The Circular Study

"The Circular Study" by Anna Katharine Green is a novel written in the early 20th century. This intriguing mystery introduces Mr. Gryce, an elderly detective who is unexpectedly awakened from his melancholy state when he learns of a "strange crime" that has occurred in the home of a reclusive man named Mr. Adams. As Gryce investigates this mysterious case, he grapples with the tensions of the past, discovering a crime scene that promises both horror and enlightenment. At the start of the story, the old detective is called to the site of a murder after a boy delivers a chilling message about a crime committed in Mr. Adams' mansion. The narrative details Gryce's arrival at the scene, where he finds the body of Adams dramatically posed upon a bear rug with a dagger in his heart, surrounded by a peculiar atmosphere filled with rose-colored light. As Gryce inspects the room, he uncovers small clues, including the path of glittering spangles, which suggest a woman had been present. The story sets off a chain of events that draws in diverse characters, propelling the detective—and the reader—into a labyrinth of emotions, secrets, and the enduring quest for truth. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Anna Katharine Green was an American poet and novelist. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories. Green has been called "the mother of the detective novel".