Showing results by author "William Le Queux" in All Categories

What if German forces landed on the east coast of England and advanced on London while the British were struggling to mount a counter-attack? That’s premise of William Le Queux’s The Invasion of 1910, one of the most popular "invasion fiction" novels of all time. The novel revolves around Germany’s rising naval power and its threat to a weak Britain, unprepared for war politically, physically and psychologically. As the Germans occupy half of London, a junior Parliamentarian declares "Britain is not defeated." A newly formed Army liberates London, but the war is far from over.

In this imagined war, coalition forces led by Russia and France invade Britain and make several early advances, but the Germans land in Britain as allies and help to repulse the invasion. The brave English patriots, together with German soldiers, try to turn the tide. Written 20 years before the start of World War I in 1914, Le Queux’s novel is considered to have influenced many subsequent works, including H. G. Wells’s The War of the Worlds.

Seven famous and sensational true crime stories retold by classic crime writers.

Forty breathtaking short stories of gripping adventures, secrets and strange conspiracies. 'The Dust That Was Barren' by P. C. Wren. 'The Deserter' by Stacy Aumonier. 'The Lighthouse on Shivering Sand' by J. S. Fletcher. 'The Secret of the Smoked Spectacles' by William Le Queux. 'The 39 Steps' by John Buchan. 'Three Pennyworth of Luck' by Basil Murray. 'The Secret of Dr. Vaux’s Intrigue' by William Le Queux. 'A Thread of Scarlet' by J. J. Bell. 'How I Became a Secret Agent' by Dr. A. K. Graves.

The Great White Queen is a thrilling colonial adventure in which young Richard Scarsmere follows his friend Omar to the mysterious African kingdom of Mo. As they battle treachery and ruthless enemies, they must uncover the truth behind Omar’s royal heritage.

Dive into the enigmatic world of William Le Queux, a British novelist known for his riveting mysteries. His life itself is shrouded in mystery, with rumours about him being a spy or merely a master self-promoter. In Czars Spy, Le Queux crafts a thrilling tale of espionage and conspiracy that traverses the breadth of Europe. Experience high-stakes adventure filled with shootings, heists, romance, prison escapes, and baffling conspiracies that will keep you guessing until the very end. Will you crack the case or be left puzzled by this captivating whodunit? The truth awaits you in the final ...

'Dr. Crippen, Lover and Poisoner' is Le Queux's account of the case of the famous poisoner Hawley Harvey Crippen, whom Le Queux claimed to have met personally on several occasions. Crippen, to escape the bondage of an unhappy marriage, and because he had fallen in love with another woman, Ethel Le Neve, murdered and dissected his wife and escaped with his lover in disguise, sparking a transatlantic hue and cry.

How to describe this book? In a word - savage. For those regular LibriVox Le Queux mystery listeners, this book is a step in a different direction by the author. The book starts out like most Le Queux. Our hero, Richard Scarsmere, befriends an individual (Omar) at an English boarding school who turns out to be an African prince from a kingdom called Mo. Omar receives a visit from one of his mother’s trusted advisers. His mother, the Great White Queen, seeks him to return home immediately. Omar convinces Scarsmere to return to Africa with him.

A gripping collection of classic spy stories by some of the great early masters of espionage fiction: 'The Secret of the Black Bag' by William Le Queux, 'How I Became a Secret Agent' by Dr. A. K. Graves, 'The Secret of the Smoked Spectacles' by William Le Queux,'The 39 Steps' by John Buchan, 'Matahari and Some Other Women Spies' by Sir Basil Thomson, 'The Secret of Dr. Vaux’s Intrigue' by William Le Queux.

Originally published in 1897, The Eye of Istar follows Zafar-Ben-A’Ziz on his return from London to his home in Omdurman, Sudan. While traveling through the Sahara, Zafar is taken prisoner by the “Veiled Men of the Desert”, and it is at the start of his imprisonment that he meets Azala, a Sultan’s daughter. They fall in love, and Zafar is determined to free Azala from her isolated life in a harem. But he soon discovers a dark power connected to a mysterious mark shared by the pair that complicates his mission.

