The Curved Blades

Carolyn Wells's The Curved Blades is a polished country-house whodunit steeped in danger, suspicion, and hidden motives. After the shocking death of Miss Lucy Carrington, the household becomes a maze of whispered accusations, shifting testimony, and secret resentments, where even respectable appearances conceal crime, burglary, and betrayal. At the center of the investigation stands Fleming Stone, a sharp-eyed detective whose careful deductions turn on vivid clues: the smell of creosote on a makeshift weapon, a maid's startled reaction, a strange paper snake, and the elusive poison aconitine. As Stone reconstructs the murder, he consults Doctor Stanton, interviews the imprisoned Count Charlier, and sorts through a growing list of suspects, including the jealous Mrs. Frothingham and the distrustful Gray Haviland. The elegant period atmosphere heightens the tension, while class prejudice, romantic entanglements, and family secrets complicate every answer. This is a classic mystery in which appearances deceive and every clue matters. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.