The Mystery of Room 666

by Jacques Futrelle

Genres: Classics, Mystery, Horror, Short Stories

Unknown Binding

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

[Richard Dominguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Mystery of Room 666 (Audio book) is a short murder mystery. The story is short and easy to listen. The story revolves around a man falsely accused of murder and his efforts with the lead detective to prove his innocence. The end of the story came as a surprise to me and added quite a bit to a story that up until then wasn't unique.
At just over 50 minutes it is worth a listen if only to be surprised by the conclusion.

[Les Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent story and yet I have only just become aware of it.

Jacques Heath Futrelle was an established mystery writer, married to another author Lily May Peel. He perished in the Atlantic aboard RMS Titanic on 15 April 1912, but little is published regarding this author or his tragic historical death.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Howard Meredith hears a gunshot and sees a mysterious woman leaving Room 666 of a hotel. When the body of Frank Spenser is discovered inside, it appears to be a straightforward murder. But Meredith is the only one who saw the woman, and no one else can confirm she ever existed.

The story unfolds as Meredith who tries to convince the skeptical house detective and police that he isn’t imagining things. The tension lies in whether the woman was real, a ghostly illusion, or part of a deeper, more sinister plot.

[Berna · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5 stars rounded up to 5.
A really good short story with plenty of twists. Too bad the author died pretty young but I will certainly read more from him.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 5 out of 5]

WoW! Such a twisty mystery that I really loved! When a man is shot in his room, his neighbor sees a woman fleeing from the room & the police do not believe him! Highly Recommend It!