Lord Lister No. 0032: De blauwe dood

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

76186

Title

Lord Lister No. 0032: De blauwe dood

Language

nl

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In Victorian London, the charming thief Lord Lister, alias John C. Raffles, navigates a web of intrigue involving a beauty contest, a wealthy heir, and a mysterious actress. When a deadly poison known as 'the blue death' strikes, Raffles must use his wit to expose a serial killer and save an innocent life, proving that even a gentleman of distinction can be a hero.

Summary up to 500 words

Lord Edward Lister, the world-renowned gentleman thief John C. Raffles, returns to London after recovering from an adventure in India. Upon his arrival, he becomes entangled in a contest organized by *The Times* to find England's most beautiful woman. The jury awards the first prize of one thousand pounds to Miss Evelin Bonn, an actress whose portrait captivates the wealthy Lord Turkington. Raffles, however, harbors deep suspicions regarding Bonn. He warns his friend Lord Turkington that she is a 'poisonous flower,' a dangerous charlatan whose beauty masks a deadly nature. Despite these cautions, Turkington, captivated by her image and a recent legacy from the late Count of Heresford, pursues a relationship with her. The situation escalates dramatically when a letter arrives for Miss Bonn. Signed by 'John C. Raffles,' the note reveals that she has been sending fake jewelry to criminals as a trap. Raffles claims to have handed her over to the law. Suddenly, Scotland Yard raids the house, arresting Miss Bonn for the murder of the Count of Heresford and an attempted new murder. As the police prepare to execute her, she drinks a poison known as 'the blue death,' dying instantly. Inspector Baxter discovers a letter in her hand written by Raffles, revealing that he orchestrated the entire operation to catch the murderer. The narrative concludes with the police praising Raffles' genius, though the reader knows his true identity as a thief who operates outside the law to protect the innocent. The text ends with a warrant for his arrest, highlighting the duality of his character. This story, part of the *Lord Lister* series by Kurt Matull and Theo von Blankensee, explores themes of appearance versus reality, the corruption of the legal system, and the moral complexity of a hero who must break the law to uphold justice.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Mystery
• Periodicals