The Dumpling

"The Dumpling: A Detective Love Story of a Great Labour Rising" by Coulson Kernahan is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story combines elements of romance and detective fiction as it unfolds the journey of the protagonist, Mr. Rissler, who finds himself entangled in a web of social unrest, crime, and unexpected love while investigating an opium den and its enigmatic leader known as the Dumpling. The opening of the book introduces Mr. Rissler as he reflects on a mischievous and impudent act of trespassing that leads to a charming yet chaotic encounter with a beautiful girl, who inadvertently capsizes him into a lake. This chance meeting is filled with romantic tension, as he becomes utterly enchanted by her beauty and the impetuous nature of their encounter. However, his burgeoning romantic pursuits are interrupted when he receives an urgent summons from his editor to investigate an opium den, setting him on a path that intertwines his personal desires with the dark undercurrents of crime and social upheaval in London. As he navigates this labyrinthine world, the themes of love, deception, and the struggle for justice begin to take form.

The Dumpling, by Coulson Kernahan. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #73740.