The thirty nine steps

"The Thirty-Nine Steps" is an adventure novel written by John Buchan and first published in 1915. The story follows Richard Hannay, a mining engineer who becomes embroiled in a thrilling conspiracy after a mysterious man named Franklin P. Scudder shows up at his flat, claiming to be a hunted man with vital information that could alter the fate of Europe. When Scudder is murdered, Hannay finds himself on the run, trying to uncover the truth behind the plot while evading both the police and the conspirators.