Source documents compiled by insurance investigator Ralph Henderson are used to build a case against Baron "R___", who is suspected of murdering his wife. The baron's wife died from drinking a bottle of acid, apparently while sleepwalking in her husband's private laboratory. Henderson's suspicions are raised when he learns that the baron recently had purchased five life insurance policies for his wife. As Henderson investigates the case, he discovers not one but three murders. Although the baron's guilt is clear to the reader even from the outset, how he did it remains a mystery. Eventually this is revealed, but how to catch him becomes the final challenge; he seems to have committed the perfect crime.

Shortlisted for the 2017 Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year From critically acclaimed and Baileys Prize-nominated author Sara Taylor comes a dazzling new novel about youth, identity, and family secrets After a fight with Alex’s father, Ma pulls Alex out of bed and onto a pilgrimage of self-discovery through her own enthralling past. Guided by a memory map of places and people from Ma’s life before motherhood, the pair travels from Virginia to California, each new destination and character revealing secrets, stories, and unfinished business. As Alex’s coming-of-age narrative unfolds across the continent, we meet a cast of riveting and heartwarming characters including brilliant Annie, who seeks the help of Ma and Alex to escape the patriarchal cult in which she was raised, and the tragic young Marisol, whose dreams of becoming a mother end in heartbreak. Slowly, Alex begins to realizes that the road trip is not a string of arbitrary stops, but a journey whose destination is perhaps Ma’s biggest secret of all. Told from the perspective of Alex, a teenager who equates gender identification with unwillingly choosing a side in a war, and written with a stunningly assured lyricism, The Lauras is a fearless study of identity, set against the gorgeously rendered landscape of North America.

The "Sensation Novel" ushered in the modern mystery genre. It was inaugurated by Wilkie Collins's best-seller The Woman in White in 1860. But this collection, selected by Peter Haining, reveals that Collins had actually been writing realistic stories of suspense for at least a decade before this. With dramatic plots that revolved around hidden secrets, bloody crimes, villainous schemes, and clever detective work all occurring in everyday settings, Wilkie Collins helped to shape a new genre that was worlds away from anything being written by his contemporaries--and one that was to have a far-reaching influence. Sensation Stories ranges from Collins's earliest tales and those published under the auspices of his great friend Charles Dickens to the title piece from his last, melancholic collection. Among several famous yarns and stories not published for over a hundred years is one featuring a pioneer female detective and another that has been called the first British detective story. There is a ghost story controversial for its eroticism, the first humorous or satirical detective story and a story that clearly presages The Woman in White, published two years later. Thrilling reads in their own right, all 10 stories showcase Wilkie Collins's towering contribution to the development of the mystery genre. Indeed, he is now regarded as the inventor of the modern detective story and the forefather of a crime fiction tradition that runs through Arthur Conan Doyle to Thomas Harris today.

In 'The Mystery Novels of Wilkie Collins,' the reader is introduced to a collection of Collins' most famous works, including 'The Moonstone' and 'The Woman in White.' Known for his intricate plotting, complex characters, and use of multiple narratives, Collins is celebrated as one of the pioneers of the mystery genre in literature. His keen eye for detail and ability to create suspenseful and gripping storylines make this collection a must-read for lovers of detective fiction. Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, Collins' works explore themes of deception, madness, and social class, offering a nuanced glimpse into the anxieties and preoccupations of the era. Wilkie Collins, a contemporary and friend of Charles Dickens, drew inspiration from his own experiences and observations of society. As a keen observer of human behavior, Collins was able to create compelling and psychologically complex characters that still resonate with readers today. His unconventional approach to storytelling and exploration of social issues set him apart as a groundbreaking author of his time. 'The Mystery Novels of Wilkie Collins' is a captivating collection that showcases the talent and creativity of one of the Victorian era's most innovative writers. Fans of mystery and detective novels will be enthralled by Collins' masterful storytelling and richly developed characters, making this book a timeless classic that continues to engage and entertain readers.

