The Sign of the Seven Sins

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76685

Title

The Sign of the Seven Sins

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Set against the glamorous backdrop of the Riviera, this novel follows a young American woman navigating romance, social emancipation, and a deadly conspiracy. When a beloved friend is murdered and a yacht is threatened with destruction, the protagonist must unravel a web of deceit involving card sharps and poison. Blending atmospheric travelogue with a gripping mystery, the story explores themes of female independence, the dark side of high society, and the enduring power of true love.

Summary up to 500 words

In William Le Queux's *The Sign of the Seven Sins*, the narrative follows Miss Rosselli and her companion Ulrica as they navigate the freedoms of modern European womanhood, only to find their journey interrupted by a sinister plot involving the wealthy Mr. Benjamin Keppel and the ruthless card-sharp Jean Laumont. Laumont seeks vengeance against the young American Reggie Thorne, whom he previously cheated. His methods are diabolical; he utilizes a hollow steel thimble concealed on his finger, which injects a deadly poison extracted from a lizard into his victims, causing instant collapse and death. The tension escalates aboard the yacht *Vispera* as it prepares to sail from Leghorn. Miss Rosselli discovers that Laumont is on board, disguised as a woman, intending to send an explosive-laden box to the ship. She manages to prevent the yacht's departure but must identify the killer before it is too late. Her investigation leads her to the train station, where she makes a shocking discovery: the man in disguise is actually a woman who witnessed Laumont's crimes but was forced into silence. The climax unfolds in a dramatic confrontation where the woman reveals Laumont's guilt and the nature of his weapon. In a twist of poetic justice, the thimble Laumont used to kill his victims strikes his own wrist during a struggle, delivering the fatal dose of poison. The police subsequently raid the illicit gaming house, arresting nearly forty individuals. The story concludes with the resolution of the mystery, the restoration of justice for the murdered Reggie, and the happy reunions of the separated lovers, Ernest and Miss Rosselli, as they return to America.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Adventure
• Mystery