Fergus Hume was a prolific English novelist best known for his contribution to the mystery and detective fiction genres. Born as Fergusson Wright Hume on July 8, 1859, in England, he later immigrated to New Zealand before moving to Australia, where his writing career took flight. Hume's literary journey began with his iconic novel, 'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab' (1886), which, after initial self-publication, achieved remarkable success and became one of the best-selling mystery books of the 19th century. Its success led Hume to focus on writing as a full-time profession. Over his lifetime, he penned more than 130 novels, exploring various themes within the crime and mystery domain. 'Jonah's Luck', one of his numerous works, contributed to his reputation as a master of crafting suspense-filled narratives with intricate plots. His writing style often included a keen attention to detail and a penchant for red herrings, which kept readers engaged and guessing until the very end. While not as widely recognized today, Hume's contributions to the genre undoubtedly paved the way for future writers in detective fiction. He passed away on July 12, 1932, leaving behind a vast and varied body of work that continues to be of scholarly interest for those studying the evolution of detective fiction.