
A weary expatriate, fresh from the colonies, wanders the bustling streets of London feeling detached from the very life that once promised adventure. As he drifts between cafés, music halls and the anonymity of the city, a chance encounter drags him into a labyrinth of whispered warnings and shadowy figures. The ordinary world he knows begins to crumble, hinting at a hidden danger that could upend the fragile peace of Europe.
Compelled by curiosity and a restless desire for purpose, he is thrust into a frantic chase across the capital, pursued by unknown enemies and forced to rely on strangers for aid. With each clue he uncovers, the stakes rise, and the simple act of returning home becomes a perilous race against time. Listeners will be drawn into a tense, fast‑moving thriller that captures the thrill of early‑20th‑century intrigue.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (213K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
1996-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1940
Best known for writing The Thirty-Nine Steps, this Scottish author mixed fast-moving adventure with a remarkable public career that reached all the way to Rideau Hall. His books helped shape the modern thriller, while his life also included work as a publisher, historian, politician, and Governor General of Canada.
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