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The Four Faces: A Mystery
Michael Berrington is a bachelor leading a quiet life in London. Overhearing a conversation at his club one day, he becomes interested in a discussion regarding a man named Gastrell. Gastrell is somewhat of a mystery to the club members in spite of his renting a house from one of them. Berrington’s interest in Gastrell intensifies as his fiancé, Dulcie Challoner, befriends a wealthy widow, Mrs. Connie Stapleton who evidently has some type of relationship with Gastrell. As the plot progresses, Berrington finds himself involved with sensational robberies, brutal murders, coded messages, and even mind control! As in many Le Queux books, there are twists and turns as new characters and locations are introduced. When you are sure you know the ending, something new occurs and you wonder how it will affect the conclusion of the book.
Excerpt:
"I confess I'd like to know somethin' more about him." "Where did you run across him first?" "I didn't run across him; he ran across me, and in rather a curious way. We live in Linden Gardens now, you know. Several of the houses there are almost exactly alike, and about a month ago, at a dinner party we were givin', a young man was shown in. His name was unknown to me, so I supposed that he must be some friend of my wife's. Then I saw that he was a stranger to her too, and then all at once he became very confused, inquired if he were in Sir Harry Dawson's house - Sir Harry lives in the house next to ours - and, findin' he was not, apologized profusely for his mistake, and left hurriedly."
Excerpt:
"I confess I'd like to know somethin' more about him." "Where did you run across him first?" "I didn't run across him; he ran across me, and in rather a curious way. We live in Linden Gardens now, you know. Several of the houses there are almost exactly alike, and about a month ago, at a dinner party we were givin', a young man was shown in. His name was unknown to me, so I supposed that he must be some friend of my wife's. Then I saw that he was a stranger to her too, and then all at once he became very confused, inquired if he were in Sir Harry Dawson's house - Sir Harry lives in the house next to ours - and, findin' he was not, apologized profusely for his mistake, and left hurriedly."
230 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1914
25 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
William Le Queux
477 books31 followersNovelist William Tufnell Le Queux was born in London on 2 July 1864. His father, also William of Chateauroux, Indre, was a French draper's assistant and his mother was English.
He was educated in Europe and studied art under Ignazio Spiridon in Paris. He walked extensively in France and Germany and supported himself for a time writing for French newspapers. It was one of his sensational stories in The Petit Journal that attracted the attention of the French novelist Emile Zola and it was supposedly he who encouraged Le Queux to become a full-time writer.
In the late 1880s he returned to London where he edited the Gossip and Piccadilly magazines before joining the staff of The Globe newspaper in 1891 as a parliamentary reporter. But he resigned in 1893 and decided to abandon journalism to concentrate on writing and travelling. And his extensive travelling saw him visit Russia, the Near East, North Africa, Egypt and the Sudan and in 1912–13 he was a correspondent in the Balkan War for the Daily Mail. On his travels he found it necessary to become an expert revolver shot.
His first book was Guilty Bonds (1891), which concentrated on political conspiracy in Russia to such a degree that it was subsequently banned in that country. A series of short stories Strange Tales of a Nihilist followed in 1892 and from then on he was producing books on a regular basis until his death, and beyond, as a number of posthumous works were published.
His works mainly related to espionage activity and it was said that he was employed for a number of years as a member of the British Secret Service, where he was an expert on wireless transmission. He did claim to have been the first wireless experimenter to have broadcast from his station at Guildford in 1920/21 and he was president of the Wireless Experimental Association and a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers.
He stated at one time that he began writing to help finance his work for British Intelligence for whom he was required to undertake much travelling and to make personal contact with royalty and other high-ranking people. He recorded some of the latter meetings in his autobiography entitled Things I Know about Kings, Celebrities and Crooks (1923).
He was at one time Consul of the Republic of San Marino and he possessed Italian, Serbian and Montenegrin decorations. He was also a keen collector of medieval manuscripts and monastic seals.
However, all his activities did not stop him turning out novel after novel and at the time of his death he had well over 100 books to his credit.
