The Mystery of a Hansom Cab

Fergus Hume

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is a ripping murder mystery novel was written in Melbourne in the 1880's by Fergus Hume and contains many descriptions of Melbourne life at that time.

The story starts next to the Burke & Wills statue outside the Scots Church. (The statue has since been shifted a number of times and is currently on the corner of Collins & Swanston Streets.) Two men get into a hansom cab and the driver takes them along St Kilda Road. One alights at Domain Road while the other continues through to St Kilda. On arrival, the driver finds the second passenger dead. The rest of the novel proceeds through a number events leading to the eventual solving of the crime.

In this book you will find evocative descriptions of "The Block" (Collins Street), Chinatown, the Bourke Street theatre district, The Melbourne Club and numerous other Melbourne landmarks.

If you are historically minded, this is a great book to prepare you for a visit to Melbourne. If the history doesn't interest you, you will still find it an absorbing read.

Click here to buy The Mystery of a Hansom Cab online.

Click here to buy the audio cassette of The Mystery of a Hansom Cab online.