Mary Roberts Rinehart
If you're a fan of tightly plotted historical mysteries, don't miss Mary Roberts Rinehart's Dangerous Days. This tale blends disparate elements such as industrial spies, intrigue among the American aristocracy, and the political and social climate that led up to World War I into a fast-paced and eminently satisfying read.
2) The Bat
Known as the queen of the whodunits in her time, mystery writer Mary Roberts Rinehart created some fascinating sleuths and master criminals. One of her most widely recognized creations was the costumed arch-villain and criminal mastermind known as The Bat. This tale served as an introduction to the character, and was later transformed into a play bearing the same title.
Fans of golden-age mystery fiction, you're definitely in for a treat. This novel has it all: skillful writing, a drum-tight plot, and snappy, witty dialogue. The Circular Staircase is about Rachel Innes, a well-to-do woman of a certain age. Her Pittsburgh manse is in need of an overhaul, so she decides to spend some time at the country home of a friend to escape the hustle and bustle of the remodeling process. But what appears at first to
...Known for her tightly plotted mysteries, American author Mary Roberts Rinehart hits it out of the park with The Breaking Point. A gem from the golden era of detective fiction, the novel follows seemingly timid protagonist Elizabeth Wheeler, whose placid existence is thrown into disarray by a murder. Forced into the role of detective, Elizabeth tries to set things right again. Dive into The Breaking Point for an enthralling whodunit.
...Known as the "American Agatha Christie," author Mary Roberts Rinehart produced a vast array of top-notch mysteries over the course of her career, with occasional incursions into other genres. The After House is a gripping whodunit that revolves around a series of grisly axe murders. Set on board a ship, this murder mystery is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat.
6) K
This emotionally gripping novel blends Mary Roberts Rinehart's two fortes—mystery and romance. When a mysterious stranger who calls himself 'K' enters her life, nurse-in-training Sidney can sense that he's running away from something. But before she can learn more about his tragic past, the pair find themselves falling hopelessly in love. Can their romance transcend his troubles?
Though not exactly a mystery in the traditional sense, Mary Roberts Rinehart's Where There's a Will certainly has its fair share of intrigue, chicanery and deception. At stake is the ownership of Hope Springs, a family-owned health resort whose future appears uncertain in the aftermath of the longtime manager's demise. When a well-meaning group of employees band together to try to take matters into their own hands, all hell breaks loose.
...If duty called, would you leave the confines of your cushy life to dedicate yourself to the service of the greater good? That's what Sara Lee, the altruistic heroine of Mary Roberts Rinehart's The Amazing Interlude, decides to do amidst the terror and tumult of World War I. Based on the author's own experiences as one of the first prominent female war correspondents, this novel provides a fascinating glimpse into the horror of war—and
...In this classic mystery from "American Agatha Christie" Mary Roberts Rinehart, a terrible crime unfolds amidst the worst possible circumstances—devastating flooding that has incapacitated the city of Allegheny, Pennsylvania. When a boarding-house operator finds some damning clues amidst the detritus of the flood, she infers that a murder has been committed and sets out to solve the case.
Often referred to as the "American Agatha Christie," Mary Roberts Rinehart did much to popularize and refine the mystery genre in the United States. The Street of Seven Stars follows an American musician, Harmony Wells, to Austria, where she has gone to hone her violin skills. Though the dashing doctor she meets there appears to want to protect her, there may be more to his motives than meets the eye.
12) Sight Unseen
Mary Roberts Rinehart rose to literary acclaim as a mystery writer and eventually became known as the "American Agatha Christie." In Sight Unseen, Rinehart strays somewhat from the formula that made her famous, incorporating supernatural elements into the mystery at the heart of the novel. If you're looking for a fast-paced read that will send shivers down your spine, put Sight Unseen on your must-read list.
Known as the American Agatha Christie, Mary Roberts Rinehart wrote romances in addition to the mysteries with which she rose to widespread acclaim. The Window at the White Cat contains elements of both genres, focusing on a misbegotten love triangle that veers wildly toward a tragic end. When a less-than-ethical politico is found dead, attorney Jack Knox attempts to shake himself from his lovelorn stupor and solve the crime.
14) Love Stories
For fans who love classic romance fiction, but are tired of the sappy dialogue and saccharine sentiments that characterize many works in the genre, Mary Roberts Rinehart's collection Love Stories strikes just the right balance. These witty, fast-paced tales often focus on heartfelt romantic connections that develop alongside humorous, mysterious or puzzling narrative elements, so the story pace never gets bogged down by an excess of purple
...15) A Poor Wise Man
Like the best of Mary Roberts Rinehart's novels, A Poor Wise Man combines a number of literary elements—romance, intrigue, and mystery—which unfold against the backdrop of war and political unrest. Fans of historical romance and classic mystery will enjoy this read.
Fans of silver-screen screwball comedies like A Philadelphia Story or His Girl Friday will appreciate the Mary Roberts Rinehart's When a Man Marries. Though a puzzling mystery does lie at the center of this delightful romp, it's the silly and irreverent sensibility of the novel that is its most engaging feature.
Mary Roberts Rinehart earned the nickname "The American Agatha Christie" by producing a vast body of tightly plotted mystery and detective fiction that influenced many subsequent writers in the genre. In The Man in Lower Ten, Rinehart's detective delves into a man's mysterious death on a passenger train.