Mary Roberts Rinehart Knihy

An elite older lady, along with her anxious Irish maid and niece, spends the summer in a country house that comes with its own set of mysterious servants. As strange events unfold within the mansion, they become entangled in a plot involving the recent death of the homeowner, a banker, and the subsequent failure of his bank. Suspicion arises around a charming young bank clerk, who captures the heart of the niece, adding to the tension and intrigue of their summer retreat.

In this twisty whodunnit from "the grand dame of American crime fiction" (CrimeReads), the murder of a wealthy widow brings the secrets of her aristocratic neighbors to light Even in the early 1930s, Crescent Place is a neighborhood out of the past. The five Victorian mansions and the remote patch of pasture placed between them have the air of the 1890s, even as the city—once miles away from this idyllic retreat—encroaches and surrounds the enclave. But while these rarified residences may appear calm on the outside, their isolated interiors contain dark secrets, prolonged feuds, and generations of high-toned trouble. In these houses are a husband and wife who fight constantly, and another couple who hasn’t spoken to each other in two decades. There is a widow in permanent mourning and a daughter whom the newspapers call psychotic. And there is a bedridden old woman who is about to be killed with an ax. When her murder shatters the well-mannered quiet of the cul-de-sac, the tabloids delight in trumpeting Crescent Place’s peculiarities. But as the search for the killer intensifies, it becomes clear that the area’s strangest secrets have yet to be revealed. A suspenseful mystery enriched by sly social satire and set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, The Album is a memorable whodunnit from one of the most beloved and best selling authors of the Golden Age era.

Set in a large house under quarantine due to a smallpox outbreak affecting the butler, this romantic comedy blends humor with mystery. The story follows a group of vibrant young characters as they navigate unexpected situations and evolving relationships while confined together. As tensions rise and secrets unfold, the characters must confront their feelings and desires, leading to a delightful exploration of love and companionship amidst the chaos.

Someone’s trying to kill the head of the Fairbanks estate, and only her nurse can protect her. The arsenic in her sugar bowl was wealthy widow Eliza Fairbanks’ first clue that somebody wanted her dead. The nightly plagues of bats, birds, and rats unleashed in her bedroom were the second indication, an obvious attempt to scare the life out of the delicate dowager. So instead of calling the exterminator, Eliza calls the cops, who send Hilda Adams — “Miss Pinkerton” to the folks at the bureau — to go undercover and investigate. Hilda Adams is a nurse, not a detective — at least, not technically speaking. But then, nurses do have the opportunity to see things that the police can’t, and to witness the inner workings of a household when the authorities aren’t around. From the moment Adams arrives at the Fairbanks mansion, confronted by a swarm of shady and oddball relatives, many of whom seem desperate for their inheritance, it’s clear that something unseemly is at work in the estate. But not even she is prepared for the web of intrigue that awaits her therein. Reissued for the first time in over twenty years, and featuring one of Mary Roberts Rinehart’s only series characters, The Haunted Lady is the thrilling follow-up to Miss Pinkerton, also available from American Mystery Classics. The books can be read in any order.

The narrative centers on Bab's transformation from a sheltered girl to an independent young woman in a small American town. As she navigates the challenges of life, themes of personal growth, love, and self-discovery emerge. Rinehart intricately explores family dynamics and societal expectations, reflecting the cultural nuances of the early 20th century. The character-driven storytelling highlights Bab's development and the emotional depth of her relationships, making the novel a timeless exploration of resilience and the human spirit's adaptability.

Set in 1904 Allegheny City, this murder mystery unfolds as Mrs. Pittman, a boarding house owner, becomes convinced that a murder has occurred following the disappearance of tenant Jennie Brice. With a blood-stained rope and towel as evidence, she defies the police's dismissal of the case due to the lack of a corpse. Determined to uncover the truth, Pittman uses Jennie's apartment key to investigate, leading her on a perilous quest for justice amidst skepticism and danger.

Murder leads to scandal at a wealthy woman's mansion in this mystery from one of the bestselling authors of the 20th century.

Marcia Lloyd and her brother Arthur have spent every summer of their lives exploring the grand halls and seaside grounds of their family's idyllic vacation home, a gorgeous old mansion called Sunset House built by their grandfather. But when Arthur's ex-wife Juliette arrives at Sunset to demand alimony from him, things take a dark turn and Juliette disappears--her body found a week later. What sordid secrets lie within the creaky old manor? Marcia and the local sheriff Russell Shand must work against the clock to find the murderer in this seemingly utopian upper-class hamlet