The Mystery of a Hansom Cab is a mystery novel, which takes place in Melbourne, Australia. It focuses on the investigation of a homicide involving a body discovered in a hansom cab, as well as an exploration into the social class divide in the city. The city of Melbourne plays a significant role in the plot and, as the author describes: \"Over all the great city hung a cloud of smoke like a pall.\" Fergus Hume (1859-1932) was a prolific English novelist. His self-published novel, \"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\", became a great success. It eventually became the best selling mystery novel of the Victorian era, author John Sutherland terming it the \"most sensationally popular crime and detective novel of the century\". | THE MYSTERY OF A HANSOM CAB (Thriller Classic) by Fergus Hume, Paperback | Indigo Chapters