The Paternoster Ruby

by Charles Edmonds Walk

With a screaming of brakes, the elevated train on which I happened to be jerked to a stop, and passengers intending to disembark were catapulted toward the doorways-a convenience supplied gratis by all elevated roads, which, I have observed, is generally overlooked by their patrons. I crammed the morning paper into my overcoat pocket, fell in with the outrushing current of humanity, and was straight-way swept upon the platform, pinched through the revolving gates, and hustled down the covered iron stairway to the street. Here the current broke up and diffused, like the current of a river where it empties into the sea. This was the first wave of the daily townward tide-clerks, shop-girls, and stenographers, for the most part intent upon bread and butter in futuro. The jostling and crowding was like an old story to me; I went through the ordeal each morning with an indifference and abstraction born of long custom.

Genres: Fiction

296 pages, Paperback

First published October 22, 1910

Reviews

[Starry · Rating 2 out of 5]

I normally enjoy mysteries from this time period, but this one made me roll my eyes. The mystery was fine—lots of twists that leave the reader guessing. However, the sexism was impossible to ignore rather than easy to dismiss as part of that era—too many fainting ladies calling for help from the big strong man/narrator. It also contained the usual Anglo-centrism, which was less bearable given the other issues.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in 1892. Swift is a detective who is trying to discover who murdered the wealthy Felix Page who was famous for owning the Paternoster Ruby which he bought for $500,000 only so that his sworn enemy Alfred Fluette who was a collector of precious stones couldnt have it.
Swift must figure out who the murderer is and where the Paternoster Ruby is. An old fashioned enjoyable read that keeps you guessing until the end.

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

✒️ This story is an evenly paced mystery that takes place in 1892. Our hero, Knowles Swift, is a 26-year-old detective who is put in charge of uncovering who killed spiteful financier, Felix Page in his mansion. This mystery is tightly written with believable dialogue and a strong plot.

📕 Published — 1910. In the public domain.
🎨 Illustrated.

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