The Sword of Damocles (Unabridged‪)‬

The Sword of Damocles by Anna Katharine Green.

Narrated by Kristina Rothe.

The Sword of Damocles is unusual in the output of Anna Katharine Green, being a melodramatic romance rather than a straight crime novel. Although her best-known detective, Ebenezer Gryce, does put in an appearance, his role is almost parenthetical.   

A young man, Bertram Mandeville, confesses to his wealthy uncle Edward Sylvester his desire to abandon a career as a pianist in order to win the heart of a young woman whose father dislikes musicians. This leads Sylvester to review his own life during which he married for money rather than love. Paula, a poor but virtuous young woman, comes to stay with Sylvester and his wife and arouses long-dormant romantic feelings in him.

However, Edward Sylvester has a dark secret that will ruin his life if it comes to light.