William Le Queux

Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo (1921) is a thriller by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo is a story of mystery, murder, and international crime. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining tale for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo, Hugh Henfrey travels to Monte Carlo following the mysterious death of his father. In search of answers, he tracks down Mademoiselle Yvonne Ferad, a legendary gambler who frequents the tables of Europe’s casino capital. Having received a tip that Ferad knows something about his father, Henfrey finds and interrogates her. But at the moment the truth is to be revealed, an assassin appears and guns Ferad down, mortally wounding her. Henfrey is made the primary suspect, forcing him to flee the police by joining a network of criminals under the wing of the Sparrow, a gentleman ringleader and veritable mastermind who conspires to transport the young Englishman out of Monaco. As he moves through the shadows from Italy to Belgium and England, Henfrey begins to suspect that the secret of his father’s death has been right before his eyes the whole time. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s Mademoiselle of Monte Carlo is a classic thriller reimagined for modern readers.

The Invasion of 1910 (1906) is a novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, The Invasion of 1910 is a story of espionage, resistance, and international conflict. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining world for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In The Invasion of 1910, a large German occupying force lands undetected on the coast of England. After quickly defeating a hastily assembled British defense in a battle at Royston, German forces turn toward London, eventually gaining control of half of the city. Woefully unprepared, terribly overwhelmed, a small group of English politicians gathers to form a resistance force capable of conducting guerrilla style attacks on the well trained, heavily armed Germans. As the light of hope returns to a beleaguered nation, a new British Army gathers strength in order to cast the invaders out for good. Originally published in the Daily Mail, Le Queux’s novel was both popular and controversial for its use of newspapermen dressed in German military uniforms to drum up sales. Despite being rejected as alarmist in its time, The Invasion of 1910 would prove prescient less than a decade after its publication with the outbreak of the First World War. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s The Invasion of 1910 is a classic novel reimagined for modern readers.

The Tickencote Treasure (1903) is a work of adventure fiction by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the beginning of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, The Tickencote Treasure is a story of piracy, mystery, and suspense on the high seas. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining tale for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In The Tickencote Treasure, a struggling doctor gets the chance of a lifetime when an old sea captain recruits him for a voyage to Africa. Unsure at first, Paul Pickering accepts his offer, embarking on a journey that brings him to the coast of Algeria. After several uneventful days at sea, the crew is surprised to discover a strange ship floating toward them. Although it resembles an old Elizabethan vessel, the hull looks relatively new. Thinking it abandoned, a group of sailors boards the phantom ship to find it hermetically sealed. Hoping for treasure, they go below deck to find a strange old man instead. As the story unfolds, an atmosphere of mystery and an ancient legend threaten to overwhelm Pickering and his comrades. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s The Tickencote Treasure is a classic work of adventure fiction reimagined for modern readers.

Rasputin the Rascal Monk (1917) is a work of historical nonfiction by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, Rasputin the Rascal Monk indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the First World War to weave a sinister tale of espionage and political conspiracy. Despite the popularity and accessibility of his work, Le Queux was genuinely concerned—and immensely paranoid—about the realities of international espionage, using his own research and experience to piece together otherwise shadowy narratives for his readers. Toward the end of the First World War, William Le Queux turned his attention from Germany to the looming threat of Russia. In this dedicated—though factually loose—recreation of the life of Rasputin, Le Queux investigates one of history’s great anomalies: the ability of a rough, Siberian peasant to ascend to the highest echelon of Russian society. In Rasputin the Rascal Monk, which incorporates years of research and experience to weave a tale of fear and intrigue, Le Queux makes his case for the possibility that Rasputin was not only a confidant of the Tsar and Tsarina, but that he was a spy for Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Ever paranoid about the threat of German political influence worldwide, Le Queux provide the reading public with violent, disturbing, and fanatical tales of the infamous Rasputin while forwarding his own agenda. While not much is known about the author, it is possible his claims of firsthand knowledge regarding the murky movements of spies and diplomats throughout Europe and Britain were true. One thing, however, is certain: his paranoia was far from unfounded. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s Rasputin the Rascal Monk is a classic work of historical nonfiction reimagined for modern readers.

