"The Wooden Hand: A Detective Story" by Fergus Hume is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Eva Strode, a young woman living in a gloomy cottage known as Misery Castle, as she anticipates the return of her estranged father, Mr. Strode, from Africa. The novel sets the tone for an intriguing exploration of familial tension, love, and the foreboding atmosphere surrounding Eva's relationship with her father and her budding romance with Allen Hill. At the start of the narrative, the reader is introduced to Eva and her bleak existence with Mrs. Merry, her old nurse, who has a suspicious and pessimistic view of her father's character. Eva is uncertain about her father's return after years apart, and her worries are intensified by a horrific dream she has, which suggests her father may come to harm. As the opening unfolds, it becomes clear that the novel will weave between supernatural elements, the dynamics of Eva's romantic engagement, and the chilling prophecies surrounding her father's fate. The stage is set for a mystery that will undoubtedly intertwine the dreams with reality, as hints of danger loom. (This is an automatically generated summary.)