Elusive Isabel (1909) is a spy novel by Jacques Futrelle. Published at
the height of his career as a leading popular detective and science
fiction writer, Elusive Isabel was adapted for a 1916 silent film of
the same name starring Florence Lawrence. Celebrated for his brisk
storytelling and mastery of suspense, Jacques Futrelle was lost at sea
on April 15, 1912 while returning from Europe on the HMS Titanic. His
wife, who survived the disaster, had his last book dedicated to "the
heroes of the Titanic." "All the world rubs elbows in Washington.
Outwardly it is merely a city of evasion, of conventionalities, sated
with the commonplace pleasures of life, listless, blasé even, and always
exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous; but beneath the still, suave
surface strange currents play at cross purposes, intrigue is endless,
and the merciless war of diplomacy goes on unceasingly." Stationed in
Washington, DC, international spy Isabel Thorne is tasked with securing
the signatures of leading diplomats from Latin countries in an agreement
to usurp England and America as the dominant global power. At the same
time, her brother has developed a powerful weapon allowing submarines to
launch missiles, which will undoubtedly grant their alliance an
advantage in the event of war. Known for her ability to elude capture,
Isabel finds herself shaken by the love of Grimm, a loyal U. S. Secret
Service agent. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally
typeset manuscript, this edition of Jacques Futrelle's Elusive Isabel
is a classic of American detective fiction reimagined for modern
readers.