Spies of the Kaiser (1909) is a novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, Spies of the Kaiser indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the leadup to World War One to weave a sinister tale of espionage and political conspiracy. Despite the playful and imaginative nature of his fiction, Le Queux was genuinely concerned—and immensely paranoid—about the possibility of war with Germany. In addition to selling countless copies, his work inspired a generation of secret service officers who would go on to form Britain’s legendary MI5. “Germany is our friend—for the moment…What may happen to-morrow?” Alerted to a possible plot by German secret agents to invade Britain, a young solicitor and his trusted allies attempt to disrupt these shadowy figures—before it’s too late. While a nation wakes, works, eats, and sleeps, these anonymous heroes track down sources, search for clues, and place their lives on the line for the good of the many. While the truth is unclear, the stakes are not: the fate of their people is in their hands. Written only a few years before the outbreak of the First World War, Spies of the Kaiser incorporates years of research and experience to weave a tale from the deepest fears of the nation. With detailed maps, secretive discussions, and prescient descriptions of submarines and airplanes used for war, Le Queux’s novel seems pulled from headlines yet unwritten, and tragically to come. While not much is known about the author, it is possible his claims of firsthand knowledge regarding the murky movements of spies and diplomats throughout Europe and Britain were true. One thing, however, is certain: his paranoia was far from unfounded. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s Spies of the Kaiser is a classic espionage thriller reimagined for modern readers.

From the Introduction: To those who, like myself, have moved in the Continental underworld of spies and spying, the name of "Sant of the Secret Service" is synonymous with all that is ingenious, resourceful, and daring. In the Intelligence Departments of London, Paris, Rome, and New York, the name of "Sant of the Secret Service" is to-day one to conjure with. Cheerful, optimistic, and the most modest of men, Gerry Sant has seldom spoken of his own adventures. The son of a certain nobleman who must here remain nameless, and hence the scion of a noble house, he has graduated through all stages of the dark and devious ways of espionage. Our first meeting was ten years ago, in the tribune at the Battle of Flowers at San Remo, where, to be exact, we were fellow-members of the committee, and it is because of our old friendship, and the fact that we have been fellow-spies up and down Europe, that he has permitted me to write down these intensely absorbing memoirs of exciting and unrecorded adventures in defeating the Hun.

The Seven Secrets (1903) is a mystery novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, The Seven Secrets is a story of mystery, murder, and amateur sleuthing. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining tale for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In The Seven Secrets, a young English doctor named Ralph Boyd is left in charge of his practice due to the sudden unavailability of its chief surgeon. Hoping for an uneventful evening, he receives an emergency call to a home in Kew Gardens. Quickly recognizing the address as the mansion where his fiancée Ethelwynn Mivart lives with her sister and her husband, Boyd fears the worst. When he arrives, he discovers Mr. Courtenay stabbed to death in his own bed, all the doors and windows closed and locked, every servant gone home, and his fiancée and her sister missing. The next morning, as news of the scandalous occurrence begins to spread, Doctor Boyd contacts his friend Ambler Jevons, a merchant by day and skilled detective by night whose services have been used by everyone from local police to the investigators of Scotland Yard. Together, the two amateur sleuths uncover a trail of secrets that will plunge their lives—and the lives of their loved ones—into unimaginable danger. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s The Seven Secrets is a classic mystery novel reimagined for modern readers.

Spies of the Kaiser (1909) is a novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, Spies of the Kaiser indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the leadup to World War One to weave a sinister tale of espionage and political conspiracy. Despite the playful and imaginative nature of his fiction, Le Queux was genuinely concerned—and immensely paranoid—about the possibility of war with Germany. In addition to selling countless copies, his work inspired a generation of secret service officers who would go on to form Britain’s legendary MI5. “Germany is our friend—for the moment…What may happen to-morrow?” Alerted to a possible plot by German secret agents to invade Britain, a young solicitor and his trusted allies attempt to disrupt these shadowy figures—before it’s too late. While a nation wakes, works, eats, and sleeps, these anonymous heroes track down sources, search for clues, and place their lives on the line for the good of the many. While the truth is unclear, the stakes are not: the fate of their people is in their hands. Written only a few years before the outbreak of the First World War, Spies of the Kaiser incorporates years of research and experience to weave a tale from the deepest fears of the nation. With detailed maps, secretive discussions, and prescient descriptions of submarines and airplanes used for war, Le Queux’s novel seems pulled from headlines yet unwritten, and tragically to come. While not much is known about the author, it is possible his claims of firsthand knowledge regarding the murky movements of spies and diplomats throughout Europe and Britain were true. One thing, however, is certain: his paranoia was far from unfounded. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s Spies of the Kaiser is a classic espionage thriller reimagined for modern readers.

