The Opal Serpent is a mystery novel written by Fergus Hume and originally published in 1905. The story follows the investigation of a murder that takes place in London's Chinatown. The victim is a wealthy man named Mr. Gabriel Chestermarke, who is found dead in his own office. The police suspect his nephew, James, who was the last person to see him alive. However, James claims to have left the office before the murder occurred.As the investigation progresses, it becomes clear that there are several suspects with motives for the murder. The most prominent of these is Mr. Chestermarke's business partner, Mr. Felix Babylon, who is known to have had a falling out with the victim. Other suspects include a mysterious woman who was seen leaving the office on the night of the murder and a Chinese man who may have been involved in a smuggling ring.The investigation is led by Detective Horace Byrd, who is determined to solve the case despite the many obstacles in his way. Along the way, he must navigate the complex social dynamics of Chinatown and the prejudices of his fellow officers. As the clues begin to pile up, he realizes that the key to solving the case may lie in a valuable opal serpent that was stolen from Mr. Chestermarke's office on the night of the murder.The Opal Serpent is a classic example of the detective fiction genre and has been praised for its intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and vivid depiction of turn-of-the-century London. It is a must-read for fans of mystery and suspense novels.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
