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The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings
This is a series of linked short stories involving what may be the world's first female diabolical criminal mastermind, Madame Koluchy. Norman Head had as a young man met Madame Koluchy in Naples when he became involved in a secret criminal society known as the Brotherhood of the Seven Kings. When Head discovered the sinister nature of the society he determined to have no more to do with them. He has since been living as a virtual recluse, amusing himself with scientific experiments. Now their paths have crossed again, and Head realizes this will be a duel to the death. Madame Koluchy is also a scientist, and a doctor. Her miraculous cures having made her a celebrity while her charm and beauty have made her the darling of English society. With the aid of his friend Dufrayer Norman Head is determined to bring this woman to justice. Madame Koluchy uses her medical skills to gain the trust of her victims. They then find themselves the victims of blackmail, robbery, kidnapping or worse crimes.
373 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1899
About the author
L.T. Meade
374 books56 followersMrs. L.T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Toulmin Smith), was a prolific children's author of Anglo Irish extraction. Born in 1844, Meade was the eldest daughter of a Protestant clergyman, whose church was in County Cork. Moving from Ireland to London as a young woman, after the death of her mother, she studied in the Reading Room of the British Museum in preparation for her intended career as a writer, before marrying Alfred Toulmin Smith in September 1879.
The author of close to 300 books, Meade wrote in many genres, but is best known for her girls' school stories. She was one of the editors of the girls' magazine, Atalanta from 1887-93, and was active in women's issues. She died in 1914.
The author of close to 300 books, Meade wrote in many genres, but is best known for her girls' school stories. She was one of the editors of the girls' magazine, Atalanta from 1887-93, and was active in women's issues. She died in 1914.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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April 3, 2022A series of linked shorts where a Noble Man attempts to foul an Evil Female Criminal Mastermind and gets comprehensively shafted. Like, I think he wins about once, and the body count is startlingly high with some very unexpected deaths. One gets the impression the author was firmly on the side of the Evil Lady. (She also wrote school stories and clearly needed the break.) Good old fashioned fun.
July 15, 2012
The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings is a series of linked short stories involving what may well be the world’s first female diabolical criminal mastermind, Madame Koluchy.
Written in 1899, it was one of many collaborations in the mystery genre between L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace. L. T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith) was a popular writer of stories for girls while Robert Eustace specialised in thrillers with a medical or legal bent.
The narrator, Norman Head, had as a young man met Madame Koluchy in Naples when he became involved in a secret criminal society known as the Brotherhood of the Seven Kings. Madame Koluchy had been the head of this society. When Head discovered the sinister nature of the society he determined to have no more to do with them. He has since been living as a virtual recluse, amusing himself with scientific experiments.
Now their paths have crossed again, and Head realises this will be a duel to the death. She cannot afford to let him live while his honour will not allow him to permit her to ruin any more lives.
Madame Koluchy is also a scientist, and a doctor. In fact she is the most famous doctor in London, her apparently miraculous cures having made her a celebrity while her charm and beauty have made her the darling of English society.
With the aid of his friend Dufrayer, an eminent solicitor, Norman Head is determined to bring this woman to justice. Madame Koluchy uses her medical skills to gain the trust of her victims. They then find themselves the victims of blackmail, robbery, kidnapping or worse crimes.
Norman Head is brave and intelligent, but he is up against a woman of enormous resourcefulness and cunning.
The stories are all entertaining and cleverly constructed. As you would expect, given Robert Eustace’s special interests, many of the stories involve medical conspiracies. There are fiendish plots, ingenious murder attempts, death by X-ray, and infernal machines.
These are crime thrillers that occasionally veer just a little in the direction of what you might call speampunk techno-thrillers.
Highly recommended.
Written in 1899, it was one of many collaborations in the mystery genre between L. T. Meade and Robert Eustace. L. T. Meade (Elizabeth Thomasina Meade Smith) was a popular writer of stories for girls while Robert Eustace specialised in thrillers with a medical or legal bent.
The narrator, Norman Head, had as a young man met Madame Koluchy in Naples when he became involved in a secret criminal society known as the Brotherhood of the Seven Kings. Madame Koluchy had been the head of this society. When Head discovered the sinister nature of the society he determined to have no more to do with them. He has since been living as a virtual recluse, amusing himself with scientific experiments.
Now their paths have crossed again, and Head realises this will be a duel to the death. She cannot afford to let him live while his honour will not allow him to permit her to ruin any more lives.