In the heart of England, Edward Royle, the head of a prestigious chemical manufacturing company, is on the verge of marrying Phrida Shand, the daughter of his fathers former business partner. One fateful night, his friend, the enigmatic Sir Digby Kemsley—a renowned railroad engineer—invites him to his flat for a mysterious discussion. After a brief visit, Royle is summoned back urgently, only to find a stranger in Kemsley’s place. Trusting his friend becomes a dangerous gamble when a young woman is murdered in Kemsley’s flat, and Kemsley mysteriously vanishes. Complicating matters ...

Dive into a gripping whodunit brimming with twists and turns that rival an English country road. When old man Courtenay is discovered murdered in his bed, Dr. Ralph Boyd is called to Courtenay Manor to investigate. There, he uncovers a clue that could crack the case wide open, but for personal reasons, he chooses to keep it to himself. Meanwhile, Scotland Yard is left in the dark, with no suspects and no motive. Confident in his own deductions, Dr. Boyd believes he knows who the killer is—or is it a murderess? His close friend, Ambler Jevons, is also on the trail of the truth, yet Boyd holds...

Seven strange stories of intriguing optical illusions. The Diamond Lens by Fitz James O'BrienThe Devil's Spectacles by Wilkie CollinsThe Secret of the Smoked Spectacles by William Le QueuxMy Black Mirror by Wilkie CollinsThe Man who was Blind by Edwin PughA Coincidence by A. J. AlanTitbottom’s Spectacles by George William Curtis.

Dive into a captivating tale of mystery, suspense, and romance that unfolds against the backdrop of Englands bustling streets filled with omnibuses and shop girls. Experience the clash of societal changes as the lives of the gentry intertwine with those of the less fortunate. With a rich tapestry of characters and a nail-biting conclusion, this story promises to keep you on the edge of your seat. - Summary by Sandra Cullum

Step into a haunting tale where a young woman and her blind father inhabit the enigmatic House of Whispers. Legends say that those who hear the whispers meet a swift and sudden end. Written by William Le Queux in 1910, this gripping story weaves elements of thriller, espionage, and mystery, drawing you into a world of suspense and intrigue. (Summary by April6090)

In the heart of London, a young man named Owen Biddulph finds himself captivated by a striking young woman harboring a shadowy past. As her secrets unravel, Owen must confront the chilling possibility that her history could lead to his own peril. Is she the love he has been waiting for, or is she a danger lurking in disguise? A mysterious clergyman cautions him to stay away from her, warning that ignoring his advice could cost him everything. What dark influence does this enchanting woman wield? Discover the thrilling narrative penned by one of the masters of mystery, William Le Queux, with an...

Frank Spalding, a young diplomat, becomes entangled in a web of political intrigue and global espionage while stationed in Italy. As he navigates the treacherous landscape of international politics, he encounters unexpected twists and turns that challenge his resolve and test his cunning. Will he find a way to survive the machinations that threaten not only his career but also the stability of nations?

A young man, Owen Biddulph, is drawn to a beautiful young woman with a mysterious past... a past that seems to have returned to cause her disappearance! Is she his new found love or his nemesis? And who is this mysterious clergyman that warns him to avoid this young woman, at risk of his very life! What possible harm could this sweet young woman inflict? Written by one of the Masters of Mystery, William Le Queux.

The blind man was well aware that her reply was but a subterfuge. Little, however, did he dream the cause. Little did he know that a dark shadow had fallen upon the young girl's life - a shadow of evil. "Gabrielle," he said in a low, intense voice, "why aren't you open and frank with me as you once used to be? Remember that you, my daughter, are my only friend!".

Edward Royle is the head of a well-known chemical manufacturer in England, which he has inherited. He is engaged to the daughter of his father’s former partner, Phrida Shand, who lives with her mother. One night he is asked by his friend, Sir Digby Kemsley - a very famous railroad engineer, to come to his flat to discuss something although Kemsley is quite mysterious on the telephone. Royle visits, then returns home only to be summoned again by Kemsley, this time imploring him to return at once. Royle finds a gentleman in Kemsley’s place who is clearly not Kemsley, or is he?