The Golden Face: A Great 'Crook' Romance

"The Golden Face: A Great 'Crook' Romance" by William Le Queux is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around George Hargreave, an ex-soldier who finds himself entangled in a world of crime after accepting a job as a chauffeur for the enigmatic Rudolph Rayne. Set against a backdrop of intrigue and deception, the narrative explores themes of morality and trust as Hargreave navigates his relationship with Rayne and his daughter, Lola, amid criminal schemes and unexpected twists. The opening of the book introduces George Hargreave as he describes his transition from military life to a new role as the chauffeur to the mysterious Mr. Rayne. Hargreave's quick ascent into a dangerous and alluring world is sparked by his job interview with Rayne, who sharply hires him without thorough questioning. The narrative hints at deeper secrets and complexities involving stolen jewelry, suspicious characters, and an entangled web of crime, as Hargreave becomes wary of his employer's intentions. As Hargreave grapples with his growing attraction to Lola Rayne and the secrets surrounding her father, readers are pulled into a thrilling journey filled with suspense and moral ambiguity. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

William Tufnell Le Queux was an Anglo-French journalist and writer. He was also a diplomat, a traveller, a flying buff who officiated at the first British air meeting at Doncaster in 1909, and a wireless pioneer who broadcast music from his own station long before radio was generally available; his claims regarding his own abilities and exploits, however, were usually exaggerated. His best-known works are the anti-French and anti-Russian invasion fantasy The Great War in England in 1897 (1894) and the anti-German invasion fantasy The Invasion of 1910 (1906), the latter becoming a bestseller.