This book was first published in 1897 so it’s an early detective novel but well worth reading if you enjoy that sort of thing, which I do. I downloaded this one from girlebooks.
Miss Butterworth is a genteel and fairly well-heeled spinster of the parish of Granmercy Park in New York and she likes to keep an eye on the movements of her neighbours. (Who does that remind me of?!) When she sees a couple entering a house across the road very late at night she wonders what’s going on. She knows that the house owner is away and the house is empty.
In the morning she forces a policeman to enter the house and they discover the body of a young woman under a large cabinet. Who is she? Is it murder or suicide?
Miss Butterworth has no great faith in the detective who is investigating the case, Mr Gryce, and she determines to carry our her own inquiries.
There are lots of twists and turns in this book to keep you interested and there’s humour too in the character of Miss Amelia Butterworth. I can’t help thinking that Agatha Christie probably read this book and came up with her English spinster, Miss Marple as a consequence. I hope to read more books by Anna Katharine Green.
I downloaded this one as well, and your review makes me anxious to get to it!
Lisa,
Oh I hope you enjoy it then, at least it’s free so I don’t have to worry about you spending money on something you might not like. I think we do have similar reading tastes though.
Oooh, this sounds so good! I really need to check out girlebooks – I haven’t really browsed their selection in a while.
Anbolyn,
I can’t resist free books. BTW you were the neighbour I was thinking of who was also keeping an eye on neighbours! Didn’t they have the police around?! I’d be practically hanging out of the window I think.
If I stayed off the computer I could get more of these great books read! I accepted 2books for review and now I’m dragging my feet, don’t know why I do that!
Peggy Ann,
I know exactly what you mean. I made the mistake of going on to you tube recently to look at sewing videos and got sucked into a quilting treadmill – good fun though, have a look if you dare!
“>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjZOXxPazg