Author
Eustace Hale Ball
1881-1931
Eustace Hale Ball (1881-1931) is a public-domain author available on Rivro. Read free books, explore subjects, and discover related classics.
WikipediaBooks by Eustace Hale Ball
The Voice on the Wire
"The Voice on the Wire" by Eustace Hale Ball is a detective novel that seems to have been written in the early 20th century. The narrative introduces us to Montague Shirley, a well-connected and skilled criminologist, who is drawn into a complex case involving a string of mysterious deaths linked to a wealthy family and a chorus girl. As the story unfolds, Shirley partners with Captain Cronin, a seasoned detective, navigating through an intricate web of deception, crime, and possibly even murder. At the start of the book, we are introduced to Captain Cronin, who, during a meeting in a classy club, shares his troubling investigation into the death of a wealthy man, which appears connected to a pattern of similar unfortunate incidents. The tension escalates when Shirley receives a cryptic phone call hinting at a third victim, raising the stakes. The opening chapters set up a fast-paced narrative, filled with suspense and engaging dialogue as Shirley prepares to delve deeper into the case. As he begins to trace leads and connect dots amid various characters involved in the mystery, the reader is left intrigued by the unfolding layers of the case and Shirley's clever approach to solving it.
Traffic in Souls: A Novel of Crime and Its Cure
"Traffic in Souls: A Novel of Crime and Its Cure" by Eustace Hale Ball is a novel written in the early 20th century. This work explores the dark underbelly of society concerning crime and the trafficking of individuals, particularly women. The narrative follows Officer Bobbie Burke as he navigates the harsh realities of urban crime, particularly the interactions between law enforcement and the individuals ensnared in the vice of the white slave trade. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Officer 4434 (later revealed as Bobbie Burke) on a frigid night in New York City, where he witnesses an altercation between a man and a woman that quickly escalates into violence. Responding to the incident, Burke intervenes, but faces aggression from both the woman, Dutch Annie, and the man, Jimmie the Monk. The opening depicts the struggles of law enforcement amid the city's rampant criminal activity, painting a stark picture of the social issues at play. As Burke reflects on the failures of the legal system to protect vulnerable women and children, the reader begins to understand the complexities and moral dilemmas faced by police officers in combating organized crime and societal corruption.