Thieves' Wit: An Everyday Detective Story

"Thieves' Wit: An Everyday Detective Story" by Hulbert Footner is a suspenseful mystery set in the early 1900s, where a regular, struggling investigator named B. Enderby finds his life turned upside down when a renowned actress, Irma Hamerton, seeks his help in recovering her stolen pearl necklace. Enderby's transformation from an ordinary clerk to a detective is at the heart of the tale, and readers follow him as he enters into a complex world filled with secrets and trickery, struggling to solve the case while navigating the difficulties of human nature and his growing attraction to the distressed actress. Along the way, Enderby learns about Hamerton's complex life and the events surrounding the theft as he fights self-doubt and tries to balance his job as a detective with being a confidant to his client, creating a compelling narrative that looks at the themes of trust, lies, and the quest for truth.