The Mystery of Orcival

Excerpt: 'On the bank of the river, among the stumps and flags, was stretched a woman's body. Her long, dishevelled locks lay among the water-shrubs; her dress-of gray silk-was soiled with mire and blood. All the upper part of the body lay in shallow water, and her face had sunk in the mud. 'A murder!' muttered Philippe, whose voice trembled. 'That's certain,' responded Jean, in an indifferent tone. 'But who can this woman be? Really one would say, the countess.'

Émile Gaboriau (1832-1873) was a French writer, novelist, journalist, and a pioneer of detective fiction. He became a secretary to Paul Féval, and after publishing some novels and miscellaneous writings, found his real gift in detective novels. Gaboriau's most famous character was Monsieur Lecoq, a young police officer who was the hero in several of his novels. He also wrote a long series of novels dealing with the annals of the police court which proved very popular.