The Haunted Lady

by Mary Roberts Rinehart  American Mystery Classics

Mystery/Thriller

In many regards Mary Roberts Rinehart was the American Agatha Christie. Unfortunately after her death in 1958 interest in her work decreased. It is nice to see this reprint.

Description

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.

My Review

I truly enjoyed reading The Haunting Lady. There was a lot of fore-shadowing, the characters are well-crafted and enjoyable, and I just love nurse Adams.

This ARC was provided in exchange for my honest opinion, thank you.

Eliza Fairbanks complains to Inspector Fuller who inadvertently calls on nurse Adams to figure out what is going on at the mansion. Nurse Adams realizes there is some truth to Fairbank’s complaints. It appears someone has released rats and bats in her room in hopes of frightening her to death. There are various “ghostly” events which keep you entertained and guessing until the end. To me one of the most interesting aspects of the novel is how someone can be murdered in a locked room?

Highly recommend this book, giving it a 5 star!!!