Elusive Isabel

Elusive Isabel is a novel written by Jacques Futrelle, first published in 1909. Futrelle was an American author best known for his detective stories, particularly those featuring the character Professor Augustus S.F.X. Van Dusen, also known as The Thinking Machine.Elusive Isabel is a departure from Futrelle's detective fiction, as it is a romantic comedy that centers around the character Isabel Thorne. The story follows Isabel, a wealthy and independent young woman who is pursued by multiple suitors, including the persistent Roger Goodwin. However, Isabel is determined to marry for love rather than money or social status, leading to various comedic misunderstandings and romantic entanglements.The novel explores themes of love, independence, and societal expectations, and it showcases Futrelle's versatility as a writer beyond the mystery genre for which he is best known. Unfortunately, Elusive Isabel was one of Futrelle's last works, as he ragically perished aboard the RMS Titanic in 1912.