The Ivory Snuff Box

"The Ivory Snuff Box" by Arnold Fredericks is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. The book opens by introducing Richard Duvall, a detective who is forced to set aside his honeymoon with his new wife, Grace, to undertake a mysterious and urgent mission to recover a stolen ivory snuff box. This urgent task is steeped in intrigue, hinting that international stakes may be involved, leading the reader to wonder about the true nature of the box and what secrets it holds. At the start of the story, we find Duvall receiving an unexpected summons from Monsieur Lefevre, the Prefect of Police in Paris, immediately after his marriage. As Duvall grapples with the shock of being pulled away from his bride, he learns that the box belongs to the French Ambassador and carries unknown significance. After first meeting with the elderly curio dealer, Monsieur Dufrenne, Duvall heads towards London where he is thrust into a world of theft, deception, and potential danger, all against the backdrop of his disrupted wedding trip. Meanwhile, Grace is also swept into the narrative, being sent separately to Brussels with her own mission that intertwines with her husband's, suggesting that both characters will play pivotal roles in uncovering a larger conspiracy related to the box.