After several weeks' illness, he died at Knocke, Belgium, in the early hours of 13 October 1927. His body was returned to England and on 19 October he was cremated at Golders Green with the Reverend Francis Taylor of Bedford conducting the service, which was attended by Le Queux's brother and a few intimate friends. (Gerry Wolstenholme, January 2013)
He was educated in Europe and studied art under Ignazio Spiridon in Paris. He walked extensively in France and Germany and supported himself for a time writing for French newspapers. It was one of his sensational stories in The Petit Journal that attracted the attention of the French novelist Emile Zola and it was supposedly he who encouraged Le Queux to become a full-time writer.
In the late 1880s he returned to London where he edited the Gossip and Piccadilly magazines before joining the staff of The Globe newspaper in 1891 as a parliamentary reporter. But he resigned in 1893 and decided to abandon journalism to concentrate on writing and travelling. And his extensive travelling saw him visit Russia, the Near East, North Africa, Egypt and the Sudan and in 1912–13 he was a correspondent in the Balkan War for the Daily Mail. On his travels he found it necessary to become an expert revolver shot.
His first book was Guilty Bonds (1891), which concentrated on political conspiracy in Russia to such a degree that it was subsequently banned in that country. A series of short stories Strange Tales of a Nihilist followed in 1892 and from then on he was producing books on a regular basis until his death, and beyond, as a number of posthumous works were published.
His works mainly related to espionage activity and it was said that he was employed for a number of years as a member of the British Secret Service, where he was an expert on wireless transmission. He did claim to have been the first wireless experimenter to have broadcast from his station at Guildford in 1920/21 and he was president of the Wireless Experimental Association and a member of the Institute of Radio Engineers.
He stated at one time that he began writing to help finance his work for British Intelligence for whom he was required to undertake much travelling and to make personal contact with royalty and other high-ranking people. He recorded some of the latter meetings in his autobiography entitled Things I Know about Kings, Celebrities and Crooks (1923).
He was at one time Consul of the Republic of San Marino and he possessed Italian, Serbian and Montenegrin decorations. He was also a keen collector of medieval manuscripts and monastic seals.
However, all his activities did not stop him turning out novel after novel and at the time of his death he had well over 100 books to his credit.
After several weeks' illness, he died at Knocke, Belgium, in the early hours of 13 October 1927. His body was returned to England and on 19 October he was cremated at Golders Green with the Reverend Francis Taylor of Bedford conducting the service, which was attended by Le Queux's brother and a few intimate friends. (Gerry Wolstenholme, January 2013)
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 12, 2023
A typical Edwardian mystery by an author who was most popular in those times but is now largely forgotten. The storyline moves along at a steady pace and the intrigue is present all the time throughout the many twists and turns of the plot. It all comes good in the end and the romantic interest is also brought to a satisfactory conclusion. Well worth a read.
Looking for a pocket sized book to take on a journey I spotted this on a shelf near the door last week (24 June 2011), for ease I grabbed it and began to read once I set off on the bus.
I was really enjoying it and when on about page 145 I decided to check what other William Le Queux I had read, I discovered that I had read only one (since GR days) and it was this very one!
I wonder if anyone else has read a book without realising that it had already been read? Anyway I decided to finish it because I couldn't remember what happened ... and it was excellent and made me think that my original three star rating (spotted when I looked for the Le Queux items) was perhaps a bit harsh. It now read more like a four star item!
Mike Berrington is the hero and tells the story of how a groupd of four, thus the title, aim to commit various crimes. It is all so well presented so that the reader wonders what is going to happen all through and the climax is not only surprising but suspensful, too.
Looking for a pocket sized book to take on a journey I spotted this on a shelf near the door last week (24 June 2011), for ease I grabbed it and began to read once I set off on the bus.
I was really enjoying it and when on about page 145 I decided to check what other William Le Queux I had read, I discovered that I had read only one (since GR days) and it was this very one!
I wonder if anyone else has read a book without realising that it had already been read? Anyway I decided to finish it because I couldn't remember what happened ... and it was excellent and made me think that my original three star rating (spotted when I looked for the Le Queux items) was perhaps a bit harsh. It now read more like a four star item!
