Fergus Hume's "Jonah's Luck" is a gripping mystery book that takes place in the early 1900s. Jonah, a young, aspirational man who has always believed in the power of luck, is the main character of the story. His convictions are put to the test, though, when he finds himself drawn into a number of perilous and unexpected circumstances. Jonah's adventure starts when he discovers an enigmatic relic that is rumoured to have amazing abilities. Jonah is intrigued by its possibilities and is driven to learn the truth about its beginnings and the mysteries it conceals. When Jonah looks further into the history of the artefact, he finds a labyrinth of treachery, dishonesty, and ulterior motives. Jonah meets a wide range of people in the novel, and all of them have unique secrets and agendas. Jonah has to make his way through a dangerous world where nothing is as it seems, from mysterious fortune tellers to crafty thieves. He will need to use cunning, instinct, and a little bit of good fortune to get by along the journey. As the narrative progresses, Jonah's conception of luck is called into question, leading him to wonder if his fate is more deeply shaped by something other than pure happenstance. Jonah's character is put to the test with every turn, forcing him to face his insecurities and worries.
Ferguson Wright Hume, also known as Fergus Hume, was a prolific English novelist who wrote detective fiction, thrillers, and mysteries. Hume was born in Powick, Worcestershire, England, as the second son of James C. Hume, a Scot who worked as a clerk and steward at the county pauper and lunatic asylum. When he was three, his family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where he attended Otago Boys' High School and studied law at the University of Otago. He was admitted to the New Zealand Bar in 1885. Hume moved to Melbourne, Australia, shortly after graduating and began working as a barristers' clerk. He began writing plays but was unable to persuade Melbourne theatre managers to approve, let alone read them. Hume returned to England, first in London, then in Thundersley, Essex, at Church Cottage, most likely on the invitation of the Reverend Thomas Noon Talfourd Major. Hume resided in Thundersley for thirty years, producing over 130 novels and various collections, the most of which were mystery stories, although he never regained the fame of his debut novel. He also wrote lyrics for songs written by his brother-in-law, Charles Willeby, and book reviews for literary periodicals such as The Bookman. The 1911 census shows him as ‘author’, aged 51, and living at Church Cottage, Thundersley, which comprised of six rooms. He had a housekeeper, Ada Louise Peck, a widow aged 69. He made regular trips to Italy, France, Switzerland, and other European countries.
