Subject
Wills -- Fiction Books
Best books
Agatha Christie
The Missing Will
"The Missing Will" by Agatha Christie is a short detective story featuring the famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, written during the early 20th century. The narrative explores themes of intellect and determination as it follows Poirot as he investigates the unusual terms of a will left by a wealthy uncle to his niece. The story presents a delightful puzzle infused with Christie's trademark wit and clever plotting. In this tale, Poirot is approached by Miss Violet Marsh, the niece of the late Andrew Marsh, who challenges her intellect with a will that promises her inheritance only if she can outsmart him within a year. Following her uncle's death, Poirot and his friend Hastings visit Crabtree Manor to uncover the hidden second will or a concealed sum of money, believing that the deceased uncle, known for his intelligence, has devised a clever test for his niece. As they navigate the quaint manor and gather clues, they encounter various obstacles and red herrings. Ultimately, Poirot reveals the true will, which had been cleverly hidden in plain sight, proving that intelligence and reason, rather than mere educational qualifications, are the keys to success.
Edgar Wallace
Angel Esquire
"Angel Esquire" by Edgar Wallace is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around Angel Esquire, an unorthodox officer at Scotland Yard, who is embroiled in a complex investigation involving a hidden fortune, a cryptic verse, and a series of nefarious characters, including the cunning Jimmy Stannard and the dubious Patrick Connor. The plot combines elements of intrigue, suspense, and crime as these characters navigate their way through a web of deception and greed. The opening of the novel introduces the reader to the concept of a great safe that contains the fortune of the deceased gambler, Old Reale. It details the reading of Old Reale’s will, revealing that several characters, including Jimmy Stannard and members of the notorious "Borough Lot" gang, are in pursuit of his wealth, the secret of which lies within a doggerel verse acting as a cryptogram. Tensions rise as various characters, driven by their ambitions, prepare to outsmart one another, setting the stage for a thrilling and unpredictable tale filled with twists and turns.
Albert Payson Terhune
The Amateur Inn
"The Amateur Inn" by Albert Payson Terhune is a novel written in the early 20th century. It centers around the character Thaxton Vail, who inherits a vast estate from his great-uncle along with the peculiar stipulation that he maintain certain rooms for guests, turning his residence into a makeshift inn. The narrative unfolds in the picturesque setting of Aura Valley in the Berkshires, capturing the tensions between new wealth and traditional values. At the start of the story, we are introduced to Thaxton Vail and the legacy left by his great-uncle Osmun Vail, which includes the bizarre requirement to accommodate travelers. Having just returned from the war, Thaxton is quickly thrown into the chaos of running Vailholme as improvised lodging, struggling to balance his own desires with the expectations placed upon him. Various characters enter his life, including a distasteful couple hoping to exploit the inn's offerings and old friends with whom he navigates the relationships and rivalries inherent in their social strata. The opening sets a tone of humor tinged with tension, indicative of the conflicts that are likely to unfold as Thaxton faces both his duties and his uninvited guests.
Otis Adelbert Kline
The radio ghost
"The Radio Ghost" by Otis Adelbert Kline is a thrilling scientific fiction novel written during the early 20th century. The book explores the intriguing intersection of radio technology and the supernatural, as it delves into the themes of psychic phenomena, ghostly apparitions, and a mysterious inheritance. Through its imaginative narrative, the story educates readers on actual radio principles while crafting a gripping tale of suspense and mystery. The plot centers around a young woman named Greta Van Loan, who, after the death of her uncle, grapples with eerie disturbances in his Highland Park home. She enlists the help of Dr. Dorp and his colleague, Mr. Evans, as they investigate strange occurrences, including ghostly manifestations and inexplicable phenomena such as moving objects and icy breezes. As the investigation unfolds, they uncover a nefarious plot orchestrated by her cousin, Ernest Hegel, who uses advanced radio technology to manipulate the environment and create the illusion of ghostly hauntings. The novel culminates in a dramatic confrontation that unravels the mystery and reveals the truth behind the haunting—a tale that intertwines science and the supernatural in a captivating narrative.
W. C. (Wilbur C.) Tuttle
The trail of deception
"The trail of deception" by W. C. Tuttle is a Western novel written in the early 20th century. It follows Jim Bailey, a down-on-his-luck city bookkeeper who assumes the identity of “Jim Meade” to claim the Lazy H ranch in Arizona at the urging of a scheming lawyer, Ed McLean, drawing him into rustling, murder, and small-town suspicion while Mary Deal and the mysterious cowhand Skeeter Smith complicate his path. The opening of this novel shows Bailey declared dead after his roommate dies wearing Bailey’s suit and watch, prompting Bailey to take a letter meant for the roommate and travel to Pinnacle City under the alias “Jim Meade.” There he learns a new will leaves the Lazy H to a nephew named Jim Meade, not to Mary Deal who was raised by the deceased rancher; the banker is wary, the townspeople resent him, and three drunken allies of Mary bungle a prank-turned-threat. After a fatal bank shooting removes the skeptical banker, McLean installs Bailey at the ranch, where Bailey’s painful attempts to become a cowhand lead him to stumble upon covert branding; rustlers kill his horse and he barely escapes, rescued by Skeeter, who later pressures McLean and hints at knowing the real Meade. Tensions spike when Bailey punches McLean in town, and the section ends with Tellurium and Archibald plotting a holdup as masked men enter McLean’s office, tightening the knot of conspiracy and danger.
Mary Jane Holmes
Rena's experiment
"Rena's Experiment" by Mary J. Holmes is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around Rena, along with her cousin Irene Burdick, as they travel to Oakfield for the summer, entangled in a peculiar inheritance arrangement involving marriage due to a quirky will left by Sandy McPherson. The narrative unfolds as Rena grapples with her feelings about the charmed well reputed to reveal one's future partner, while also navigating her relationship with her charming but proud cousin and potential suitors. The beginning of the novel introduces the characters and setting with a lively, rich backdrop of rural New England. We meet Rena and Irene, who are preparing to stay at Mrs. Parks' boarding house, and learn about the local folklore regarding Nannie's Well, which supposedly holds the key to one's future love. Sam Walker, who becomes an important figure in the unfolding story, adds a layer of local charm. The opening hints at a deepening romantic subplot involving the cousins and their interactions with the wealthy Reginald Travers, while also foreshadowing the complexities of relationships influenced by unexpected circumstances and the legacies of past generations.
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