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The Secret Passage
Humph Never heard of them, said Jennings, lighting his cigarette, "but it is strange you should talk of coining. I and several other fellows are looking for a set of coiners now. There are a lot of false coins circulating, and they are marvellously made. If I can only lay my hands on the coiners and their factory, there will be a sensation."
252 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1905
7 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Fergus Hume
855 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 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 12, 2012
A good mystery story, there are loads of characters and one may get a bit confused at times, but it still is quite interesting.
Generally an old and a bit strange woman is found murdered at her home and it just so happens that not too long before shes found her servants were just chatting among themselves about the unusual household. Well you may be wondering where and when the 'secret passage' part comes in. Actually for most of the tale you'll be wondering, since this is only explained in its entirety after you get half way through or there about.
But as I said its an interesting tale there's that small element of excitement due to the reader wanting to just get to the mystery's solution.
Like classic mysteries, well maybe you could try it... :):)
This is also available at Librivox so you could give it a listen too...
Generally an old and a bit strange woman is found murdered at her home and it just so happens that not too long before shes found her servants were just chatting among themselves about the unusual household. Well you may be wondering where and when the 'secret passage' part comes in. Actually for most of the tale you'll be wondering, since this is only explained in its entirety after you get half way through or there about.
But as I said its an interesting tale there's that small element of excitement due to the reader wanting to just get to the mystery's solution.
Like classic mysteries, well maybe you could try it... :):)
This is also available at Librivox so you could give it a listen too...
March 13, 2019
I was pulled in at the start with appealing young woman who shows up needing a job as maid to a rather haughty old woman but the book can't stand the test of time in some measures. Its value for me is the portrayal of another era. I will probably try another book before I give up on Hume.
This one is the third on the gutenberg list of Hume's books with regard to popularity. If you need a free book on your kindle you might try one from this UK author (1859-1932) who actually grew up in New Zealand where his family emigrated when he was young.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...
This one is the third on the gutenberg list of Hume's books with regard to popularity. If you need a free book on your kindle you might try one from this UK author (1859-1932) who actually grew up in New Zealand where his family emigrated when he was young.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/autho...
January 6, 2015
Public Domain - Free for Kindle |
The three stars is actually fairly generous here, and only possible because I kept firmly in mind that the book was not written for modern readers, and therefore written for different tastes and different reading expertise. |
I might have enjoyed this more if I hadn't just read a couple of better mysteries right before, but as it is I found it difficult to understand how readers of the time could have found it at all "mysterious". Between the title and the obvious clues laid down with bright flashing neon lights and arrows, the entire solution was clear before most of the questions had even been posed. It was therefore just a matter of waiting for the apparently oblivious characters to slooowly start to figure out and piece together the knowledge that was sitting around for them.
It was also relatively frustrating that this was yet another novel in which the only real reason for much of the 'plot' to advance was a couple in love where one party thought they were shielding the other and so refused to tell their betrothed *that* they were shielding them, or why. "I think you've done something awful, so I won't tell you that I think you've done something awful because you know that you've done something awful and if I tell you that I know you've done it..." there is never any conclusion to that thought. It's bad enough to protect a loved one from unpleasant knowledge, which is common enough in these books, but to protect a loved one from the unpleasant knowledge of something you think they themselves have done is ludicrous.
Anyway, I mostly continue to read Hume because a) the books are free while I'm waiting for library holds to come in; and b) it's really interesting to see a snapshot of a portion of society of the time. Good enough.
The three stars is actually fairly generous here, and only possible because I kept firmly in mind that the book was not written for modern readers, and therefore written for different tastes and different reading expertise. |
I might have enjoyed this more if I hadn't just read a couple of better mysteries right before, but as it is I found it difficult to understand how readers of the time could have found it at all "mysterious". Between the title and the obvious clues laid down with bright flashing neon lights and arrows, the entire solution was clear before most of the questions had even been posed. It was therefore just a matter of waiting for the apparently oblivious characters to slooowly start to figure out and piece together the knowledge that was sitting around for them.
It was also relatively frustrating that this was yet another novel in which the only real reason for much of the 'plot' to advance was a couple in love where one party thought they were shielding the other and so refused to tell their betrothed *that* they were shielding them, or why. "I think you've done something awful, so I won't tell you that I think you've done something awful because you know that you've done something awful and if I tell you that I know you've done it..." there is never any conclusion to that thought. It's bad enough to protect a loved one from unpleasant knowledge, which is common enough in these books, but to protect a loved one from the unpleasant knowledge of something you think they themselves have done is ludicrous.
