The Heath Hover Mystery

by Bertram Mitford

"The Heath Hover Mystery" by Bertram Mitford is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around John Seward Mervyn, a skeptical cynic who takes up residence in a supposedly haunted house known as Heath Hover, where strange phenomena are rumored to occur. As he spends a midnight hour alone, Mervyn grapples with eerie occurrences that lead him to confront his beliefs about the supernatural. The opening of the book introduces Mervyn sitting in the dimly lit living room of Heath Hover at the stroke of midnight. A massive door in the corner catches his attention, as he observes its handle seemingly turning on its own despite being securely locked. The atmosphere grows increasingly tense with shadows and sounds, leading Mervyn to feel a chilling, supernatural presence. Just as he wrestles with his skepticism, a faint cry for help from outside disrupts his thoughts, pushing him to brace himself for a rescue mission, which ultimately leads to the discovery of a man frozen in the ice of a nearby pond. This dramatic twist sets the stage for a blend of mystery and potential horror, as Mervyn is faced with profound dilemmas linked to his encounter with the unknown.