Edgar Wallace, The Man Who Bought London

King Kerry is planning to buy London. One morning, he is about to go shopping on Oxford Street. As he is getting off the elevator, he encounters Elsie Marion, who is late for work. Suddenly two shots ring out. They miss, but King Kerry seems to know his attacker. From a high office window a man shakes his fist: someday, the man vows, 'I will find a bullet that goes to its mark - and the girl from Denver City will be free!'


The Man Who Bought London by Edgar Wallace – A Bold Urban Thriller




"The Man Who Bought London" by Edgar Wallace is a bold and imaginative thriller centered on power, ambition, and moral conflict. First published in 1915, this novel introduces readers to a man with a vision to buy and transform large portions of London—but not everyone welcomes his plans.




Millionaire American King Kerry arrives in London with a bold social agenda—to clean up the city’s slums by purchasing vast properties. But behind the financial strategy lies a dangerous network of rivals, spies, and deadly opposition. When the plan is threatened by corruption and murder, Kerry must outwit those who would destroy both his ideals and his life.




"The Man Who Bought London" blends social commentary with gripping mystery, offering a rare mix of urban reform and crime fiction. It’s a story about using wealth for justice—but at what cost? Fans of political thrillers and urban mysteries will find this a compelling and original entry in Wallace’s vast catalog.