Peter Ruff and the Double Four

"Peter Ruff and the Double Four" by E. Phillips Oppenheim is an early 20th-century novel where Mr. Peter Ruff becomes deeply involved in a complex story of crime and trickery. The narrative kicks off with a seemingly normal dinner party at Daisy Villa hosted by the Barnes family, where their daughter’s admirer, Mr. Spencer Fitzgerald, turns out to be quite the opposite of what they expect when the police arrive. Fitzgerald, by deceiving everyone with his politeness, makes a daring escape that throws the family into confusion. Following this escape, the story shifts to Fitzgerald’s hidden life, revealing his ties to a mysterious woman named Violet, and his decision to become a private detective. This sets the scene for Peter Ruff to come forth, mixing elements of crime and mystery with complex human connections.