Showing results by author "E. Phillips Oppenheim" in All Categories

East Africa, 1913. The disgraced English aristocrat Everard Dominey stumbles out of the bush and comes face to face with his lookalike, the German Baron von Ragastein. Months later, Dominey returns to London and resumes his glittering social life. But is it really Dominey who has come back - or a German secret agent seeking to infiltrate English high society?

Nicholas Goade, the Scotland Yard detective, takes a well earned rest after his recent work in arresting single-handed a notorious criminal who had for five years defied the police forces of New York and London. He has been awarded a cheque for $25,000 and six months leave of absence and is enjoying a touring holiday in the West of England in his ancient Ford car with his companion Flip, a small, fat, white dog. But his holiday soon becomes “a busman's holiday”, as he himself puts it, as at each turn he is called upon to deal with crimes.

This is a story about Jacob Pratt who "stood bond” for his brother and then lost all his money and was unable to pay his debts. Two years later his brother is finally able to restore him to an enviable financial position. Jacob rewards those who stood beside him during his time of trials and attempts to get even with those who had cast him aside. He finds that revenge is not always sweet. Even though Jacob has plenty of money, he is unable to win the girl of his dreams.

An Englishman is enjoying his dinner at Stephano's, at which he is a regular diner. A man enters quickly, sits at his table, starts eating his food, and hands him a packet underneath the table! So begins Paul Walmsley's acquaintance - and adventures - with American adventurer Joseph H. Parker and his lovely daughter, Eve.

A clergyman and his two daughters relocate to a serene country village, only to discover that their enigmatic neighbor in the iconic yellow house harbors secrets that will shatter their reality and redefine everything they once knew. (Summary by Sharon Kilmer)

A former defense attorney turned righteous crusader is the hero of this blockbuster novel from an early master of the thriller genre. A businessman is found stabbed through the heart, the obvious suspect his partner: Oliver Hilditch, a cold-eyed fellow with a paper-thin alibi. Hilditch seems destined for the gallows, but he is saved by brilliant defense attorney Francis Ledsam, who uses every legal trick he knows to free his client.

E. Phillips Oppenheim, an English novelist created well in excess of 100 novels and 30 plus collections of short stories. Most of his tales are thrillers and espionage. The Great Impersonation was written following World War I and is considered by many to be perhaps his best novel. The story focuses on German espionage in England prior to the start of World War I. The tale centers on two characters that are almost identical in appearance. Indeed, while both attend the same school in England, they are often mistaken for one another.

The Great Secret is a suspenseful espionage novel in which a wealthy English gentleman is drawn into a deadly conspiracy when he is asked to hide a fugitive. As he navigates a world of spies, secret societies, and unexpected danger, his quiet life is forever changed.

The setting is the years prior to the outbreak of World War I. It is a time when Germany is outwardly preparing for war, but Britain continues to believe it is invincible and that no one would challenge her. A vast German spy network flourishes in England, often in plain view. The main character is Francis Norgate, an aspiring British diplomat who falls in disfavor with his superiors for defending a woman while stationed in Berlin. The resulting scandal causes Norgate to be recalled.

Sir Wingrave Seton allowed himself to be imprisoned for nine years rather than betraying a lady's honor. He seeks revenge by acquiring immense wealth for the sole purpose of destroying the lives of others. But a new young lover slowly starts to thaw the Malefactor's icy heart, prompting him to abandon his misanthropic plans. Is it too late?

The plot thickens when Brigadier General Andrew Tallente, a former Parliament member, becomes the prime suspect in the mysterious death of his male secretary, who is not only an Eton classmates son but also suspected of having an illicit affair with Tallentes American wife. The intrigue intensifies as stolen political documents come to light. As political tensions escalate, the opposition party surprisingly invites Tallente to take their lead. Amid these tumultuous circumstances, a beautiful heiress emerges as Tallentes defender and potential love interest. This podcast is an absorbing tale of...

