The Silent House

The Silent House (1899) is a mystery novel by Fergus Hume. Although not as successful as The Mystery of a Hansom Cab (1886), an immediate bestseller for Hume, The Silent House is a gripping novel with an atmospheric intensity and tightly wound mystery worthy of the best of Victorian fiction. From an author whose work inspired Arthur Conan Doyle, The Silent House is a story of murder with a haunting, original conclusion.
At twenty-five, Lucian Denzil is at the very beginning of his career as a barrister. Settling into a serious life, he rents a modest home in Pimlico on Geneva Square. Although he endeavors to focus and live only for his work, Lucian cannot help but notice the stories told by neighbors and servants about No. 13, a home near his own on the square. Decades prior to his settling in Pimlico, No. 13, now known as "the silent house," was the site of a gruesome murder. Over the years, it had gone unoccupied and fallen into general disrepair. In 1895, a quiet, reclusive man named Mark Berwin moved into the home, where he lived alone, and to which he could not infrequently be seen returning in the dead of night in a drunken, disturbed state. One night, while walking through Geneva Square to his own home, Lucian encounters Berwin who, intoxicated and confused, requires the young man's assistance. Helping the older gentleman make his way to No. 13, Lucian feels a growing unease, a sense of something that will lead him not only to the heart of a local mystery, but into the depths of the silent house itself.
With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Fergus Hume's The Silent House is a classic of English mystery and detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Fergus Hume was a British author renowned for his detective fiction, particularly in the late 19th century. Born in 1859, he became a prominent literary figure after returning to England. Hume's most famous work, "The Mystery of a Hansom Cab," published in 1886, gained immense popularity and is considered one of the pioneering detective novels.
He also wrote "The Scarlet Bat," another notable addition to his oeuvre, showcasing his talent for crafting intricate plots and suspenseful narratives. Hume's writing features vivid characters and often blends mystery with social commentary. Throughout his career, he published numerous novels and short stories, significantly contributing to the genre. Hume's work has had a lasting impact on detective fiction, influencing future writers and shaping the genre's development. Throughout his career, Hume published over 30 novels and numerous short stories, showcasing his talent for crafting intricate plots filled with suspense and complex characters. He remains an important figure in the history of crime literature, with a style that continues to resonate with readers today.