Hagar of the Pawn-Shop

By: Hume, Fergus

Every object left at the counter may carry more than its declared value. In a pawn-shop in Lambeth, Hagar Stanley examines the possessions brought to her and uncovers the concealed histories attached to them: evidence, messages and secrets entangled with theft, blackmail, murder and disputed identity. Her commercial judgement is matched by an investigator's alertness, turning the daily business of pledges and redemption into a series of mysteries where ownership itself can be dangerously uncertain. Across twelve linked chapters, a book, a key, jewels, a crucifix or a casket can become the point from which an entire customer's story unfolds. These objects are not merely clues but repositories of human experience, connecting otherwise separate encounters through recurring questions of deception, justice and lost property. The episodic structure gives each case its own shape while sustaining a larger narrative of crime, sensation and adventure, with Hagar's honesty and practical intelligence repeatedly set against greed and exploitation. Hagar's independence also carries a personal cost. An intelligent and courageous young Romany woman, she is caught between the confinement of urban shop life and her longing for open country and Romany camps, while her relationship with Eustace Lorn adds romance to the pressures surrounding her work. That tension between possession and freedom deepens a distinctive pawnbroker mystery in which material things can expose hidden identities and guarded truths. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9377782562
• ISBN13: 9789377782566
• Release Date: October 2026
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 174 Pages
• Weight: 0.53 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"