Rasputin the Rascal Monk (1917) is a work of historical nonfiction by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, Rasputin the Rascal Monk indulges in the paranoid atmosphere of the First World War to weave a sinister tale of espionage and political conspiracy. Despite the popularity and accessibility of his work, Le Queux was genuinely concerned—and immensely paranoid—about the realities of international espionage, using his own research and experience to piece together otherwise shadowy narratives for his readers. Toward the end of the First World War, William Le Queux turned his attention from Germany to the looming threat of Russia. In this dedicated—though factually loose—recreation of the life of Rasputin, Le Queux investigates one of history’s great anomalies: the ability of a rough, Siberian peasant to ascend to the highest echelon of Russian society. In Rasputin the Rascal Monk, which incorporates years of research and experience to weave a tale of fear and intrigue, Le Queux makes his case for the possibility that Rasputin was not only a confidant of the Tsar and Tsarina, but that he was a spy for Kaiser Wilhelm himself. Ever paranoid about the threat of German political influence worldwide, Le Queux provide the reading public with violent, disturbing, and fanatical tales of the infamous Rasputin while forwarding his own agenda. While not much is known about the author, it is possible his claims of firsthand knowledge regarding the murky movements of spies and diplomats throughout Europe and Britain were true. One thing, however, is certain: his paranoia was far from unfounded. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s Rasputin the Rascal Monk is a classic work of historical nonfiction reimagined for modern readers.

The Doctor of Pimlico (1919) is a mystery novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, The Doctor of Pimlico is a story of mystery, idolization, and international crime. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining tale for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In The Doctor of Pimlico, a writer befriends a retired General whose legendary career consisted of expeditions in Egypt, Afghanistan, Burma, and France. Walter Fetherston, an internationally renowned mystery novelist with a reputation for cosmopolitan excess, meets and immediately falls in love with General Sir Hugh Elcombe’s daughter, the beautiful Enid Orlebar. Hoping for marriage, Fetherston has his dreams disrupted when a newcomer to the General’s social circle proves to have a strange and nefarious influence on those around him. Dr. Weirmarsh, a surgeon based in London, possesses a hypnotic personality and seems to hold considerable sway over the lives of the General and Enid. Looking for answers, Fetherston uses his skill as a mystery writer to play the part of the detective, traveling across Europe in an effort to uncover the doctor’s murky past. What he finds is more shocking, and much more extensive, than he could ever have imagined. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s The Doctor of Pimlico is a classic mystery novel reimagined for modern readers.

The Wiles of the Wicked (1900) is a mystery novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the beginning of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, The Wiles of the Wicked is a story of mystery, murder, and redemption. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining tale for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In The Wiles of the Wicked, a young man goes abroad to discover himself, but returns home totally blind. Following the death of his father, Wilford Heaton embarks on a tour of Europe, avoiding responsibility at the cost of his intellectual promise. In Italy, a sudden onset of scleritis robs him of the power of sight, forcing him to return home to London. Having spent his fortune without thought for his future, Heaton moves into a dismal flat to be close to his friend Dick Doyle, a promising writer and caring companion who helps Heaton navigate daily life with a terrible disability. When Doyle leaves for several weeks on business, Heaton—overcome with despair—takes a risk by venturing into the streets of London alone. Struck by a carriage, he lies unconscious for hours before waking in a strange apartment in the company of several strangers. Conversing with these Good Samaritans, Heaton feels his sense of humanity slowly return to him. As a piano plays Chopin’s “Andante Spianato,” a woman suddenly cries out, and a fight leaves her and another man murdered. Having witnessed this terrible crime without the ability to see it, Heaton steels himself not only to solve the mystery, but to regain his hold on life. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s The Wiles of the Wicked is a classic mystery novel reimagined for modern readers.

The Great War in England in 1897 (1894) is a novel by Anglo-French writer William Le Queux. Published at the height of Le Queux’s career as a leading author of popular thrillers, The Great War in England in 1897 is a story of broken alliances, resistance, and international conflict. Using his own research and experience as a journalist and adventurer, Le Queux crafts an accessible, entertaining world for readers in search of a literary escape. Known for his works of fiction and nonfiction on the possibility of Germany invading Britain—a paranoia common in the early twentieth century—William Le Queux also wrote dozens of thrillers and adventure novels for a dedicated public audience. Although critical acclaim eluded him, popular success made him one of England’s bestselling writers. In The Great War in England in 1897, a large Russian-French occupying force lands undetected on the coast of England. Having formed an alliance in secret, they make swift gains across England until reaching London, which they take control of with little difficulty. Shocked, defeated, and hemorrhaging hope by the day, the people of England look for their leaders to do anything to reverse their fate. Working in the shadows, a small resistance movement begins taking shape, eventually forming an alliance with Germany in order to not only free England of its occupation, but force France and Russia to retreat from their colonial gains around the world. Despite being rejected as alarmist in its time, The Great War in England in 1897 would prove prescient less than a decade after its publication with the outbreak of the First World War. Although Le Queux would revisit the theme of invasion throughout his career, his 1906 novel The Invasion of 1910 would virtually reverse the circumstances of The Great War in England in 1897, having Germany take over the country instead. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Le Queux’s The Great War in England in 1897 is a classic novel reimagined for modern readers.