{"product_id":"9780995433021","title":"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab","description":"\"The Mystery of a Hansom Cab\" takes place in Melbourne, Australia and involves an investigation into a homicide, after a corpse is discovered in the evening, in a hansom cab.\u003cp\u003eThe city of Melbourne plays a significant role in the plot and, as the author describes: \"Over all the great city hung a cloud of smoke like a pall.\" The killer's identity is not as significant a revelation in the story as are the roles of the influential and secretive Frettlby family, and their secret: they have an illegitimate daughter living on the streets. The class divide between Melbourne's wealthy and less fortunate is addressed throughout the plot.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe protagonist in the novel is a policeman named Detective Gorby, who is given the task of solving the murder. As Hume describes the character's investigative skills: \"He looked keenly round the room, and his estimate of the dead man's character was formed at once.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe author commented in a later introduction, \"All of the scenes in the book, especially the slums, are described from personal observation; and I passed a great many nights in Little Bourke Street, gathering material\". At this time, the street had gained notoriety as a place frequented by prostitutes and criminals.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Robert W Strugnell","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50088266629360,"sku":"9780995433021","price":13.85,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780995433021","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}