The Yellow Face

"The Yellow Face" by Fred M. White is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The book revolves around the life of Claire Helmsley and her engagement to the ambitious Jack Masefield, who harbors suspicions about Claire's guardian, Spencer Anstruther. The story is set against a backdrop of a mysterious and chilling poster featuring a sinister yellow face, which seems to hold deeper implications that haunt the characters. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Claire and Jack as they await dinner while discussing the enigmatic Nostalgo poster that captivates London. Jack’s unease about Claire's guardian grows as conversations about their secret engagement reveal tensions. Soon, a series of strange events unfold, including the unnerving similarities between the poster and Anstruther’s demeanor, as well as Jack's unsettling discovery of a murder linked to the mysterious figure. The opening portion sets the stage for a gripping exploration of mystery, suspicion, and possibly murderous intrigue that intertwines with the personal lives of the characters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Fred Merrick White (1859–1935) wrote a number of novels and short stories under the name "Fred M. White" including the six "Doom of London" science-fiction stories, in which various catastrophes beset London. These include The Four Days' Night (1903), in which London is beset by a massive killer smog; The Dust of Death (1903), in which diphtheria infects the city, spreading from refuse tips and sewers; and The Four White Days (1903), in which a sudden and deep winter paralyses the city under snow and ice. These six stories all first appeared in Pearson's Magazine, and were illustrated by Warwick Goble. He was also a pioneer of the spy story, and in 2003, his series The Romance of the Secret Service Fund was edited by Douglas G. Greene and published by Battered Silicon Dispatch Box.