Fortun du Boisgobey was a prolific writer of detective fiction, and his work had the undoubted effect of popularizing this type of story in France. Moreover, there is no doubt that he influenced Conan Doyle, if, indeed, Doyle did not go to him for actual suggestions. Boisgobey's first detective work was Le Forat Colonel, which appeared in 1872; and this was followed by Les Gredins, La Tresse Blonde, Les MystPres du Nouveau Paris, Le Billet Rouge, Le Cri du Sang, La Bande Rouge, and others. La Main Froide was published as late as 1889.