The Agony Column

"The Agony Column" is an English romantic adventure novel that takes place in London. The story is inspired by the personal ads, also known as the "agony columns," found in London newspapers. The plot follows young American Geoffrey West as he investigates a murder and tracks down the killer from the posh dining room of the Carlton Hotel to the opium dens of London's Limehouse district. The novel is filled with intrigue and treachery as West searches for the truth and the heart of his true love, only to find that the culprit is closer to home than he ever imagined. The author, Earl Derr Biggers, is well-known for his Charlie Chan detective novels.