The House of the Whispering Pines

"The House of the Whispering Pines" by Anna Katharine Green is a novel written in the early 20th century. This mystery unfolds around the life of Elwood Ranelagh, who finds himself in a web of intrigue after the shocking discovery of his betrothed, Adelaide Cumberland, dead in the secluded club-house known as The Whispering Pines. The narrative explores themes of love, betrayal, and the consequences of past actions, all set against a backdrop of emotional turmoil and suspense. At the start of the book, we meet Elwood as he recklessly drives through a winter storm, disheartened after missing a rendezvous that could have changed his fate. He unexpectedly finds smoke rising from The Whispering Pines, a place he thought was closed for the season. Upon entering, he discovers that the club-house is not empty and is drawn into a series of mysterious events when he encounters a young woman, Carmel Cumberland, the sister of the deceased, fleeing the scene in distress. The opening portion sets a tense atmosphere as Elwood grapples with personal loss and confusion, leading to his harrowing discovery of Adelaide's body and the tragic circumstances that ensue. With a strong introduction to the compelling characters and the dark secrets they harbor, the beginning of this novel promises a gripping mystery ahead. (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".