Mike Berrington is the hero and tells the story of how a groupd of four, thus the title, aim to commit various crimes. It is all so well presented so that the reader wonders what is going to happen all through and the climax is not only surprising but suspensful, too.
January 19, 2024
Another busy, twisted, mystery, thriller. Quite entertaining, if a bit old fashioned & Victorian.
August 15, 2012
William Le Queux (1864-1927) FREE on Kindle **** Edwardian mystery written in 1914. Just who is the mysterious and charismatic stranger, seemingly without a past, who has leased the luxurious London house? The plot gets a little out of hand near the end, but the book is a fun page turner.
Le Queux was a prolific writer with a wide-ranging background as a reporter, author, and world traveler.
Le Queux was a prolific writer with a wide-ranging background as a reporter, author, and world traveler.
July 26, 2025
Not really a mystery, but a melodramatic adventure story about a gang of miscreants. Full review at https://murderatthemanse.substack.com...
June 30, 2018
A mystery that isn't really a mystery with few redeeming features. A brief attempt to instil a bit of character into the narrator is abandoned early on, women are flat stereotypes of evil temptresses or pure innocents, the plot is simultaneously dull and unbelievable and there was nothing that made me invest in the slightest in the characters or in the outcome (apart from waiting for a surprising plot twist to make it all worthwhile - which ever came). Tedious and highly missable.
April 22, 2018
quite an interesting read though I must confess mysteries are not something I usually read. so by my standards, it was an addicting read. plenty of details kept me gripped. also good as an audio, because I heard it mostly in the car while heading to work.
February 7, 2019
I have read a half dozen or more Wilkie Collins books in a row, so I was getting very used to his style. This is the first Le Queux novel I have read, and even though the story was dramatic and engaging, it was hard to follow at times. Too many characters and changing settings, I guess.
August 20, 2017
A classic and one of his best! Well narrated and recommended.
August 18, 2021
It was dull
It was dull. Not enough action. The charters are just standing around like in drawing room one act play. Dull
It was dull. Not enough action. The charters are just standing around like in drawing room one act play. Dull
October 10, 2022
It was alright
December 27, 2018
Wow! When I started this book, I didn't realize how gripping it would be. I didn't want to put it down. It starts out innocently enough with an overheard conversation about a Mr. Gattrell. Thus starts a novel that involves a gang of clever and ruthless thieves, kidnapping, disguises, fake messages, murders, attempted murders, robberies, a trip to France, Scotland Yard, etc. At times in this book, I almost despaired that the thieves would win the day--they seemed a step ahead of everyone else. It is told from the point of view of a Michael Berrington--an ordinary man pulled into the intrigue. Well worth the read!
April 1, 2014
Old fashion exciting
Hard for me to put down. Early 20th century era, aeroplanes being new, manly men and gentle women...except a few! Good adventure quaint terms of speaking (wordy), & action & suspense & gentle light romance. A worthy read. Looking forward to author's next book.
Hard for me to put down. Early 20th century era, aeroplanes being new, manly men and gentle women...except a few! Good adventure quaint terms of speaking (wordy), & action & suspense & gentle light romance. A worthy read. Looking forward to author's next book.
March 10, 2015
Categorized as a mystery, but more of an adventure tale. A little too melodramatic for my taste, seeming to nail all of the sensational-fiction tropes: hypnotism! False identities! Spurious foreigners! Girls with strange eyes! Jaunting to France! A tolerable period piece, but not an author I will hunt down in future.
December 5, 2013
Wealthy Michael stumbles into the periphery of a large, sophisticated gang of thieves in early 1920's England. His fiancé, Dulcie, and her family are victimized, so he works with friends and authorities to bring the ruthless gang to justice.
Want to Read
March 6, 2014Gutenberg
Want to Read
April 9, 20121920 mystery novel...excited about it!
May 17, 2014
An all right book.
I don't especially care for the English style of writing, but this book held my attention and I enjoyed it.
I don't especially care for the English style of writing, but this book held my attention and I enjoyed it.
Want to Read
May 3, 2019Synopsis: Michael Berrington overhears a conversation one day about a mystery man at his club, Gastrell. It leads to robbery and murder.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews