
A former army officer, still haunted by the wounds of the Great War, is drawn back into intrigue when an old school‑friend delivers a cryptic newspaper notice. The ad seeks a cultured, resourceful young gentleman to accompany a recently returned, wealthy expatriate on a continental tour. Intrigued by the mystery and the promise of a handsome fee, the veteran decides to investigate, seeing the request as an opportunity to apply his wartime instincts to civilian life.
Soon he receives a puzzling invitation to meet a man named Salim Mazaroff at a London hotel. The name, foreign and enigmatic, hints at a tangled past that stretches across continents. As he steps into the bustling streets of post‑war London, the protagonist must untangle clues, confront old comrades, and navigate a world where old loyalties clash with new dangers—all while the shadow of a murder that once spanned three continents looms ever larger.
Language
fi
Duration
~7 hours (427K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Tapio Riikonen
Release date
2021-11-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1863–1935
Best known for brisk, puzzle-rich mysteries, this prolific English writer produced hundreds of novels and helped shape the feel of early 20th-century crime fiction. Before turning fully to fiction, he also worked as a journalist and wrote poetry and historical novels.
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