book). Futrelle introduced Professor S.F.X. Van Dusen (a.k.a., The Thinking Machine) in this novella, and he is definitely an irritating little know-it-all. At least his helpmate, a reporter named Hatch, is less annoying. Fortunately, the Professor appears in the later chapters, leaving readers free to enjoy this silly tale of mistaken identities, burglary and star-crossed lovers.
This was first published in 1906, when such light amusements passed muster among readers of mystery fiction. Today it reads almost as a pastiche of society murder mysteries.
Interestingly, Futrelle was also a playwright and actor. He died on the Titanic, survived by the wife he saw into a lifeboat, and several children who were fortunately elsewhere.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first glance, this story written in 1906 looked to be right up my alley. I was in the mood for a good heist story, and this looked to be just the thing. The deciding factor was learning that the author went down on the Titanic. Be still, my soft heart!

Jacques Futrelle did have a knack for writing some memorable phrases. Two that caught my eye were a character wanting to "climb down someone's throat and open an umbrella", which brings a vivid mental picture to mind. A minor character declared the other in no uncertain terms: "Well, there ain't no serious trouble in this world till you marry a man that beats you." A lot of truth in that one, if you stop to think about it.

All in all, I discovered that The Chase of the Gold Plate was not the heist story for me. The writing was too dated, and although I liked Hutchinson Hatch the reporter, the other two main characters didn't cut the mustard. Detective Mallory, the "Supreme Police Intelligence of the Metropolitan District" who has a "No. 11 shoe and a No. 6 hat" pitted his skills against Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, "the Thinking Machine." Bah. There was much too much exposition, and between that and the one-dimensional characters, the theft fell flat. Onward!

[Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this Novella a daring theft takes place during a masked ball, the theft is done by someone dressed as a burglar and he appears to have an accomplice, a striking lady dressed in a Wild West costume.  The burglar is shot as they are escaping and this leads the owner of the plates, a reporter and the Police to the door of a Mr Richard Hubert, he refuses to say whether or not he took the items, but he has an injury (that he also refuses to disclose how it happens) and from there on in we are taken of a labyrinth of mistakes and misguided ideas until "the Thinking Machine" shows how it all happened.

[Liana9 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never had high expectations for a novel featuring a character known as "the Thinking Machine". The mystery was predictable and based on mistaken identities that were not very believable. Maybe this book just didn't age very well, with its assumptions that young women cannot tell their love interest from a complete stranger if he just wears a mask, that a college friendship is supposed to be lasting and precious after several years of said "friends" not communicating to each other, etc.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of those free "classics" I've read in spare moments on my phone. It's less a mystery and more a romance hung on a mystery. The detective doesn't even show up until near the end, and he mostly seems to be there as a deus ex machina to set everything aright for the young lovers. The writing style is dated, but as someone with a taste for such things I enjoyed it.

[Evilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually like this book. Didn’t expect anything. I even thought this was a crime-romance from the synopsis. Turned out, it is far from romance. Romance just an extra. This book is more of a mystery. Since, I didn’t have any expectations whatsoever, I really enjoyed it. Even, at some point I was a bit surprised and also I get to guess about who is the actual thief. So, I give 4 stars for this

[Glenna Bizeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another Thinking Machine book with three parts- the first tells the story as an outsider would see it, the second tells the story from the point of view of the girl involved in the story and the third introduces The Thinking Machine who solves the mystery. The mystery to me was why anyone had solid gold plates on display in their house. Seems like an invitation to thieves.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short 1906 potboiler centers on high society parties and disappearing/re-appearing gold dishes. Professor Van Dusen aka “The Thinking Machine” is brought in to solve the mystery, but I’d recommend skipping this one and meeting the Professor in the classic “The Problem of Cell 13” instead.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick,enjoyable read, maybe a bit on the romantic side, but still makes you puzzle. The hero being The Thinking Machine. Not quite a Sherlock Holme or Poirot , but working on what he calls logic, together with a newspaper reporter. Well worth a lazy afternoon read.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had never heard of this author. It was a fun and interesting little read.

[Oni · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminds me of my highschool drama session

[Eden Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Visit JetBlackDragonfly (The Man Who Read Too Much) at www.edenthompson.ca/blog

Jacques Futrelle was a prolific detective writer, starting in 1905 with The Problem of Cell 13 which introduced his famous detective, the logician nicknamed 'The Thinking Machine', who continued into his first novel The Chase of The Golden Plate in 1906. This is a classic mystery filled with unexpected humour - the accent on adventure rather than the clues needed for the reader to deduce the culprit themselves. Leave that to Professor Augustus S.F.X. VanDusen!

Amidst the Kings and Queens at a high society masquerade, a guest has come cleverly disguised as a Burglar. Some guess they know this person, as does a Cowgirl who recognizes him as her fiancé - they are to elope that night - but at unmasking time, the Burglar runs with the Cowgirl into the night, stealing a car to escape and getting shot in the shoulder to boot. That was the night the Randolph gold plate was stolen, along with priceless jewels. Dorothy Meredith, the Cowgirl, is so disgusted with the theft by her beau Dick Herbert she returns the bag of gold plate stashed in the car to the mansion. The next day Herbert refuses to say how he injured his shoulder, or even that he was at the party. His friend, intrepid reporter Hutchinson Hatch, tries to piece together Herbert's reasons to no avail. Then the gold plate is stolen again, this time found with Herbert in his apartment. The loot in his hands twice, his girlfriend an eyewitness to the crime, an injured shoulder - no question he is the thief. Right?

Professor Augustus S.F.X. VanDusen aka The Thinking Machine, arrives in the final third of the novel to sum it up using his trademark pure logic. It all came together but was slightly more fun when I was guessing myself, because the solution involved information I was not privy to - a little convoluted. However, Futrelle writes with an unusual humour with clever asides to the reader that had me laughing out loud. At just 133 pages, this is a speedy read, a quick adventure for those inclined.
Many of Futrelle's mysteries (including The Chase of the Golden Plate) are available on sites like manybooks.net or Amazon Kindle for free.
Just six years after beginning his writing career, following a trip to Europe in 1912, Futrelle died aboard the Titanic, after placing his wife and children safely into a lifeboat.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up for free . . . it's a public domain title written in 1906. Keeping in mind that writing style was much different over 100 years ago, it was a fun little mystery. The characters are not the main draw -- it's the mystery and the solving of it. Not to long and a fairly easy read -- good for a palate cleanser between longer, meatier books.

[Jihane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little detective story.Twists and swirls have you guessing til the very end. Very well written. I truly enjoyed it.
There are traces or romance, yet it remains a detective fiction at its core.