The Stretton Street Affair

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

27147

Title

The Stretton Street Affair

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this thrilling detective adventure, electrical engineer Hugh Garfield becomes entangled in the 'Stretton Street Affair,' a complex international conspiracy involving the mysterious millionaire Oswald De Gex. Blending espionage, murder, and high-stakes intrigue across London, Paris, and Madrid, the novel offers a fast-paced narrative filled with clever plotting, dramatic reversals, and a suspenseful race to expose a dangerous criminal network before it is too late.

Summary up to 500 words

In William Le Queux's *The Stretton Street Affair*, demobilized pilot and electrical engineer Hugh Garfield returns to London after a business trip to York. On the train, he befriends a charming French banker, Gaston Suzor, who claims to represent the Crédit Lyonnais. Upon arrival in London, Garfield discovers his investments have vanished and learns that Suzor is an imposter. Suspecting a connection to the notorious financier Oswald De Gex, Garfield teams up with his friend Henry Hambledon to investigate. Their inquiry leads them from London to Paris and finally to Madrid, where they track Suzor to a secret meeting with the widow of a wealthy Spanish countess. The investigation reveals a sinister plot orchestrated by De Gex, who utilizes a deadly poison called orosin to eliminate witnesses and silence rivals. Garfield witnesses the murder of Gabrielle Engledue, a young woman disguised as a corpse to mislead him, and narrowly escapes assassination attempts involving poisoned soap and hidden steel shards. As the mystery deepens, Garfield uncovers the identities of De Gex's accomplices, including the poisoner Moroni and the bandit Mateo Sanz. With the help of British and Spanish police, Garfield tracks the villains to their hideouts. In a climactic confrontation at Stretton Street, Garfield and the authorities trap De Gex. Realizing he cannot escape justice, the financier commits suicide using the very drug he invented. His accomplices are arrested and face severe penalties; Sanz is executed in Spain, while Moroni receives a prison sentence. The novel concludes with Garfield finding happiness and peace with his wife, Gabrielle Tennison, having successfully unraveled one of the most intricate plots of the twentieth century. The story explores themes of international intrigue, the dangers of unchecked financial power, and the resilience of justice against sophisticated criminal enterprise.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Mystery