Elusive Isabel (1909) is a spy novel by Jacques Futrelle. Published at the height of his career as a leading popular detective and science fiction writer, Elusive Isabel was adapted for a 1916 silent film of the same name starring Florence Lawrence. Celebrated for his brisk storytelling and mastery of suspense, Jacques Futrelle was lost at sea on April 15, 1912 while returning from Europe on the HMS Titanic. His wife, who survived the disaster, had his last book dedicated to “the heroes of the Titanic.” “All the world rubs elbows in Washington. Outwardly it is merely a city of evasion, of conventionalities, sated with the commonplace pleasures of life, listless, blasé even, and always exquisitely, albeit frigidly, courteous; but beneath the still, suave surface strange currents play at cross purposes, intrigue is endless, and the merciless war of diplomacy goes on unceasingly.” Stationed in Washington, DC, international spy Isabel Thorne is tasked with securing the signatures of leading diplomats from Latin countries in an agreement to usurp England and America as the dominant global power. At the same time, her brother has developed a powerful weapon allowing submarines to launch missiles, which will undoubtedly grant their alliance an advantage in the event of war. Known for her ability to elude capture, Isabel finds herself shaken by the love of Grimm, a loyal U. S. Secret Service agent. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Jacques Futrelle’s Elusive Isabel is a classic of American detective fiction reimagined for modern readers.
