Oppenheim, E. Phillips: The Vanished Messenger. V1. 8 Sep 2011
 

Edward Phillips Oppenheim (October 22, 1866 – February 3, 1946), was an English novelist, in his lifetime a major and successful writer of genre fiction including thrillers .A best-selling author of novels, short stories, magazine articles, translations, and plays, Oppenheim published over 150 books. He is considered one of the originators of the thriller genre, his novels also range from spy thrillers to romance, but all have an undertone of intrigue.

Excerpt
There were very few people upon Platform Number Twenty-one of Liverpool Street Station at a quarter to nine on the evening of April 2 - possibly because the platform in question is one of the most remote and least used in the great terminus. The station-master, however, was there himself, with an inspector in attendance.

A contemporary review:

Vanished Messenger (The) By E. Phillips Oppenheim. Little, Brown & Co. $1.30

Mr. Oppenheim again exhibits his skill in weaving an exciting plot, and again the background of his story is found in international complications of the great Powers of Europe. The “vanished messenger” is on his way from America, bearing a message from the great money kings of the United States which will surely prevent a threatened war by a coalition of the great Powers against England. He disappears on a stormy night on which he was expected to cross the Channel to the Continent. What became of him, how nearly he escaped death at the hands of a human monster who plots war and destruction for all the world, and how he was rescued in time to save the situation, make up a story which is not the less thrilling because it is totally improbable. Incidentally there is a love story, but it is of the slightest interest.” – The Outlook, August 15, 1914