The Widow Lerouge

The Widow Lerouge by Emile Gaboriau is a classic mystery novel that was first published in 1866. The story revolves around the murder of the wealthy widow, Madame Lerouge, and the subsequent investigation to find her killer. The main character of the novel is a young lawyer named Monsieur Lecoq, who is tasked with solving the case.The novel is set in the rural town of La Jonchere, where Madame Lerouge lived alone in her large estate. When she is found murdered in her home, the police are baffled as to who could have committed the crime. Monsieur Lecoq is called in to assist with the investigation, and he quickly discovers that there are several suspects with motives for killing the widow.As the investigation progresses, Monsieur Lecoq uses his skills of deduction and observation to uncover clues and piece together the events leading up to the murder. Along the way, he encounters a cast of colorful characters, including a young couple who may have been involved in the crime, a wealthy neighbor who has a secret past, and a mysterious woman who seems to know more than she lets on.The Widow Lerouge is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers guessing until the very end. It is considered a classic of the mystery genre and has been praised for its intricate plot, well-drawn characters, and masterful storytelling.1900. Translated from the French. Gaboriau was the first French novelist to write detective novels. His character Monsieur Lecog, private detective, first appeared in this novel, The Widow Lerouge. The story begins: On Thursday, the 6th of March, 1862, two days after Shrove Tuesday, five women of the village of Jonchere presented themselves at the bureau of Police at Bougival. They stated that for two days past no one had seen the Widow Lerouge, one of their neighbors, who lived by herself in an isolated cottage. The house was shut up. Several persons had knocked without receiving an answer. The window-shutters as well as the door were closed; and it was impossible to obtain even a glimpse of the interior. This state of affairs alarmed them. Apprehensive of a crime, or at the least an accident, they demanded the interference of justice to satisfy their doubts by forcing the door and entering the house. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.