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Anna Katherine Green, the mother of the detective novel, introduces the world to the first "girl detective" in this delightful collection of nine stories published in 1915.

First published in 1897, That Affair Next Door is another fascinating study in human motivations intertwined with bits and pieces of circumstantial evidence that at first make very little sense.

Voices of Today presents two stories by Anna Katharine Green, the great American mystery writer who published before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie. In "To the Minute", a man returns to his native village after many years absence, after being advised of the death of his misanthropic grandfather. Will the dead miser's decaying mansion contain the secret to his lost wealth? In "Scarlet and Black", a man returns home to find mysterious foreigners playing cards in his house and cannot rest until he finds out the reason for this unexpected visitation and what the stakes are.

First published in 1883, this new Cyanide Publishing edition contains the original text as well as background articles including "Anna Katherine Green - the Mother of the Detective Novel", "Anna Katherine Green - a Bibliography", "Women in Crime Fiction", and "X.Y.Z.".

"Horatio Leavenworth, Esq., a millionaire, is murdered in his library while he is engaged in reviewing a book he plans to publish. He was shot cleanly in the back of the head (with his own pistol), meaning that he did not turn his head when his assassin entered the room. This fact led detective Ebenezer Gryce to conclude that he recognized the footsteps of his assailant and felt he had nothing to fear from this person." Thus begins this first novel in the "Mr. Gryce" series.

A reward of five thousand dollars is offered, by Phil Ocumpaugh, to whoever will give such information as will lead to the recovery, alive or dead, of his six year old daughter, Gwendolen, missing since the afternoon of August the 16th, from her home in New York. Anna Katharine Green was one of the first writers of detective fiction in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories. She is credited with shaping detective fiction into its classic form, and developing the series detective.

On the evening before his marriage, Sinclair loses a precious curiosity from his collection: an amethyst box, containing a tiny flask of deadly poison. He suspects that this poison is in the possession of either his betrothed or her cousin, the girl his best friend Worthington loves. Turning to Worthington for help, they try to recover the box before the poison can be administered.

A young typist drinks poison substituted for the medicine left for her by the nurse. The patient insists she was not trying to commit suicide, the nurse asserts her innocence: but no-one else could have got into the room and tampered with the glass . . .

Agatha Webb and her cook are found dead in the early hours of the morning after a successful party, and it seems just about anyone could be the killer. Some suspect her aging husband; others think it a robbery gone too far. A few nosy villagers draw a connection between this murder and the deaths of her six children so many years prior: Was she truly a victim, a grieving mother? Or did she play some role in these deaths? The list of suspects grows when a certain wealthy townsmen is blackmailed by someone who believes he murdered Agatha Webb and her cook.

In "The House in the Mist", weary traveler Hugh Austin arrives, seeking food and lodging for the night. "Enter, sir; you are the first to arrive, but the others cannot be far behind", he is told. "What others?" he wonders, gazing at a stern portrait hanging on the wall. He finds he has chanced upon the gathering of friends and relatives of the man in the portrait. An inheritance is to be divided, all concerned must be present by the appointed hour.

Originally published in 1897, That Affair Next Door is Anna Katherine Green’s eighth book featuring the series detective Ebenezer Gryce and the first to feature the society spinster, Amelia Butterworth. Many consider the nosy Miss Butterworth to be the precursor to Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple or Patricia Wentworth’s Miss Silver. The story is told from Miss Butterworth’s perspective as she relates the story of a murdered young woman and how she sets out to unravel the mystery.

Join Violet Strange, a sharp and resourceful petite detective, as she embarks on a thrilling quest to recover a crucial page that has mysteriously vanished from an important document. The stakes are high, with the futures of an eccentric misanthrope, a brilliant chemical scientist, and a newlywed couple hanging in the balance. As Violet unravels this enigma, she stumbles upon another mystery that stretches back many years, leading her down a captivating path of intrigue. (Summary by Bev J. Stevens)

http://www.adfreebooks.com - 1000+ audiobooks, all ad free!One evening, New York society doyenne looks out her window and sees a man and woman entering the mansion opposite hers. Ten minutes later, only the man emerges. Soon, murder's afoot, and Miss Butterworth joins Detective Par Excellence Ebenezer Gryce in sleuthing out the killer!

This classic murder mystery uses elements that have since become very common in crime literature - an abandoned house, a fugitive figure fleeing from the scene, and a dead body. In the house at Whispering Pines, which is supposed to be closed, the narrator discovers a dead body. On closer inspection, and much to his horror, he discovers that the corpse is that of his fiance. The figure fleeing the scene appears to be that of her sister. Unfortunately, when the police arrive and find the narrator still in the house they suspect that he is the murderer....

Lucy Holmes has been happily married for six months. Her husband is expected home from a business trip to Philadelphia when she receives the following cryptic telegram: "Come at once. Your husband found dead in his room this morning. Doctors say heart disease. Please telegraph." Foul play is suspected, but the search for means and motive is not such a straightforward process.

As Rita Van Arsdale, a woman deeply in love, accepts the proposal of the charming Mr. Durand at a lavish high society event, she believes she has found her dream man. However, their romantic bliss is abruptly disrupted by the captivating Mrs. Fairbrother and her dazzling diamond that quickly becomes the talk of the party. As the evening progresses, a crime unfolds, and Mr. Durand is unexpectedly cast as the main suspect. Now, its up to Rita to navigate a web of unexpected twists, uncover hidden truths, and clear her fiances name. This tale of love, mystery, and intrigue is masterfully penned ...

Dive into Three Thousand Dollars, a gripping short story by Anna Katharine Green. The plot centers around a seemingly impossible heist of goods locked away within an unbreachable vault in Mr. Stoughtons company. With no apparent means of entry, yet daily access by unknown individuals, confusion and suspicion run rampant among the office clerks. As the cunning scheme to raid the vaults treasures unravels, not even Mr. Stoughton himself appears to know the truth. Join us in this enigmatic journey introduced by Roger Melin.

Delve into the intriguing world of Anna Katharine Green, a pioneer among women detective writers. The Sword of Damocles, first unveiled in 1881, is a masterful weave of mystery and romance. Although her renowned detective, Mr Gryce, only graces the narrative briefly, the core of this captivating tale, aptly subtitled A Story of New York Life, revolves around a series of love stories that are as diverse as they are compelling.

Join us as we delve into the mysterious case of a vanished serving girl from the opulent household of the affluent Mr. Blake. This enigma is brought to the discerning Detective Ebenezer Gryce and his astute assistant Q by the concerned housekeeper, Mrs. Daniels. - Summary by Mark Leder

Dive into Greens final detective masterpiece, The Step on the Stair. Follow Quenton, a man helplessly in love with Orpha and under the impression that their union has her guardians blessings. His world turns upside down when Orphas engagement to Edgar is revealed. As jealousy takes hold, whispers of gossip and old superstitions start to cloud his status in the family. The sudden death of their uncle and a missing will could hold the answers to their tangled lives.