Feeling now part of the plot, Hannay takes up Scudder's encoded notebook and escapes his apartment. Police discover the fake suicide and suspect nothing, but Hannay finds Scudder murdered in his flat a few days later nonetheless. Hannay, convinced of his honesty, lets Scudder hide in his flat.

The 1959 version of the film of that book, starring actor Kenneth More, included scenes. Scudder claims to be following a ring of German spies called the Black Stone who are trying to steal British plans for the outbreak of war. OnThisDay 1875 author of The 39 Steps John Buchan was born. Scudder, is a freelance spy, and reveals that he has faked his own death. The man appears to know of an anarchist plot to destabilize Europe, beginning with a plan to assassinate the Greek Premier, Constantine Karolides, during his forthcoming visit to London. The 'real' 39 Steps in Broadstairs were demolished, and the final step sent to Buchan. One night his neighbour, an American who claims to be in fear for his life, visits Hannay. John Buchan’s The Thirty-Nine Steps, which was published in novel rather than serial form 100 years ago. Richard Hannay returns home to London after living in Rhodesia. The resourceful victim of a manhunt, he is pursued by both the police and the ruthless conspirators. Richard Hannay finds a corpse in his flat, and becomes involved in a plot by spies to precipitate war and subvert British naval power. One of his early adventure stories, and the first of five featuring his. The first book in the Richard Hannay series by John Buchan. It is the first of the five novels featuring Richard Hannay, an all-action hero with a stiff upper lip and a miraculous knack for getting himself out of tricky situations. The Thirty-nine Steps is a famous and popular work by Scottish author John Buchan. The Thirty-Nine Steps is an adventure novel by the Scottish author John Buchan.

The 39 Steps by John Buchan