Madame Koluchy is also a scientist, and a doctor. In fact she is the most famous doctor in London, her apparently miraculous cures having made her a celebrity while her charm and beauty have made her the darling of English society.
With the aid of his friend Dufrayer, an eminent solicitor, Norman Head is determined to bring this woman to justice. Madame Koluchy uses her medical skills to gain the trust of her victims. They then find themselves the victims of blackmail, robbery, kidnapping or worse crimes.
Norman Head is brave and intelligent, but he is up against a woman of enormous resourcefulness and cunning.
The stories are all entertaining and cleverly constructed. As you would expect, given Robert Eustace’s special interests, many of the stories involve medical conspiracies. There are fiendish plots, ingenious murder attempts, death by X-ray, and infernal machines.
These are crime thrillers that occasionally veer just a little in the direction of what you might call speampunk techno-thrillers.
Highly recommended.
August 24, 2020
I actually only read one chapter of this, "THE LUCK OF PITSEY HALL", but it is an interesting discovery. It is similar to Sherlock Holmes, but instead of Professor Moriarty, the evil scientist in this is a woman.
The whole thing is available on Wikisource and there is also a Librivox version. Dated, but entertaining.
The whole thing is available on Wikisource and there is also a Librivox version. Dated, but entertaining.
June 29, 2021
This is a lot like her Sorceress of the Strand series in that it's a series of inter-connected stories where a detective guy is trying to stop a female criminal, but it's a fun formula and especially interesting considering that it was written so long ago. This one also features a female detective in the last few stories who was really cool. I would read an entire series about her as well but I don't think that Meade ever wrote one. Would definitely recommend this as well as Sorceress of the Strand if you're looking to read more classics by female authors or if you're a Sherlock Holmes fan looking for similar works from around the same time period [although these mysteries are generally nowhere near as complicated].
March 7, 2011
If you like Sax Rohmer's Dr. Fu Manchu series, you will enjoy these stories. A little lighter but a nice read/listen.
July 5, 2015
A rather good classic mystery or maybe I should say a series of mysteries... The ending is a bit abrupt, but I'll still recommend it.
November 17, 2018
Madame Koluchy is beautiful, charismatic, and able to miraculously heal. Too bad that she is a diabolical master villainess. Only two men know the secret and are trying, behind the scenes, to expose her fiendish plots and bring her to justice. Meanwhile, she is plotting to destroy them.
Written in 1899, these are enjoyable, clever stories which take the reader on exciting adventures to try to foil evil. One of my favorite Librivox readers has a good audio version.
Written in 1899, these are enjoyable, clever stories which take the reader on exciting adventures to try to foil evil. One of my favorite Librivox readers has a good audio version.
July 27, 2026
Meet the Queen of Mean, the Empress of Evil, the Goddess of Greed - Madame Koluchy.
We think of the Sherlock Holmes stories as quaintly unrealistic, but (for the time) Conan Doyle was probably the most low-key author of mysteries. Most pulled out all the stops - beautiful arch-criminals, the latest in "scientific" weapons, and all the rest.
L T Meade was an Irishwoman who moved to London and established herself as a prolific and popular writer of detective and crime fiction. She frequently teamed up with a doctor who wrote under the name Robert Eustace. I love their stories of Madame Sara, the lovely, but deadly "beautifier" and physician, but Madame Koluchy is new to me.
For a time when women enjoyed little freedom, there were many fictional women detectives - commonly known as "Sherlock's sisters." Meade and Eustace gave evil equal billing with their female criminals and Mme Koluchy is a stunner. As a young man, wealthy Englishman Norman Head fell under the spell of the lovely charmer and became a member of the ultra-secret criminal society called The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings.
Mme Koluchy is the undisputed queen of the group and men from all walks of life follow her orders slavishly. For a while so did Norman Head. Then his common sense and morals convinced him that Mme Koluchy was a purveyor of evil, not a benefactress. At risk to his life, he left the Order and returned to England.
He thought he'd left Mme Koluchy and the rest of the Order behind in Italy, but then she moves to England to find fresh pickings. In no time at all, her beauty, charm, and skills as a physician make her a force in English aristocratic society. Head knows better than to believe in a tiger changing its stripes and (sure enough) soon he learns of crimes that could only have been committed by Mme Koluchy and her followers.
Fortunately, his wealth allows him to put his full energies and his money into protecting innocent people from the woman he once loved. She recognizes him and fears him, but the gang's attempts to murder or silence him fail.
