O Escaravelho do Diabo by Lúcia Machado de Almeida

Returning home, he noticed, in a magazine, a beetle similar to what Hugo had received, the name was Phanaeus ensifer, which means 'sword bearer.' Then, he begins to delve into ancient objects in order to find the killer and prevent the next crime. Undeterred by the death of his brother, Alberto goes after the killer.

The next day, Hugo is found dead with a sword nailed to his chest. However, he is not interested in the origin of the gift, because he thinks it is a trick of his friends. It begins when the character Hugo, brother of Alberto, receives a mysterious package with a scarab (black beetle) inside. The story takes place in Vista Alegre, a small city in the interior of São Paulo. O Escaravelho do Diabo was selected for the National Program of Library of the School, in 1999, and received a film adaptation in 2016. The book as repinted for twenty-six editions. Originally published in chapters in the magazine O Cruzeiro, between October 10 and December 26, 1953, O Escaravelho do Diabo achieved greater success by being republished in book in 1974 by Editora Ática, in the Série Vaga-Lume (a youth literature series), created in January of the previous year, with illustrations of Mario Cafiero.

The story is centered on Alberto, a medical student who, upon seeing his brother killed after receiving a mysterious pack with a beetle inside, decides to investigate. O Escaravelho do Diabo ( The Devil's Scarab, in English) is a Brazilian young mystery novel, written by Lúcia Machado de Almeida.

O Escaravelho do Diabo by Lúcia Machado de Almeida