That Affair Next Door and Lost Man's LaneAnna Katharine Green was the most famous and prolific writer of detective fiction in the United States prior to Dashiell Hammett. Her first novel, The Leavenworth Case, was the bestseller of 1878. Green is credited with a number of “firsts” within the mystery genre, including the gentleman murdered as he makes out his will and the icicle as murder weapon. She created the first female detectives in American fiction. Her amateur spinster sleuth, Amelia Butterworth, became the prototype for numerous women detectives to follow, including Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple. Nosy, opinionated, and tenacious, Amelia Butterworth engages in a sustained rivalry with Ebenezer Gryce, a police detective. In the interaction between these characters, Green developed two more conventions adopted by future generations of mystery writers: the investigation as battle between the sexes and between the professional and the unexpectedly sharp, observant amateur. This volume presents two of Green’s Amelia Butterworth tales: That Affair Next Door (1897) and Lost Man’s Lane (1898). |
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Page 16
... answer followed the summons . " There is no one here , ” said he . " Ring again ! " I begged . And he rang again but with no better result . " Don't you see that the house is shut up ? ” he grumbled . “ We have had orders to watch the ...
... answer followed the summons . " There is no one here , ” said he . " Ring again ! " I begged . And he rang again but with no better result . " Don't you see that the house is shut up ? ” he grumbled . “ We have had orders to watch the ...
Page 17
... answer ; a sly look displaced the anxious one she had hith- erto displayed , and she turned away . " I don't see what business it is of the neighbors , ' she muttered , throwing me a dissatisfied scowl over her shoulder . " If you ' ve ...
... answer ; a sly look displaced the anxious one she had hith- erto displayed , and she turned away . " I don't see what business it is of the neighbors , ' she muttered , throwing me a dissatisfied scowl over her shoulder . " If you ' ve ...
Page 26
... answer him . " Will you be so good , madam , as to relate over again , what you saw from your window last night ? I am likely to have charge of this matter , and would be pleased to hear all you may have to say concerning it . " " My ...
... answer him . " Will you be so good , madam , as to relate over again , what you saw from your window last night ? I am likely to have charge of this matter , and would be pleased to hear all you may have to say concerning it . " " My ...
Page 31
... answered , frankly ; " but so well - dressed a woman would not enter a house like this , without gloves . " “ It was a warm night , " some one suggested . " I don't care . You will find her gloves as you have her hat ; and you will find ...
... answered , frankly ; " but so well - dressed a woman would not enter a house like this , without gloves . " “ It was a warm night , " some one suggested . " I don't care . You will find her gloves as you have her hat ; and you will find ...
Page 33
... answer him . " A painful occurrence , sir . A young girl has been found here , dead , crushed under one of your parlor cabinets . " " A young girl ! " he repeated . ( Oh , how glad I was that I had been brought up never to transgress ...
... answer him . " A painful occurrence , sir . A young girl has been found here , dead , crushed under one of your parlor cabinets . " " A young girl ! " he repeated . ( Oh , how glad I was that I had been brought up never to transgress ...
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Common terms and phrases
Amelia Butterworth ANNA KATHARINE GREEN answer asked astonishment began brother carriage CHARLES ROHLFS coach consider Coroner cried crime Deacon Spear Desberger detective detective fiction door doubt dreadful dress drew entered evidently expected eyes face fear feel felt Flower Parlor Franklin Van Burnam gave gentleman girl glance Gramercy Park Gryce hand head heard Howard Van Burnam interest James Pope knew Knollys family lady Lena look Loreen Lost Man's Lane Lucetta ma'am madam matter mind minutes Miss Althorpe Miss Butterworth Miss Knollys Miss Oliver morning Mother Jane murder mystery never night once passed perhaps person police present reason remarked reply rings Saracen secret seemed seen showed sight Simsbury smile stood stopped surprise suspicion talk tell thing thought took Trohm turned wife William window wish witness woman words young وو