There are ten chapters, each with a story of how Mme Koluchy and her followers try to steal money or valuables until Norman Head steps in and stops them. "Curses! Foiled again!" How long will Mme Koluchy and her gang put up with Head's interference in their business? Meanwhile, they tend to their business - crime.
Head hears from a widowed friend whose young son has recently inherited a title and a large fortune. The boy is sickly and his mother is convinced Mme Koluchy is the only one who can heal him. Employed by the boy's uncle (who inherits if the child dies without heirs) Madame arranges for the boy to take a long sea trip with one of her gang. Head enlists his lawyer friend Dufrayer to watch over things in London and sails on the same ship as the boy and his "doctor."
The original plan was to infect the boy with a deadly virus found in southern Europe, but Head stops that. Then the doctor slips away with the boy to climb the famous active volcano Vesuvius and peer into the crater. How easy for a child to slip into the volcano, leaving his uncle all the spoils. Fortunately, Head is there in time to save the child and return him safely to his mother. Maybe Uncle can find a gullible heiress to marry.
Well, you get the drift. In every story, Madame concocts a clever plot to steal money or valuables from the wealthy. Since most of London is convinced she's a brilliant physician and a saintly benefactress, it's hard going to convince them otherwise. Most of the time, he and Dufrayer have to work alone.
Finally, they manage to convince the authorities of Madame's guilt in a serious crime and she becomes a hunted woman. But she'll go down fighting. They're relieved when they find her body, believing that her life of crime has been permanently stopped. But not so fast. Madame has an ace up her sleeve.
As I said, there's very little realism in it, but it's wonderfully entertaining. Madame has the latest is scientific (really science-fiction) devices to use against her enemies and she's a woman who has no compassion when someone gets in her way. Head has betrayed his oath to the Brotherhood and the punishment is death. Will he get her before she gets him?
I'm no judge of the likelihood of the fantastic devices she and her gang employ, but I have picked up some common sense knowledge during a long life of reading mysteries. I know that even if you find a peasant woman who is the clone of a great lady in all particulars, you'd still have a hard time passing her body off as the great lady. The hands of a working class person are always different from those of a lady or gentleman of leisure. Apparently, the authors were hoping we wouldn't think of that.
I enjoyed all the stories in this book. Meade and Eustace were clever plotters and fine writers. I still prefer the Madame Sara stories to these, but Madame Koluchy and her gang are close followers.
We think of the Sherlock Holmes stories as quaintly unrealistic, but (for the time) Conan Doyle was probably the most low-key author of mysteries. Most pulled out all the stops - beautiful arch-criminals, the latest in "scientific" weapons, and all the rest.
L T Meade was an Irishwoman who moved to London and established herself as a prolific and popular writer of detective and crime fiction. She frequently teamed up with a doctor who wrote under the name Robert Eustace. I love their stories of Madame Sara, the lovely, but deadly "beautifier" and physician, but Madame Koluchy is new to me.
For a time when women enjoyed little freedom, there were many fictional women detectives - commonly known as "Sherlock's sisters." Meade and Eustace gave evil equal billing with their female criminals and Mme Koluchy is a stunner. As a young man, wealthy Englishman Norman Head fell under the spell of the lovely charmer and became a member of the ultra-secret criminal society called The Brotherhood of the Seven Kings.
Mme Koluchy is the undisputed queen of the group and men from all walks of life follow her orders slavishly. For a while so did Norman Head. Then his common sense and morals convinced him that Mme Koluchy was a purveyor of evil, not a benefactress. At risk to his life, he left the Order and returned to England.
He thought he'd left Mme Koluchy and the rest of the Order behind in Italy, but then she moves to England to find fresh pickings. In no time at all, her beauty, charm, and skills as a physician make her a force in English aristocratic society. Head knows better than to believe in a tiger changing its stripes and (sure enough) soon he learns of crimes that could only have been committed by Mme Koluchy and her followers.
Fortunately, his wealth allows him to put his full energies and his money into protecting innocent people from the woman he once loved. She recognizes him and fears him, but the gang's attempts to murder or silence him fail.
There are ten chapters, each with a story of how Mme Koluchy and her followers try to steal money or valuables until Norman Head steps in and stops them. "Curses! Foiled again!" How long will Mme Koluchy and her gang put up with Head's interference in their business? Meanwhile, they tend to their business - crime.
Head hears from a widowed friend whose young son has recently inherited a title and a large fortune. The boy is sickly and his mother is convinced Mme Koluchy is the only one who can heal him. Employed by the boy's uncle (who inherits if the child dies without heirs) Madame arranges for the boy to take a long sea trip with one of her gang. Head enlists his lawyer friend Dufrayer to watch over things in London and sails on the same ship as the boy and his "doctor."