Anyway, I mostly continue to read Hume because a) the books are free while I'm waiting for library holds to come in; and b) it's really interesting to see a snapshot of a portion of society of the time. Good enough.
April 16, 2020
Classic thriller mystery with vengeance, love triangles, hidden identities and twist after plot twist. Best feature is that with all its darkness of crime, passion and death, it's actually clean enough to let your kids read, or in my case, listen to the audio. My six year old was fascinated by the story even though he couldn't quite follow it, and I never felt the need to turn it off. (Strongest language being along the lines of "I hate her/could kill her" spoken by an obviously bad/unsympathetic character) Interestingly, a slight negative reference to melodrama is given in the story, which I found rather rich with its own supply of the melodramatic. Definitely not on the literary level of a Dorothy Sayers mystery, but much better than a Hardy Boys, and good for helping one get through the dishes on a Tuesday night.
March 6, 2014
http://www.gutenberg.org/catalog/worl...
Opening - CHAPTER I THE COTTAGE
"What IS your name?"
"Susan Grant, Miss Loach."
"Call me ma'am. I am Miss Loach only to my equals. Your age?"
"Twenty-five, ma'am."
"Do you know your work as parlor-maid thoroughly?"
"Yes, ma'am. I was two years in one place and six months in another, ma'am. Here are my characters from both places, ma'am."
An enjoyable, deftly written locked room mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 24, 2022
an engaging whodunit with lots of twists
January 5, 2023
Great weekend read and an interesting story. It is in the public domain and written when racial comments about Jews and other races were not unusual.
August 28, 2012
Doesn't work as a puzzle style mystery: doesn't work as a thriller
I'm having a hard time nominating appeal factors in this book. There's a lot to not like: racism, banging on about the hook noses and dark eyebrows of Jews. Good people look handsome, bad people look like bad people. Servants are innately stupid as a class, as you the reader are reminded. A lot of carry on which makes very little sense (a woman who loves a man incredibly, but couldn't possibly marry without her mother's consent?)
It's sad: he was Australia's first mystery writer and so I wanted to like him, but...this just isn't a recommendable book. Even among Hume's books, this is a weak one.
I'm having a hard time nominating appeal factors in this book. There's a lot to not like: racism, banging on about the hook noses and dark eyebrows of Jews. Good people look handsome, bad people look like bad people. Servants are innately stupid as a class, as you the reader are reminded. A lot of carry on which makes very little sense (a woman who loves a man incredibly, but couldn't possibly marry without her mother's consent?)
It's sad: he was Australia's first mystery writer and so I wanted to like him, but...this just isn't a recommendable book. Even among Hume's books, this is a weak one.
June 22, 2009
I listened to this on Librivox as well. I was disappointed that the title has a huge amount to do with the twist of the story, but if you take it with a grain of salt it was an engrossing read. I called the "baddies" early on, but I don't think it's supposed to be much of a surprise. How it all happens certainly is surprising, and it's worth a listen.
February 2, 2009
Published in 1905, this well-done murder mystery was acclaimed by the New York Times Book Review. I listened to it on Librivox and thoroughly enjoyed it. Will be looking for more by this author.
January 5, 2010
Excellent mystery. Loved it!
February 23, 2011
I quit about half way thru this book. It's pace slowed and the characters identities began to get somewhat muddled so I gave it up.
June 19, 2012
I wish all murder mysteries were written like this. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns and did not mind that it was published so long ago.
January 26, 2013
Not bad for an oldie
September 21, 2014
A good early 20th century whodunit.
November 20, 2020
very good read
Read
September 1, 2016a Librivox audiobook
Susan is the new house help when someone mysteriously dies.
Susan is the new house help when someone mysteriously dies.
February 13, 2013
Not too bad...but an unfortunate title that gives away a lot of the story.
September 19, 2017
Pleasant romantic mystery, well narrated by LibriVox contributers. Suggestion: Use slower speech speed on last few chapters. Classic-style (non-offensive).
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October 27, 2017I really enjoyed the story now the I am familiar with his work cannot wait to read more.Hagar the
Lawnmower is my favorite.story love his writing.He has amazing insight in his characters.It is
Surprising that his works aren't more well known .
Lawnmower is my favorite.story love his writing.He has amazing insight in his characters.It is
Surprising that his works aren't more well known .
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews