The Ruby and the Caldron

by Anna Katharine Green

Originally published 1905

Genres: Mystery

Unknown Binding

About the author

Anna Katharine Green (1846-1935) was an American poet and novelist. She was one of the first writers of detective fiction in America and distinguished herself by writing well plotted, legally accurate stories. Born in Brooklyn, New York, her early ambition was to write romantic verse, and she corresponded with Ralph Waldo Emerson. When her poetry failed to gain recognition, she produced her first and best known novel, The Leavenworth Case (1878). She became a bestselling author, eventually publishing about 40 books. She was in some ways a progressive woman for her time-succeeding in a genre dominated by male writers-but she did not approve of many of her feminist contemporaries, and she was opposed to women's suffrage. Her other works include A Strange Disappearance (1880), The Affair Next Door (1897), The Circular Study (1902), The Filigree Ball (1903), The Millionaire Baby (1905), The House in the Mist (1905), The Woman in the Alcove (1906), The House of the Whispering Pines (1910), Initials Only (1912), and The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow (1917).

Reviews

[Tweety · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2

What a clever little mystery!

This is just a light, sweet, mystery with nothing spectacular about it other than some clever thinking on the part of the Detective.

At the Evergreens' ball the Senator's wife loses her priceless ruby and there seems to be only one person who could have done it. How to discover who took it without a big scandal and smearing of innocent reputations, is left up to the Detective. The ending may surprise you, it surprised me yet I think it shouldn't have.

G perfectly clean.

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really short story, a pleasant little mystery with a cute solution and a sweet little back story for the girl that's the main suspect. I downloaded "The House in the Mist" from Project Gutenberg, and this story was one of three included in the text.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

it could've been longer with more character development and plot but that aside, it was a great read. even though I listened to it.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.45 stars - rated pg - Nice, very short, little mystery of a missing jewel. No murder. Nothing scary. The twist at the end suited this sweet, plain tale. (One sentence showed the time period in which this was written by referring to the waiters as "colored". But if I remember correctly, that was the only objectionable bit.)

This story was one of three short stories included in the free Kindle ebook The House in the Mist. (I believe it's the same that is offered for free on Project Gutenberg.) Each story is perhaps 40 pages long?

[Lori Killion · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent short mystery with an enjoyable ending I did not expect. I'm appreciative of it as I wasn't as drawn into the story or characters as I usually am, probably because the story's length didn't really allow for it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While at the Evergreens' ball, a Senator's wife loses her ruby. Evidence all seems to point to one person but the police have one hour to find the ruby, and without any scandal attached to the event.
A pleasing little mystery, first published in 1905

[Tam May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this story which was much more a mystery and less gothic than some of Green's other stories. The HAE ending was a bit too neat and clean for me but otherwise, a nice short read.

[Kathryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

A light and ultimately comical/romantic mystery. As the title gives away, it deals with the theft of a ruby, and there’s a scene where everyone gathers around a cauldron with, and I quote, “the excitement of watching the water ladled out.” It’s a little more exciting than that line would suggest, but not much. The challenge for the detective is to solve the mystery at a grand ball in just one hour’s time and to not overly ruffle the gentle guests to avoid creating a scandal. Interestingly, an event is staged by the detective so that the suspected criminal can surreptitiously undo their crime (which you’ll never get in a murder mystery, obviously).

Title in Spanish: No Spanish translation