The Green God

"The Green God" by Frederic Arnold Kummer is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story is set against a backdrop of mystery and suspense, following the character Owen Morgan, an illustrator who finds himself unwittingly embroiled in a dark intrigue involving Major Temple, his daughter Muriel, and the enigmatic figure Robert Ashton. Central to the plot is a coveted emerald Buddha, a relic tied to dangerous secrets and the desires that fuel them. The opening of the novel introduces Owen Morgan as he travels through the village of Pinhoe towards Exeter, where a storm prompts a chance encounter with Robert Ashton. As they ride together, the narrative hints at the tension and looming conflict related to the emerald Buddha, which Ashton has procured under complex circumstances involving Major Temple and his daughter. The atmosphere grows charged when Owen discovers that the relationships between the characters are fraught with unspoken despair and ambition, particularly surrounding Ashton’s intentions towards Muriel. Following a distressing night, a murder occurs, propelling Owen deeper into the mystery as he grapples with emerging secrets and suspicions that entwine their fates.