The Green Mummy by Fergus Hume
If you think a story about a mummy must involve pyramids and curses, get ready for a surprise. 'The Green Mummy' plants its mystery firmly in the English countryside. When Professor Braddock's prized Egyptian mummy is stolen from his home, it sets off a chain of events that feels more like a country-house scandal than an archaeological dig. The local police are baffled, the professor is furious, and a young man named Archie Hope finds himself caught in the middle, trying to clear the name of a friend suspected in the theft. The investigation leads them down some very unexpected paths.
Why You Should Read It
What makes this book so much fun is its sheer oddness. Hume takes a classic locked-room mystery and gives it a wonderfully peculiar twist. The characters are a great mix—from the obsessed professor to the practical young heroine—and their reactions to the increasingly strange events feel genuine. It's a story about how greed and ambition can twist people, even in the most civilized settings. The 'green' mummy itself is a fantastic, creepy MacGuffin that drives the whole plot forward.
Final Verdict
This is a perfect pick for anyone who loves classic mysteries but wants something a little off the beaten path. It’s for readers who enjoy Agatha Christie's puzzles but wouldn't mind if one of the clues was a 3,000-year-old corpse that shouldn't exist. It's a quick, engaging read with a satisfying solution, ideal for a rainy afternoon or a commute. Just don't expect bandages and zombies—the real horror here is what people are willing to do for money and reputation.
This book is widely considered to be in the public domain. You can copy, modify, and distribute it freely.
Steven Smith
1 year agoI had low expectations initially, however the arguments are well-supported by credible references. Exactly what I needed.