The original plan was to infect the boy with a deadly virus found in southern Europe, but Head stops that. Then the doctor slips away with the boy to climb the famous active volcano Vesuvius and peer into the crater. How easy for a child to slip into the volcano, leaving his uncle all the spoils. Fortunately, Head is there in time to save the child and return him safely to his mother. Maybe Uncle can find a gullible heiress to marry.
Well, you get the drift. In every story, Madame concocts a clever plot to steal money or valuables from the wealthy. Since most of London is convinced she's a brilliant physician and a saintly benefactress, it's hard going to convince them otherwise. Most of the time, he and Dufrayer have to work alone.
Finally, they manage to convince the authorities of Madame's guilt in a serious crime and she becomes a hunted woman. But she'll go down fighting. They're relieved when they find her body, believing that her life of crime has been permanently stopped. But not so fast. Madame has an ace up her sleeve.
As I said, there's very little realism in it, but it's wonderfully entertaining. Madame has the latest is scientific (really science-fiction) devices to use against her enemies and she's a woman who has no compassion when someone gets in her way. Head has betrayed his oath to the Brotherhood and the punishment is death. Will he get her before she gets him?
I'm no judge of the likelihood of the fantastic devices she and her gang employ, but I have picked up some common sense knowledge during a long life of reading mysteries. I know that even if you find a peasant woman who is the clone of a great lady in all particulars, you'd still have a hard time passing her body off as the great lady. The hands of a working class person are always different from those of a lady or gentleman of leisure. Apparently, the authors were hoping we wouldn't think of that.
I enjoyed all the stories in this book. Meade and Eustace were clever plotters and fine writers. I still prefer the Madame Sara stories to these, but Madame Koluchy and her gang are close followers.
April 1, 2023
One line summary: Norman Head, 18th century fuckboi, attempts to get back at Madame Koluchy, diabolical, ambitious, predatory, and tactical leader of the shadowy criminal organization, The Brotherhood of Seven Kings, after she jilts him.
December 4, 2022
Meade, L T - The Brotherhood Of The Seven Kings
Crackerjack of a yarn, first published in The Strand in 1898.
Norman Head, affluent man about town, relates youthful mistakes. Falling in love with a beautiful, diabolical female, Madame Koluchy, who also masterminds the sinister organization known as the Brotherhood Of Seven Kings.
Published in monthly installments, this is an inventive series of deadly stratagems. Some thwarted, others chillingly carried out.
Blackmail, kidnappings, assassination, theft, murders.
Madame Koluchy, influential with social elites and prominent individuals, is entrusted by most, her terrible activities perceived by few.
The came before The Sorceress Of The Strand, and while there are similarities between the two malevolent females, and the serial structure, this is the grimmer work.
With both works, Sidney Padget provides numerous illustrations.
Holmes’ fans, rejoice! Those who relish late Victorian, Edwardian cliffhangers, this is easily found.
Crackerjack of a yarn, first published in The Strand in 1898.
Norman Head, affluent man about town, relates youthful mistakes. Falling in love with a beautiful, diabolical female, Madame Koluchy, who also masterminds the sinister organization known as the Brotherhood Of Seven Kings.
Published in monthly installments, this is an inventive series of deadly stratagems. Some thwarted, others chillingly carried out.
Blackmail, kidnappings, assassination, theft, murders.
Madame Koluchy, influential with social elites and prominent individuals, is entrusted by most, her terrible activities perceived by few.
The came before The Sorceress Of The Strand, and while there are similarities between the two malevolent females, and the serial structure, this is the grimmer work.
With both works, Sidney Padget provides numerous illustrations.
Holmes’ fans, rejoice! Those who relish late Victorian, Edwardian cliffhangers, this is easily found.
April 16, 2018
Well plotted and narrated. Enjoyable read.
July 10, 2025
I don't always love mystery-thrillers, especially with crime syndicates, but I must say that this one's ending is perfect.
May 12, 2026
Exciting and pulse-pounding. The lead character, Norman Head, sure does faint a lot though. And let's not talk about the plot holes. I wish there were spinoffs around Miss Beringer. A fun read.
April 20, 2013
light, fun, I enjoy the suprises of the unusual stories, thus unpredictable
April 4, 2014
Not quite as engaging as Sorceress of the Strand, but fun regardless!
May 21, 2013
A forgotten classic...
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews