The Square Emerald
Free public-domain edition — preview in your browser, no account required for the first chapter.
Preview free · sign up to save progress, download to your shelf, and sync with the apps
Already have an account? Sign in
This classic mystery offers a gripping blend of crime, hidden identities, and social critique, with a strong female detective at its heart.
Edition details
Book Summary
In Edgar Wallace's The Square Emerald, detective Leslie Maughan investigates a tangled web of blackmail, forgery, and murder in 1920s London. The case leads her to uncover hidden identities, a baby-farming ring, and a conspiracy orchestrated by the enigmatic Princess Bellini, ultimately revealing the truth behind a missing child and a deadly emerald necklace.
The story begins with Lady Raytham, who is being blackmailed by her butler, Anthony Druze, over a secret child. Detective Leslie Maughan of Scotland Yard is called in to investigate a suspicious bank withdrawal and soon discovers that Druze is actually a woman in disguise. As Leslie delves deeper, she encounters Peter Dawlish, a former convict seeking his lost daughter, and the sinister Princess Anita Bellini, who controls a network of Javanese servants. The plot thickens when Druze is murdered, and a planted pistol points to Peter. Leslie uncovers that the Druze sisters—Anita and Martha—have been running a conspiracy involving forgery, blackmail, and baby-farming. Peter's mother, Margaret Dawlish, is revealed to be Martha Druze, who has been hiding Lady Raytham's child. The climax sees Leslie abducted by Anita's servants and rescued during a police raid. In the end, Leslie exposes the full conspiracy, reunites Lady Raytham with her daughter, and clears Peter's name, while Anita is arrested and Mrs. Inglethorne's baby-farming operation is shut down.
Reading guide
Go deeper in The Square Emerald
Character guides, themes, chapter companions — plus Character Web, narrative arc, and theme heatmap teasers that unlock fully beside the text in BetterReads.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
Leslie Maughan
A young woman policeman whose cool nerve and sharp eye pull her into a case where a convict, a gun, and a missing child all point the same way.
Peter Dawlish
Fresh out of Dartmoor in a scarecrow's suit, this educated ex-convict trades his prison-made clothes for a seat by Leslie Maughan's fire and a second chance.
Princess Anita Bellini
Six feet of Eton-cropped, monocled aristocracy who rescued Greta Gurden from the chorus and now runs her life with the same ruthless grip.
Jane Raytham
A well-dressed, unhappy wife who burns a policewoman's card in the fire rather than tell what she knows about her husband's affairs.
Greta Gurden
A gushing, carmined journalist who edits Mayfair Gossip and lives on a seven-and-a-half income, forever afraid of missing something.
Mr. Coldwell
A Chief Inspector with a callous eye for rubber clubs and forged telegrams, who works the case with the patience of a man who has seen it all.
Deception and Identity
The book revolves around hidden identities, such as Druze being a woman disguised as a butler, and the masquerade of the Druze sisters, exploring how characters conceal their true selves for criminal or personal gain.
Class and Wealth
The narrative contrasts the opulent world of Lady Raytham and Berkeley Square with the poverty of Lambeth and Mrs. Inglethorne's baby-farming, highlighting how money and social status drive power dynamics and exploitation.
Crime and Justice
The story follows police detective Leslie Maughan investigating blackmail, forgery, and murder, examining the pursuit of justice amidst a web of criminal activities and moral compromises.
Gender and Power
Female characters like Leslie Maughan and Anita Bellini wield authority in unconventional roles (detective, criminal mastermind), challenging traditional gender expectations and revealing how women navigate power in a patriarchal society.