Dangerous Days

Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876 - September 22, 1958) was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie,[1] although her first mystery novel was published 14 years before Christie's first novel in 1922. Rinehart is considered the source of the phrase "e;The butler did it"e; from her novel The Door (1930), although the novel does not use the exact phrase. Rinehart is also considered to have invented the "e;Had-I-But-Known"e; school of mystery writing, with the publication of The Circular Staircase (1908).She also created a costumed super-criminal called "e;the Bat"e;, cited by Bob Kane as one of the inspirations for his "e;Batman"e; Published in 1919, and set on the eve of America's entry into World War I, this complex, multi-generational family drama focuses on an ambitious businessman, Clayton Spencer, who is increasingly estranged from his wife and rebellious son, Graham. (Excerpt from Wikipedia)