Fergus Hume, born Fergusson Wright Hume on July 8, 1859, in England, was an accomplished writer, famous for his engrossing mystery novels that captivated the reading public in the late 19th century. Hume relocated to New Zealand with his family at an early age, where he later attended the University of Otago. His love for theatre and literary works blossomed, however, it was after moving to Melbourne, Australia, that his career as a novelist took flight. There, his frustration with the quality of crime fiction spurred him to write his own detective novel, 'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab' (1886), which garnered overwhelming success and became a bestseller, outselling even Conan Doyle's early Sherlock Holmes books. Subsequently, he moved back to England and continued his writing career, prolifically producing over 130 novels. Among them, 'Tracked by a Tattoo: A Mystery,' stands out with its trademark blend of suspense and the exploration of human nature within a legal framework. Hume predominantly adopted a style that employed keen observation and deduction, reminiscent of the larger-than-life analytic prowess of Sherlock Holmes, which became emblematic of his work. Despite the sheer volume of his oeuvre, Hume never quite recaptured the zenith of this first foray into detective fiction, but his contributions to the genre remain respected for their ingenuity and influence on crime writing. Fergus Hume passed away in England on July 12, 1932, leaving behind a legacy of narrative craft that continues to engage mystery enthusiasts to this day.
Fergus Hume, born Fergusson Wright Hume on July 8, 1859, in England, was an accomplished writer, famous for his engrossing mystery novels that captivated the reading public in the late 19th century. Hume relocated to New Zealand with his family at an early age, where he later attended the Univers...