The Cat's Paw

by Natalie Sumner Lincoln

"The Cat's Paw" by Natalie Sumner Lincoln is a novel written in the early 20th century. This mystery centers around the sudden death of Miss Susan Baird, an elderly woman whose demise becomes a subject of intrigue and suspicion. The primary characters include her niece Kitty Baird and Major Leigh Wallace, who are entangled in the complexities of family dynamics and potential motives surrounding her death. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Miss Susan Baird and her niece Kitty as tensions arise over Kitty's romantic entanglements. The narrative quickly escalates when Miss Baird is found dead in their home, leading to an investigation that suggests foul play may be involved, despite initial theories of suicide. As the story unfolds, characters such as Dr. Leonard McLean and Inspector Mitchell are drawn into the mystery, seeking to unravel the web of secrets surrounding the Baird household while also considering the dynamics of Kitty's relationships with the men in her life.