Difficult Problem

A collection of six short mystery and crime stories by the author of The Leavenworth Case. Known as "e;the mother of the detective novel,"e; Anna Katharine Green invented many of the genre's most enduring characteristics. In this collection she masterfully combines an American sensibility with well-crafted, legally accurate plotlines. Set in Baltimore just before the Civil War, "e;The Bronze Hand"e; tells the story of a man who answers a beautiful woman's cry of distress, only to find himself caught in a web of intrigue, conspiracy, and danger. In "e;The Gray Madam,"e; a husband and wife wonder if they've seen the ghost of a mysterious woman in their home. And in the titular story, a woman seeks the help of a detective after she receives one letter from her husband and another delivering the news of his death.