Woman in the Black Veil

The story begins in a moment of apparent calm, when the clamor of crime subsides and Hercule Poirot's intellect awaits a mystery worthy of his genius. But fate knocks in the form of a young woman, her face hidden behind a black veil, possessing a delicate beauty and a profound anxiety. She arrives with a request unlike any other. What she carries is not a completed crime, but a threat that could shatter an entire life. She is Madame Millicent, betrothed to one of society's most prominent noblemen, standing on the precipice of a scandal that could destroy her future. A letter she wrote in the prime of her youth has fallen into the hands of a ruthless man, a master of blackmail, as skilled in the trade of gold as some are in the gold trade. In a world governed by class, appearances, and reputation over truth, a small secret can ignite a storm. The circle widens rapidly: secrets hidden behind closed doors, elegant faces concealing dark intentions, and Poirot's mind grasps the subtle thread that begins each mystery. But this time the truth requires not only the power of deduction, but also the courage to confront what is not said. It is a tale of power, fear, and reputation, and of the price one pays to protect one's name, or to protect one's heart.