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 apparent 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 are not around. From the moment Adams arrives at the Fairbanks mansion, confronted by a swarm of shady and oddball relatives, 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.

Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876 - 1958), originally trained as a nurse was the most beloved and best-selling mystery writer in America in the first half of the twentieth century.

Reviews

On Mar 30 2021, a reader said:

The Haunted Lady by Mary Roberts Rinehart is the 2nd novel in The Hilda Adams Mysteries. Hilda Adams is looking forward to a relaxing evening after her latest assignment ends. Unfortunately, Hilda receives a call asking her to take on a special assignment. Eliza Fairbanks claims there have been bats in her sealed bedroom as well as other creatures. Eliza is making some outrageous claims. Dr. Brooke wants Hilda to investigate. Hilda quickly packs a bag and heads to the Fairbanks home. Hilda meets Eliza and finds the elderly woman to be quite sane. Eliza believes someone is trying to kill her. Unfortunately, Eliza is soon proven correct when she is found dead in her room. Can Hilda find Eliza's killer? The Haunted Lady was originally written in 1942. I enjoy reading these older mystery novels. I thought it was well-written with an interesting cast of characters. I quickly found myself drawn into the story. I liked Nurse Hilda Adams who is a keen observer. The mystery was well-done and there were some clever details. I appreciated that it had a nice wrap-up with the strange happenings explained in an easy to understand manner. The mystery was fun to solve. I did find the ending to be a little odd and unsatisfying. I appreciated the introduction written by Otto Penzler with information about Mary Roberts Rinehart writing career and her style of writing. The Haunted Lady is a pleasing historical mystery with baffling bats, a fighting family, a secure room, a nosey nurse, and a mysterious murder.

On Mar 7 2021, a reader said:

MRR is an author who NEVER disappoints the reader.....

Haunted Lady kept me awake. The story was too good to put it down when my eyes wanted to close........

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Details

Bookseller: I Cannot Live Without Books (US)
Bookseller's Inventory #: 102
Title: The Haunted Lady (American Mystery Classics)
Author: Rinehart, Mary Roberts
Book Condition: New New
Quantity Available: 1
Binding: Paperback
ISBN 10: 1613161603
ISBN 13: 9781613161609
Publisher: Penzler Publications
Date Published: 2020
Bookseller catalogs: American Mystery Classics; Mary Roberts Rienhart;

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