Publication: Ludgate Monthly, 1892 -1894, London, 1892 - 1894
First edition. Three volumes. Contemporary cloth in very good condition and complete with all the other contents. The first appearances anywhere of all seven Loveday Brooke stories in Ludgate Monthly (1893–1894), and a rare item (fewer than five complete copies on OCLC, none at auction), preceding the more common book edition by a year. One of the earliest attempts to create a feminine sleuth. A collection of stories first published in The Ludgate Monthly, London, November - 1892 to April, 1893. Travel back with Victorian female sleuth Loveday Brooke to the days of the shirtwaist, the top hat, and the carriage. Follow her exploits as she solves the case of "The Black Bag Left on the Door-Step," the riddle of "The Murder at Troyte's Hill," the crime of "The Redhill Sisterhood," the problem of "A Princess's Vengeance," the puzzle of "The Ghost of Fountain Lane," and other baffling mysteries. Pirkis created a character that cast aside Victorian gender expectations as a capable detective, displaying intelligence, analytical skills, and resourcefulness. A rare and desirable set.
Inventory Number: 50980