The Zeppelin’s Passenger is a tale of German espionage in England during World War I. Dreymarsh is a fictional "backwater” area in England with no apparent military value. The story begins with Dreymarsh residents discovering an observation car from a German zeppelin along with a Homburg hat near Dreymarsh. The mystery is further complicated when an Englishman, Mr. Hamar Lessingham, presents himself at Mainsail Haul which is the residence of Sir Henry Cranston.

Herbert Wrayson, a bachelor returns to his flat one night to find a young lady rifling his desk. He questions her and finds she thought she was in the apartment of his neighbor, Morris Barnes, who lives above him. While he is on the telephone, she quietly slips out of his flat and heads to Barnes' abode. A few hours later, she is once again at his door - this time looking scared and faint. She asks Wrayson to escort her downstairs as the hallway is unlit. As they emerge, a hansom sits at the doorway with Morris Barnes in it. But, they discover that Barnes has been strangled.

You're in luck, Alfred," he declared. "That's the most interesting man in New York - one of the most interesting in the world. That's Sanford Quest." "Who's he?" "You haven't heard of Sanford Quest?" "Never in my life." The young man whose privilege it was to have been born and lived all his days in New York, drank half a glassful of wine and leaned back in his chair. Words, for a few moments, were an impossibility. "Sanford Quest," he pronounced at last, "is the greatest master in criminology the world has ever known. He is a magician, a scientist, the Pierpont Morgan of his profession."

Journey through the riveting tale of Jacob Pratt, a man who, after standing bond for his brother, loses everything. Left to grapple with his debts, Jacobs life takes a drastic turn when his brother finally restores his financial stability two years later. As he navigates his newfound wealth, Jacob must contend with the complexity of revenge, rewards, and unrequited love. This story, narrated by Richard Kilmer, explores how money cant always buy happiness or the hearts desire.

Venture into the intriguing world of Stirling Deane, who has struck it rich after selling the Little Anna Gold Mine he discovered in South Africa. Now at the helm of the company he sold the mine to, Deanes past catches up with him when an old acquaintance from his South African days emerges, claiming to possess the original deed to the mine. The plot thickens when the man is mysteriously murdered and the alleged deed goes missing. As a negotiator Deane hired to retrieve the deed is accused and sentenced to death, the question remains where is the lost deed?

A German advocate of the Kaiser discovers he is a facial/physical match for young Englishman Everard Dominey, who is near death after harrowing experiences in Africa. The remarkable doppelgänger resemblance leads Major-General Baron Leopold Von Ragastein to infiltrate the UK in perfect disguise. He wants to lead his country’s efforts as Europe is racing toward war. Part of the plan is to murder Dominey and have the Baron take his place in English society.

When a businessman is gruesomely murdered, all fingers point towards his business partner, Oliver Hilditch. Known for his legal prowess, defense attorney Francis Ledsam steps in to save Hilditch from the noose, securing a not guilty verdict. However, the victory is short-lived when Hilditchs wife reveals that her husband is a perpetrator of even more heinous crimes than murder. Now, Ledsam is caught in a moral quandary, torn between his feelings for a captivating woman and his overwhelming urge to seek justice, regardless of the personal cost. (Summary by Richard Kilmer)

Journey with Paul Walmsley, a well-known regular at Stephanos, as his peaceful dinner is interrupted by a fast-acting stranger who not only steals his meal but also hands him a mysterious packet beneath the table. This encounter marks the start of exhilarating adventures with the enigmatic American adventurer, Joseph H. Parker and his charming daughter, Eve. Please note that there is an alternative narration for section 8, both renditions are equally compelling and we invite you to enjoy either or both.

Dive into a complex and thrilling tale of espionage set against the backdrop of World War I. This riveting narrative unfolds through intriguing characters, leaving you torn between the cunning spy and his unyielding pursuer. Box with the Broken Seals is considered one of Oppenheims finest works. (Summary by Richard Kilmer)