Reviews

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume

fridapalmars's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective fast-paced

3.5

ariesunrise's review against another edition

dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

buterbooks's review against another edition

4.0

Excellent material for fans of period crime, even better because when published it was as a novel of the times. Also a fun whodunit that sets the scene for an entire genre. Well worth finding a copy.

jackievr's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

trin's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.25

A mystery that predates Sherlock Holmes, and that apparently inspired Arthur Conan Doyle to turn his hand to the genre -- because of how bad it is. It is bad. Obsessed with technical detail (endless court transcripts of events the reader is already aware of), flatly characterized, dialect used for the poor (boo!), a mystery solved not by detective work but by, essentially, a deathbed confession.

Maybe deserves a second star for the historical impact, but the very end is all the men conspiring not to reveal vital, life-changing information to two women "for their own good," and I lack the patience. This was boring and annoying and Doyle outwrote it a thousand times over. You were right, bro.

shreyas1599's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

verydazedragon's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

“But let him beware, Justice is not blind, but blindfolded, and when he least expects it she will tear the bandage from her keen eyes, and drag him forth to the light of day to receive the reward of his deed. “
This sentence, and the scene in which Mother Guttersnipe dies, rolled over and over in my mind. I thought I had solved the mystery, as we all did, I am sure, and was delighted to realize that I was wrong. The mystery is so satisfying, and unlike with Sherlock Holmes novels, we are not kept in the dark about all the clues available to the characters. I liked the transition from inspectors to lawyers and then back to a detective. They all solved the riddle together in their own fragmentary way. I disagree with their decision to keep Sally Rollins in the dark, but that does not detract from my enjoyment of the novel.

ljm57's review against another edition

4.0

Published in 1886, a year before Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes, this mystery set in Melbourne was a world wide best seller. With sales of 750000 & translated into 11 language, Hume's story of a murder taking place in a hansom cab, is probably Australia's first literary success. An enjoyable read with many twists & turns, & written in the old world style of language that I just love.

emeraldgarnet's review against another edition

3.0

Fairly well-written with an interesting plot.

laurenla's review against another edition

3.25

an old Australian murder mystery - Doyle took from it. Listened to free audiobook excellent narrator. Outdated.