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The trouble from which great events were to come began when Everard Dominey, who had been fighting his way through the scrub for the last three quarters of an hour towards those thin, spiral wisps of smoke, urged his pony to a last despairing effort and came crashing through the great oleander shrub to pitch forward on his head in the little clearing.

With the police hot on his tail, Peter Ruff decides to turn from a life of crime to the more lucrative (and personally safer) life of a private investigator. With his ties to the underworld and his skill at disguise, Peter is the perfect sleuth. Along with his trusted and beautiful assistant, Violet Brown, Mr. Ruff is brilliantly successful in his new career. As his reputation for solving crime grows, he is noticed and adopted as a leader by a large conglomerate of criminals who have chosen to turn their skills to good. Unfortunately, his success also gains the enmity of many people, including his former fiancee's new husband and a notorious German spy.

Intriguing Edwardian spy novel with a dramatic denouement The sinister atmosphere and suspense was almost unbearable. A cracking good read.

The Lighted Way by E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim Excerpt CHAPTER I AN INVITATION TO DINNER Mr. Samuel Weatherley, sole proprietor of the firm of Samuel Weatherley & Co., wholesale provision merchants, of Tooley Street, London, paused suddenly on his way from his private office to the street. There was something which until that second had entirely slipped his memory. It was not his umbrella, for that, neatly tucked up, was already under his arm. Nor was it the Times, for that, together with the supplement, was sticking out of his overcoat pocket, the shape of which it completely ruined. As a matter of fact, it was more important than either of these-it was a commission from his wife. We are delighted to publish this classic book as part of our extensive Classic Library collection. Many of the books in our collection have been out of print for decades, and therefore have not been accessible to the general public. The aim of our publishing program is to facilitate rapid access to this vast reservoir of literature, and our view is that this is a significant literary work, which deserves to be brought back into print after many decades. The contents of the vast majority of titles in the Classic Library have been scanned from the original works. To ensure a high quality product, each title has been meticulously hand curated by our staff. Our philosophy has been guided by a desire to provide the reader with a book that is as close as possible to ownership of the original work. We hope that you will enjoy this wonderful classic work, and that for you it becomes an enriching experience.

The Great Impersonationby Edward Phillips OppenheimThe trouble from which great events were to come began when Everard Dominey, who had been fighting his way through the scrub for the last three quarters of an hour towards those thin, spiral wisps of smoke, urged his pony to a last despairing effort and came crashing through the great oleander shrub to pitch forward on his head in the little clearing.

With the police hot on his tail, Peter Ruff decides to turn from a life of crime to the more lucrative (and personally safer) life of a private investigator. With his ties to the underworld and his skill at disguise, Peter is the perfect sleuth. Along with his trusted and beautiful assistant, Violet Brown, Mr. Ruff is brilliantly successful in his new career. As his reputation for solving crime grows, he is noticed and adopted as a leader by a large conglomerate of criminals who have chosen to turn their skills to good. Unfortunately, his success also gains the enmity of many people, including his former fiancee's new husband and a notorious German spy.

In 'The Great Impersonation', Edward Phillips Oppenheim weaves an intricate tale of espionage set against the tense prelude to the First World War. Through the saga of Leopold von Ragastein and his machinations to supplant his look-alike Everard Dominey, Oppenheim crafts a narrative rich in suspense, blending romance and political drama with a masterful hand. His literary style, characterized by sharp dialogue and vivid scene-setting, situates the novel within the early 20th-century genre of spy fiction, resonating with the works of contemporaries like John Buchan. The novel's gripping plot and Oppenheim's adept use of the doppelgänger motif underscore its recurring themes of identity and deception, infusing the genre with psychological depth and intrigue. Edward Phillips Oppenheim, the proverbial 'prince of storytellers', often drew upon the geopolitical climate of his era to frame his tales, and his own extensive travels and insights into high society imbued his work with authenticity and detail. 'The Great Impersonation', one of his best-known novels, reflects his fascination with the clandestine operations and the shifting allegiances that presaged the great conflicts of the 20th century. Oppenheim's understanding of the complexities of international relations and human psychology is evident in the multifaceted characters and precisely plotted twists that drive this engrossing story. 'The Great Impersonation' comes highly recommended to aficionados of classic spy thrillers and readers intrigued by the historical interplay of identity, loyalty, and subterfuge. With its astute blend of history and fiction, seasoned with a touch of romance and the supernatural, this novel remains a compelling read for those drawn to the shadows where the personal meets the political. Oppenheim's skillful storytelling and deft characterizations make this book a defining example of early espionage literature, offering not only a suspenseful tale but also a glimpse into the cultural anxieties of the period during which it was written.

The Great Impersonation by Edward Phillips Oppenheim