In 'Greatest Mystery Novels of Wilkie Collins', readers are immersed in a collection of timeless tales filled with suspense, intrigue, and complex characters. Collins, often credited as one of the pioneers of the detective fiction genre, employs clever plot twists and intricate narratives to keep readers engaged from start to finish. His writing style is distinguished by its meticulous attention to detail and nuanced exploration of psychological depth, setting a high standard for mystery novels of his time. These gripping stories explore themes of identity, deception, and morality, making them essential reads for fans of classic mystery literature. The book is a must-read for those seeking to delve into the works of a master storyteller who continues to captivate audiences with his enduring mysteries.

"The Woman in White" is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of "sensation novels". The story is sometimes considered an early example of detective fiction with the hero, Walter Hartright, employing many of the sleuthing techniques of later private detectives. "The Moonstone" is an epistolary novel, generally considered the first detective novel in the English language. Besides creating many of the ground rules of the detective novel, "The Moonstone" also reflected Collins' enlightened social attitudes in his treatment of the servants in the novel. Armadale is a mystery novel and has a convoluted plot about two distant cousins both named Allan Armadale. The father of one had murdered the father of the other (the two fathers are also named Allan Armadale). The story starts with a deathbed confession by the murderer in the form of a letter to be given to his baby son when he grows up. No Name is a 19th-century novel revolving around the issue of illegitimacy. Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. His best-known works are The Woman in White, No Name, Armadale, and The Moonstone. Content: The Woman in White No Name Armadale The Moonstone The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice The Law and The Lady The Dead Secret Miss or Mrs?

This carefully crafted ebook: "Greatest Mystery Novels of Wilkie Collins" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. The Woman in White is considered to be among the first mystery novels and is widely regarded as one of the first (and finest) in the genre of "sensation novels". The story is sometimes considered an early example of detective fiction with the hero, Walter Hartright, employing many of the sleuthing techniques of later private detectives. The Moonstone is an epistolary novel, generally considered the first detective novel in the English language. Besides creating many of the ground rules of the detective novel, The Moonstone also reflected Collins' enlightened social attitudes in his treatment of the servants in the novel. Armadale is a mystery novel and has a convoluted plot about two distant cousins both named Allan Armadale. The father of one had murdered the father of the other (the two fathers are also named Allan Armadale). The story starts with a deathbed confession by the murderer in the form of a letter to be given to his baby son when he grows up. No Name is a 19th-century novel revolving around the issue of illegitimacy. Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. His best-known works are The Woman in White, No Name, Armadale, and The Moonstone. Content: The Woman in White No Name Armadale The Moonstone The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice The Law and The Lady The Dead Secret Miss or Mrs?

This carefully crafted ebook: "Wilkie Collins: The Complete Short Stories" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Wilkie Collins (1824–1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. His best-known works are The Woman in White, No Name, Armadale, and The Moonstone. Table of Contents: After The Dark The Ostler Mr. Wray's Cash Box The Queen of Hearts A House To Let The Haunted House ("The Ghost in the Cupboard Room") My Miscellanies No Thoroughfare Miss or Mrs? "Blow up with the Brig!" The Hidden Cash The Perils of Certain English Prisoners The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices The Last Stage Coachman The Fatal Cradle The Frozen Deep and Other Stories The Captain's Last Love The Dead Hand The Devil's Spectacles The First Officer's Confession Farmer Fairweather Fatal Fortune Fie! Fie! Or The Fair Physician Love's Random Shot The Midnight Mass Nine O'Clock A Passage in the Life of Mr. Perugino Potts The Haunted Hotel My Lady's Money Who Killed Zebedee Little Novels The Poetry Did It A Sad Death and A Brave Life The Twin Sisters Volpurno - Or The Student John Steadiman's Account (The Wreck of The Golden Mary) A Message from The Sea The Seafaring Man The Dead Alive

This carefully crafted ebook: "Complete Works of Wilkie Collins: Novels, Short Stories, Plays, Essays and Memoirs (Illustrated)" is formatted for your eReader with a functional and detailed table of contents. Wilkie Collins (1824-1889) was an English novelist, playwright, and author of short stories. Collins's works were classified at the time as "sensation novels," a genre seen nowadays as the precursor to detective and suspense fiction. He also wrote penetratingly on the plight of women and on the social and domestic issues of his time.