The Mystery of the Yellow Room is Gaston Leroux's masterpiece, and it turned out to be his most successful book during his lifetime. It is one of the classics of early-twentieth-century detective fiction.
At the heart of the novel is this enigma: how could a murder take place inside a locked room that shows no sign of being entered? The novel is also about the rivalry between the detective Frederick Larson and a young investigative journalist, Rouletabille, to solve the case. Larson finds a suspect who is put on trial, only to have him cleared by Rouletabille, who reveals in the most dramatic fashion the identity of the real murderer.
This atmospheric thriller is still a favorite of whodunit fans everywhere.
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"I read this book a few years ago in French but I was told that the English translation is pretty bad which would explain why it didn't get many great reviews on this site. It is truly one of those mystery books that get under your skin and haunt you when you are not reading anymore. Inspector Rouletabille is nothing short of a genius and the ending that the reader awaits to find out how an attack took place inside an impenetrable room and how the attacker escaped, doesn't disappoint. It is an incredible book and anyone who fails to see how mind-blowing the story is was probably too spooked out or too lazy to keep track of all the details."
— Myriam (5 out of 5 stars)
" I really liked this book. It gives you a puzzle and then dares you to figure it out. How did someone nearly get killed inside of this little yellow room with one entrance/exit. I found it to be fascinating. "
— Katie, 1/27/2014" A great mystery by the genius who wrote Phantom of the Opera. The mystery was well thought out and very intriguing. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys good mysteries in the vein of Agatha Christie (only I liked this one better). "
— Lizzi, 1/19/2014" One of the most famous locked room mysteries, this book has the reader completely baffled for practically the entire time. The case is solved by Joseph Rouletabille, a reporter with a keen mind and proven detective skills. You cannot guess the ending. "
— Patricia, 1/3/2014" Read this a few times. Although in some places it gets a little confusing the "reveal" moment is surprising, even after the first time. The formatting is a bit weird in the kindle version but both paperback and kindle versions are good if you like mystery/crime fiction of the later 19th Century "
— Alexandra, 9/16/2013" This was a locked room mystery that really seemed impossible to solve. I love that it was not easy to figure out who committed the crime and allowed you to have multiple suspects. "
— Karen, 8/11/2013" The first in a series of detective stories of a young reporter. A true locked room mystery which kept me guessing until the denouement. "
— Linda, 3/14/2013" Una inchiesta complessa, una scrittura scorrevole e molto gradevole, un mistero che si infittisce ad ogni riga una arguzia infinita nella risoluzione dell'enigma. Un classico da leggere. "
— Prospero, 2/25/2013" A locked room mystery. I found it engaging enough. The mysteries were quite perplexing and the solutions pretty reasonable for the most part. On the other hand I did find the writing style to be a little cheesy. I enjoyed it less than Wilkie Collins. "
— Thirteenth, 11/3/2012" Not much of a fan of "locked room" mysteries, but this was one of the earliest of such "murder" mysteries and the best I have read thus far. Especially annoying, and the reason I write "murder" in quotations, is though the English translation throughout refers to a murder, the victim never dies. "
— William, 5/29/2012" A clever turn of the century "locked room" mystery. One can't but wonder if the character of Joseph Rouletabille was inspired by SACD's Sherlock Holmes. A fun read. "
— Plantgrrl, 5/22/2012" Um, I'm reading the "en Francais facile" version, so this puts me in the second grade en France. "
— Andy, 7/31/2011" This is one of the best books I've ever read. I am into detective stories and Leroux is like the master of the subject. "
— Chune, 5/3/2011" This is one of the best books I've ever read. I am into detective stories and Leroux is like the master of the subject. "
— Chune, 5/3/2011" I loved this book. I read it in two days. Couldn't stop reading it. I love a good mystery and Leroux, as usual, comes through with a head-scratching mystery. I thought I had most of it figured out but then at the end I was completely surprised. A great book. "
— Ann, 4/9/2011" I loved this book. I read it in two days. Couldn't stop reading it. I love a good mystery and Leroux, as usual, comes through with a head-scratching mystery. I thought I had most of it figured out but then at the end I was completely surprised. A great book. "
— Ann, 4/9/2011" Leroux went took to long describing situations that I don't think readers would care to know about. It was difficult to understand as well. The mystery's solution was unexpected, at least for me, so that was the only plus. I would not recommend this :( "
— Mari, 2/2/2011" Leroux went took to long describing situations that I don't think readers would care to know about. It was difficult to understand as well. The mystery's solution was unexpected, at least for me, so that was the only plus. I would not recommend this :( "
— Mari, 2/2/2011" Overwrought, but scattered with great lines: "Coincidence is the enemy of truth." "
— Chris, 1/24/2011" Overwrought, but scattered with great lines: "Coincidence is the enemy of truth." "
— Chris, 1/24/2011" Usually don't like detective stories as genre but this one was excellent:-) like his more famous book Phantom of the Opera which was also very good "
— Drgonnzo, 12/22/2010" Usually don't like detective stories as genre but this one was excellent:-) like his more famous book Phantom of the Opera which was also very good "
— Drgonnzo, 12/22/2010" Una inchiesta complessa, una scrittura scorrevole e molto gradevole, un mistero che si infittisce ad ogni riga una arguzia infinita nella risoluzione dell'enigma. Un classico da leggere. "
— Prospero, 11/14/2010" Una inchiesta complessa, una scrittura scorrevole e molto gradevole, un mistero che si infittisce ad ogni riga una arguzia infinita nella risoluzione dell'enigma. Un classico da leggere. "
— Prospero, 11/14/2010" A classic of the genre and one of the first "locked room mysteries;" I found myself losing enthusiasm during the plodding middle. "
— Nancy, 5/25/2010" A classic of the genre and one of the first "locked room mysteries;" I found myself losing enthusiasm during the plodding middle. "
— Nancy, 5/25/2010" I-tunes libervox Pod-cast 5/20/2010 <br/>Published 1907 <br/>Gaston Leroux 1868-1927 "
— Bill, 5/20/2010" I-tunes libervox Pod-cast 5/20/2010 <br/>Published 1907 <br/>Gaston Leroux 1868-1927 "
— Bill, 5/20/2010" Agatha Christie praises this book in her autobiography. It's clear to see that it influenced her own writing style. I enjoyed reading it, but I prefer Christie, Marsh, or Sayers any day. "
— Lisa, 3/18/2010" Agatha Christie praises this book in her autobiography. It's clear to see that it influenced her own writing style. I enjoyed reading it, but I prefer Christie, Marsh, or Sayers any day. "
— Lisa, 3/18/2010Gaston Leroux (1868–1927), French novelist, was born in Paris. He earned a law degree in 1889 but turned to journalism in his mid twenties and later sailed the world as a correspondent, reporting on the Russian Revolution of 1905. In the early 1900s, he began writing novels and became best known for The Phantom of the Opera (1910). His novel The Mystery in the Yellow Room sparked the development of detective fiction as a genre.
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.