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Anna Katharine Green
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".
She was born in Brooklyn, New York on November 11, 1846.
Green had an early ambition to write romantic verse, and she corresponded with Ralph Waldo Emerson. When her poetry failed to gain recognition, she produced her first and best known novel, The Leavenworth Case (1878), praised by Wilkie Collins, and the hit of the year. She became a bestselling author, eventually publishing about 40 books.
On November 25, 1884, Green married the actor and stove designer, and later noted furniture maker, Charles Rohlfs (1853 – 1936), who was seven years her junior. Rohlfs toured in a dramatization of Green's The Leavenworth Case. After his theater career faltered, he became a furniture maker in 1897, and Green collaborated with him on some of his designs. Together they had one daughter and two sons: Rosamund Rohlfs, Roland Rohlfs, and Sterling Rohlfs. Her daughter Rosamund married Robert Twitty Palmer.
Green died on April 11, 1935, in Buffalo, New York, at the age of 88. Her husband died the following year.
Books by Anna Katharine Green
The Leavenworth Case
The Leavenworth Case (1878), subtitled A Lawyer's Story, is an American detective novel and the first novel by Anna Katharine Green. Set in New York City, it concerns the murder of a retired merchant, Horatio Leavenworth, in his New York mansion. The...
That Affair Next Door
A perplexing mystery novel published in 1897, That Affair Next Door focuses on a mysterious murder that has occurred in a quiet neighborhood, incidentally in the house next door to the home of the curious Miss Butterworth. Consequently, the middle-ag...
The Forsaken Inn
Told from the perspective of a Mrs. Truax, the owner of an inn during the time of the American and French Revolutions, "The Forsaken Inn" is a locked-room mystery that keeps readers guessing about what has happened. A young couple stays at the inn fo...
The Doctor, his Wife, and the Clock
A man has been shot dead in his house. Ebenezer Gryce is on the case, but he has no leads, no witnesses, no evidence -- until he decides to talk to the neighbors of the victim, a blind doctor and his beautiful wife.
The House of the Whispering Pines
The country club house The Whispering Pines was closed for the winter, but only one day after he locked the place personally, the narrator sees smoke come out of the chimney. He decides to investigate and enters the house. Hidden in the dark, he sees...
The Step on the Stair
The story follows a young woman named Rosamund, who moves into a new home with her husband and soon becomes convinced that the house is haunted. As she begins to investigate the strange occurrences, she discovers a dark and sinister past that threate...
The Mill Mystery
A mysterious death at a remote mill sets the stage for a suspenseful mystery in which nothing is as it seems. "The Mill Mystery" is a novel by Anna Katharine Green that tells the story of the investigation into the death of a young woman at a remote...
A Strange Disappearance
In the midst of bustling New York City, a woman vanishes without a trace, leaving behind a haunting enigma. Anna Katharine Green's "A Strange Disappearance" unfurls a web of intrigue as a peculiar mystery takes center stage. A seemingly ordinary day...
Doctor Izard
A brilliant doctor is found dead in his office, but there is no sign of forced entry or struggle. What happened to Doctor Izard? Anna Katharine Green's classic mystery novel Doctor Izard is a suspenseful tale of murder and intrigue. The novel begins...
The Golden Slipper, and Other Problems for Violet Strange
Delve into the mind of Violet Strange, a brilliant and unconventional detective, as she unravels a series of baffling cases. Violet Strange, a young woman from New York's elite society, possesses an uncanny ability to solve mysteries that leave seas...
Woman in the Alcove
"I was, perhaps, the plainest girl in the room that night. I was also the happiest—up to one o'clock. Then my whole world crumbled, or, at least, suffered an eclipse. Why and how, I am about to relate." Thus begins this mystery told by Anna Katharine...
Initials Only
Anna Katharine Green (November 11, 1846 – April 11, 1935) 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 (no doubt assist...
Missing: Page Thirteen
In this captivating mystery, Violet Strange, a brilliant and resourceful detective, embarks on a thrilling quest to solve the enigma of a missing page from a crucial document. The fate of several individuals hangs in the balance, including an eccentr...
Millionaire Baby
In 'Millionaire Baby,' a wealthy New York family is plunged into despair when their six-year-old daughter, Gwendolen, vanishes without a trace. A hefty reward is offered, attracting various individuals with their own motives. As the investigation unf...
Three Thousand Dollars
In this captivating mystery short story, a seemingly impenetrable vault within Mr. Stoughton's business concern becomes the target of a cunning heist. Despite its robust security, the vault is mysteriously accessed daily by unknown individuals, leavi...
X Y Z - A Detective Story
This captivating detective story follows the investigation into a counterfeiting operation that has plagued western Massachusetts. When suspicious letters with the initials "X. Y. Z." are discovered, Detective Green is sent to Brandon, Massachusetts,...
Dark Hollow
In the small town of Shelby, a brutal murder shakes the community. Etheridge, a local man, is found beaten to death. The innkeeper, seemingly the only suspect, is convicted and executed for the crime. Years later, a mysterious woman in purple arrives...
Bronze Hand
In the captivating world of late 19th-century Baltimore, "Bronze Hand" unveils a complex web of intrigue and hidden agendas. The story revolves around Mr. Abbott, a man drawn into a dangerous conspiracy when he attempts to help his beautiful neighbo...
One of My Sons
In Anna Katharine Green's 'One of My Sons,' a young girl's plea for help leads Arthur Outhwaite into a labyrinth of intrigue and danger. He finds himself the last witness to the enigmatic death of her grandfather, burdened with a cryptic mission: to...
Amethyst Box
A gripping Victorian-era mystery novel that follows the enigmatic disappearance of a precious amethyst box, rumored to contain a deadly poison. As Sinclair, the groom-to-be, frantically searches for the missing artifact, suspicion falls upon his betr...
House in the Mist
In the dense mist of a stormy night, an unnamed narrator stumbles upon a secluded house, lured by the promise of shelter. However, what begins as a quest for refuge soon becomes a harrowing journey into a world of secrets, deception, and danger. The...
Ruby and the Caldron
Amidst the grandeur of a snowbound ball at The Evergreens, an invaluable ruby vanishes, casting a chilling shadow over the festivities. Inspector Ebenezer Gryce arrives to solve the perplexing mystery, navigating the opulent world of high society and...
Agatha Webb
Agatha Webb, a beloved woman, is found murdered, leaving behind a web of suspicion and intrigue. Her husband, driven by financial motives, becomes a prime suspect. The cook, who dies shortly after, adds another layer of complexity to the case. Meanwh...
Circular Study
In this classic detective novel, Detective Gryce is summoned to a seemingly ordinary brownstone where he finds a man brutally murdered, yet carefully arranged in his study. The only witnesses are a mute butler driven to madness and a singing bird hol...
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