The Five Knots

"The Five Knots" by Fred M. White is a fictional novel written in the early 20th century. The story introduces Beatrice Galloway, the niece of Samuel Flower, a wealthy and somewhat sinister ship-owner, as she grapples with a mysterious incident that occurs in the conservatory of their residence, Maldon Grange. The narrative blends suspense and intrigue, hinting at the presence of hidden dangers linked to Flower's past, with foreign elements that signal an impending threat. The opening of the novel establishes a sense of foreboding as Beatrice witnesses a strange hand attempting to unlock the conservatory door, which leads to her scream for help. Samuel Flower quickly dismisses the incident, but it triggers a chain of events that suggests a deeper mystery involving past wrongs and the ominous presence of foreign figures. As the chapters unfold, we are introduced to Wilfrid Mercer, a struggling doctor drawn into the complexities of the Galloway household. His connection to the Flower Line ship and the sinister undertones of the narrative build tension as he navigates the dangers surrounding the influential but possibly nefarious Flower. The early chapters set the stage for a gripping tale of intrigue, relationships, and the struggle between personal ambitions and darker forces at play. (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.