The Crimson Blind

"The Crimson Blind" by Fred M. White is a novel written in the early 20th century. This intriguing story follows David Steel, a struggling novelist who finds himself in a dire financial situation due to a brother's misconduct, leading to a night filled with unexpected twists and turns as he receives an anonymous phone call from someone who may hold the key to his salvation. The plot thickens when Steel is drawn into a web of mystery involving criminal activities, a mysterious woman, and a potential murder. The opening of the novel introduces David Steel, who, in a moment of despair, reflects on his circumstances and the imminent threat of losing everything he has worked for. As he navigates through his looming financial ruin, he receives a call from a mysterious voice offering him £1,000 in exchange for helping a friend in need. Drawn by both the alluring offer and the urgency of his own situation, Steel follows the voice's instructions, leading him to a secretive exchange that involves a package containing bank notes. However, as he grapples with his newfound financial relief, he quickly becomes embroiled in a murder investigation when a body is discovered in his conservatory, pointing towards a deeper conspiracy that he will have to unravel. (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.