The Greatest Thrillers of Fergus Hume (ePub)

Fergusson Wright Hume, better known as Fergus Hume, was born on July 8, 1859, in England, but he spent much of his early life in New Zealand where his father was a barrister. Hume's initial career trajectory took him toward law, yet his passion for theater soon led him to write plays, one of which, 'Lady Duffs', was misattribated to another author, discouraging him from further playwriting. This disappointment pivoted his aspirations toward novel writing, culminating in his most famous work, 'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab' (1886), which astonishingly surpassed Arthur Conan Doyle's 'A Study in Scarlet' in sales and popularized the crime mystery genre. Hume's deft handling of suspense and the police procedural format established the framework for countless detective stories to come. His contributions to the genre are recognized in collections such as 'The Greatest Thrillers of Fergus Hume,' which showcases his proficiency for crafting engaging whodunits that secured his position among the pantheon of early crime writers. Hume's literary style is marked by intricate plots, keen attention to detail, and a predilection for the melodramatic, which often reflects the societal norms and legal intricacies of the late Victorian era. Although less known today, Fergus Hume's prolific career, with over 130 novels, left an indelible mark on the crime and mystery genre, influencing contemporaries and laying groundwork for future detective fiction. He died on July 12, 1932, in England, leaving behind a legacy rich with thrilling intrigue and suspenseful storytelling.