18 books like Illusions

What to read after Illusions — books similar to it, matched on shared themes.

Blue Hand Edgar Wallace · 1923 · ★ 4.1 · 248p · ≈ 8h · Challenging Jim Steele, a clerk for a prominent London attorney, has the distasteful task of assisting a notorious client, Digby Groat, who stands to inherit the Jonathan Danton fortune. Danton’s infant daughter and closest heir, Dorothy, was thought to have died in a boating accident twenty years ago. Adding to the mystery, Dorothy’s mother, Lady Mary Danton, also disappeared around the same time. Jim… Shares: Adventure

The House Without a Key Earl Derr Biggers · 2015 · 248p · ≈ 8h · Moderate Published in 1925, The House Without a Key introduces the kindly detective Charlie Chan, conceived by Earl Derr Biggers as a counter to the “Yellow Peril” stereotypes common in the era’s society. John Quincy Winterslip, having been sent by his family to convince his aunt to return to Boston, arrives in Honolulu to find that a rich family member with a shady past has been murdered. Detective… Shares: Adventure

The Emperor's candlesticks Baroness Emmuska Orczy · 1908 · 100p · ≈ 3h · Challenging The Emperor's Candlesticks (1899) is a historical novel by Baroness Orczy and was her first book as an author. Shares: Adventure

Room 13 Edgar Wallace · 1920 · ★ 3.5 · 184p · ≈ 6h · Challenging After having spent almost three years in prison Johnny Gray is released, only to be dismayed to find that his ladylove has been pressured by her father, an old friend of his, into marrying another man. Soon after, Johnny discovers that the bridegroom is actually a suspected counterfeiter and the son of a notorious criminal plotting to ruin his friend by exposing his nefarious past. Johnny is… Shares: Adventure

The door with seven locks Edgar Wallace · 1926 · 184p · ≈ 6h · Challenging As a practical joke, Sub-Inspector Dick Martin, about to retire, is asked to find a stolen library book. Before long, Dick finds himself intrigued by the nature of the book—and the attractiveness of Sybil, the librarian. Now in private practice, Dick accepts a job that requires him to chase an elusive nobleman, Lord Selford, across the world and is subsequently surprised to find that his favorite… Shares: Adventure

The avenger Edgar Wallace · 1924 · 202p · ≈ 6h · Challenging When a severed head is discovered, Mike Brixan of the Foreign Office is asked to return from Europe and assist in apprehending the murderer, known as “The Headhunter.” The trail leads to Chichester and the set of a motion picture crew located on an English manor. Brixan discovers that the scriptwriter has a connection with both The Headhunter and an unscrupulous neighbor with a history of… Shares: Adventure

The Council of Justice Edgar Wallace · 1920 · 153p · ≈ 5h · Challenging The Red Hundred, an anarchist organization led by a woman of unmatched oratorical skill known as the Woman of Gratz, has set its sight on the destruction of several British institutions. The Four Just Men, a band of wealthy gentlemen notorious for punishing those unreachable by conventional justice, appear to be the only group capable of opposing them. After thwarting The Red Hundred’s plans by… Shares: Adventure

The secret house Edgar Wallace · 1919 · ★ 3.3 · 161p · ≈ 5h · Challenging A stranger and foreigner arrives at the offices of a small publication in London only to be faced by the “editor” whose face is completely swathed in a veil. Nothing is as it seems, and it quickly becomes evident that both are bent on more than lively gossip about the elite. Blackmail and opportunism is the order of the day. When two men are found shot to death outside the door of Mr. Farrington… Shares: Adventure

Terror Keep Edgar Wallace · 1927 · 162p · ≈ 5h · Challenging Mr. J. G. Reeder, employed by the Department of Public Prosecutions, has developed a reputation for solving difficult criminal cases using his unique understanding of human nature, which he calls his “criminal mind.” After a notorious bank robber and murderer escapes from prison, Mr. Reeder must match wits with Crazy John Flack, the “cleverest crook in the world,” who previously vowed to kill the… Shares: Adventure

The three just men Edgar Wallace · 1929 · ★ 3.3 · 260p · ≈ 8h · Challenging Having recently been pardoned by the British government, the Just Men continue their mission to bring criminals to justice, but now by employing mostly legal means. London has been terrorized with the death of several men connected with Doktor Oberzohn, the head of an international cartel, with the deaths thought to have been caused by an escaped venomous snake. After forming a detective agency,… Shares: Adventure

In black and white Rudyard Kipling · 1880 · 96p · ≈ 3h · Challenging Tales of native life in India, in Oriental style. Shares: Adventure

The Man Who Knew Edgar Wallace · 1918 · ★ 3.4 · 145p · ≈ 4h · Challenging John Minute, formerly an unscrupulous African mining magnate, has flown to England, but can’t escape his past. Constantly threatened by blackmailers, he fears death and financial ruin. At the suggestion of the commissioner of police, “The Man Who Knows” is hired to assist in determining the source of these threats. But after John is murdered, suspicion is cast on his nephew, who calls on The Man… Shares: Adventure

The Square Emerald Edgar Wallace · 1926 · 188p · ≈ 6h · Challenging Leslie Maughan, recognized for her keen mind, has unofficially been promoted to Scotland Yard’s first female investigator. Chancing upon a book of poetry once owned by a Peter Dawlish, convicted forger, Leslie delves into the details of the convict’s case and becomes convinced of Peter’s innocence. Befriending Peter after his release from prison, Leslie discovers a link between him, a lady of… Shares: Adventure

Running blind Desmond Bagley · 1970 · ★ 3.7 · 231p · ≈ 7h · Moderate "It'll be simple", they said at the Department. "You'll just be a messenger boy". But to Alan Stewart, on a deserted road in Iceland with a murdered man at his feet, it looks anything but simple. Someone very ruthless is after the innocent-looking parcel he carries, and Kenniken, a Russian agent with the best of reasons for hating him, has followed him to Iceland. Shares: Adventure

The tightrope men Desmond Bagley · 1973 · ★ 3.8 · 276p · ≈ 9h · Moderate Giles Denison's life is turned upside down when he awakes to find himself in a luxurious hotel in Oslo and, peering into the bathroom mirror, discovers the face of another man! He has been kidnapped from his flat in London and transformed into famous Finnish scientist, Dr Harold Feltham Meyrick. Compelled to adjust to his new persona (including meeting his daughter) and to play out the role… Shares: Adventure

Claudius Bombarnac Jules Verne · 1892 · 210p · ≈ 7h · Challenging Reporter Claudius Bombarnac, is assigned by the "Twentieth Century " to cover the travels of the Grand Transasiatic Railway which runs between Uzun Ada, Turkestan and Peking, China. Shares: Adventure

Space Tripping with the Shredded Orphans Sonya Rhen · 2013 · 318p · ≈ 10h · Moderate The Shredded Orphans are slaves to their job - literally. The galaxy is run by the corporate class and at its head is the Galactic Media Corporation. By night the band plays concerts, by day Lix and the group are on a secret mission to save the universe, one slave at a time. Shares: Adventure

The melody of death Edgar Wallace · 1927 · 147p · ≈ 4h · Challenging Gilbert Standerton learns that he has been disinherited by his cantankerous uncle, and is forced to find a way to provide for his newly-wedded high-society wife. After quitting his appointment at the Foreign Office, he develops a new interest in the stock market, and takes an avid interest in the antics of a gang of safe-cracking burglars. His wife becomes concerned as he frequently begins… Shares: Adventure

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