The Four Feathers is a 1902 adventure novel by British writer A. E. W. Mason that has inspired many films of the same title. Against the background of the Mahdist War, young Feversham disgraces himself by quitting the army, which others perceive as cowardice, symbolized by the four white feathers they give him. He redeems himself with acts of great courage and wins back the heart of the woman he loves.Alfred Edward Woodley Mason (1865 – 1948) was an English author and politician. H...

Inspector Hanaud was the first modern detective of the 20th century, appearing first in 1910. He is believed to have been an influence on Agatha Christie's detective, Hercule Poirot. The series consists of 7 novels and stories:At the Villa RoseThe affair at the Semiramis HotelThe House of the ArrowThe Prisoner in the OpalThey Wouldn't Be ChessmenThe House in Lordship LaneThe Ginger King.If you enjoy this ebook, don't forget to searc...

A retired tea-broker with a passion for fine claret looks forward to his annual autumn tour of the Bordeaux vineyards. But a chance conversation in a London drawing-room plunges him into strange happenings. A young American woman begs him to watch over her friend, the heiress of a rose-pink château above the river, who has broken off her engagement without explanation. The young woman swears that every letter from the château reveals shifting, half-formed faces beneath the ink.Relu...

The second volume in the Detective Fiction Collection!Featuring:The Affair at the Semiramis Hotel, by A. E. W. MasonThe Mysterious Card, by Cleveland MoffettThe Mysterious Card Unveiled, by Cleveland MoffettThe Double Four, by Edward Phillips OppenheimThe Evil Shepherd, by Edward Phillips OppenheimThe Experiences of Loveday Brooke, Lady Detective, by Catherine Louisa PirkisThe Fall of the House of Usher, by Edgar Allan PoeThe ...

Messrs. Frobisher & Haslitt, the solicitors on the east side of Russell Square, counted amongst their clients a great many who had undertakings established in France; and the firm was very proud of this branch of its business."It gives us a place in history," Mr. Jeremy Haslitt used to say. "For it dates from the year 1806, when Mr. James Frobisher, then our very energetic senior partner, organised the escape of hundreds of British subjects who were detained in France by the edict o...

In 'At the Villa Rose' we meet French Inspector Gabriel Hanaud for the first time. Hanaud is a towering figure in the history of genre mystery fiction as he is the obvious inspiration for Hercule Poirot. Whilst on holiday in Aix-les-Bains Inspector Hanaud is approached by Harry Wethermill to help investigate the murder of wealthy Madame Dauvray. Wethermill is in love with the prime suspect, Celia Harland. His unshaking faith in Harland moves inspector Hanaud to the case. Intrigue and myste...

A.E.W. Mason (1865-1948) was a British writer and politician. Mason wrote over 20 novels with his most famous being The Four Feathers which has been turned into many films. This edition of The Four Feathers includes a table of contents.

Filmed three times, At the Villa Rose is Mason and his cunning detective Hanaud at their best.In this gripping classic mystery, a quiet villa in the French spa town of Aix-les-Bains becomes the scene of a shocking crime. When a wealthy woman is found murdered and her jewels disappear, suspicion falls quickly—but the truth is far more elusive than it first appears. Enter Inspector Hanaud, the brilliant and unconventional French detective whose sharp mind cuts through fear, g...

In "They Wouldn't Be Chessmen," A.E.W. Mason intricately weaves a narrative that explores the complexities of human relationships set against the backdrop of post-World War I society. This novel is characterized by its sharp dialogue and astute psychological insights, presenting a rich tapestry of characters whose motivations and interactions reveal the moral and existential dilemmas of the time. Mason employs a blend of realism and allegory, inviting readers to ponder the societal roles i...

They Wouldn't Be Chessmen is one of A.E.W. Mason's late Inspector Hanaud mysteries, a polished work of Golden Age detection in which crime is imagined as strategy—only to reveal that human beings refuse the neat logic of the board. Mason blends the puzzle structure of the classic detective novel with theatrical pacing, urbane dialogue, and psychological nuance, placing Hanaud's patient intelligence against deception, social performance, and emotional impulse. The result belongs to the inte...

This issue features a pair of original tales: a mystery from Kaye George (thanks to acquiring editor Michael Bracken) and a fantasy from Adrian Cole (written especially for this Halloween issue).On the mystery front, we have a pair of great modern tales by William Dylan Powell (thanks to acquiring editor Barb Goffman) and James Holding, plus a classic novel by British master A.E.W. Mason, who is best known for his tale of courage and cowardice in wartime, The Four Feathers...

A.E.W. Mason's "The House of the Arrow" is a masterful blend of psychological intrigue and detective fiction that delves into themes of betrayal, revenge, and familial secrets. Set against the backdrop of an English country estate, the narrative unfolds through a series of meticulously crafted characters and a labyrinthine plot that keeps readers engaged. Mason employs a rich, descriptive style that captures the nuances of human relationships and the moral ambiguities faced by the protagon...