Messengers of Evil / Being a Further Account of the Lures and Devices of Fantômas

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

28333

Title

Messengers of Evil / Being a Further Account of the Lures and Devices of Fantômas

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this thrilling sequel to the Fantômas series, detective Juve and journalist Fandor race against time to solve the mysterious death of the Baroness de Vibray and the disappearance of painter Jacques Dollon. As the elusive criminal Fantômas strikes again, the duo must navigate a web of poison, gas chambers, and high-tech traps to expose the true mastermind behind the crimes.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Messengers of Evil*, a gripping sequel to the Fantômas series, the narrative unfolds against the backdrop of Parisian intrigue and high-stakes crime. The story opens with a chilling discovery on the heights of Montmartre: the Baroness de Vibray and the painter Jacques Dollon are found dead in Dollon's studio. While police Superintendent Agram and Doctor Mayran initially suspect murder, Dollon miraculously regains consciousness, claiming he was drugged and attacked by masked men. He reveals a letter inviting the Baroness to view his pottery, suggesting foul play orchestrated by unseen forces. Meanwhile, Dollon's sister, Elizabeth, writes to her friend Jérôme Fandor describing a terrifying break-in at her boarding house, where intruders searched frantically for a specific list connected to her brother's case. Fandor, a staunch believer that Dollon is dead, visits the boarding house only to find it empty. Upon returning to his office, he discovers a shocking clue: a handprint on his collar and desk matches Dollon's, yet the person in the room is the banker Nanteuil. Fandor realizes Nanteuil is using a pair of gloves made from Dollon's preserved skin to commit crimes and evade fingerprint analysis. The true villain, the elusive Fantômas, is revealed to be Nanteuil, working with his accomplice Barbey to defraud the bank and eliminate witnesses like the Baroness. The climax occurs when Fandor and Juve corner Nanteuil. Fandor exposes the glove trick, proving Dollon is dead and Nanteuil is the phantom criminal. However, just as they prepare to arrest him, Fantômas activates hidden electromagnetic traps, pinning the detectives to the floor with their shoes. Seizing the opportunity, the criminal escapes through a secret passage, leaving Juve and Fandor defeated and heartbroken. The story ends with the two friends grieving their failure and Fantômas's continued reign of terror, setting the stage for their next pursuit. The novel explores themes of identity, the fallibility of forensic science, and the resilience of justice in the face of supernatural-seeming evil.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery