Fortuné Du Boisgobey (1821-1891) was the chief of the followers of Émile
Gaboriau, creator of Monsieur Lecoq. He was a prolific writer, with more
than sixty works to his name, and one of the most popular French
feuilleton writers. His novels dealt with crime, the police, and
Parisian life. They had a high circulation, and many of them were
translated into English.
Two of his best classic mysteries are represented here in new
translations by Nina Cooper:
The Omnibus Murder (1881): A young Parisian artist, returning to his
studio by the midnight omnibus, witnesses the death of a young girl. He
at first thinks she's been murdered, but dismisses the idea.
Fortunately, his friend solicits the aid of the mysterious Piédouche to
bring the killer to justice.
The Ferry Murder (1882): The Vignemal family perishes when their small
ferry boat capsizes in a freak storm. Who inherits depends on who died
first, the husband, or the wife. Will officials believe the young man
who attempted a rescue? Or is he a killer in league with one of the many
potential inheritors of the Vignemals' large estate?