MISSING: Page Thirteen

by Anna Katharine Green

Anna Katherine Green was a well-known American poet and novelist who counted herself among the first authors of detective fiction on the New Continent. Her masterful ability of creating seemingly unsolvable mysteries and keeping her readers entranced in a story dominated by clever, diverse and highly complex characters, Green was able to shine through her short but remarkably intense novels, Missing Page Thirteen being one of her most notable works.

The story revolves around a brave, young and quite petite female detective known by the name of Violet Strange. As she is summoned to solve the mystery of a page gone missing from a very important document, her insight and deduction skills become essential to the lives of several individuals who add color and dimension to Green's story. They are the chemical scientist, the bride and groom and the eccentric misanthrope. Will the brilliant young detective be able to solve this unusual mystery, and what other unknowns will she be able to uncover during her investigations?

This is one of the most enticing and thrilling stories Green has written. Nicknamed the mother of modern detective fiction, she carefully and intricately weaves every facet of the story into a whole fabric that unfolds quite brilliantly toward the end. Always one step ahead of us. Green opens up a world of mystery and deduction that very few other authors were able to create.

Even though the novel is quite short, and is closer to a short story than a novella, it packs quite a considerable amount of intrigue and action, offering readers a fair dose of 19th century social and deeply rooted psychological interactions to go with it.

With intelligent remarks and conversation, a serpentine plot that will always keep you at the edge of your seat and Green's elegant, inviting style, you can prepare yourself for a story that will definitely not disappoint, offering an exceptional overall reading experience, despite its age.

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Short Stories, Horror, Classics

Kindle Edition

First published December 24, 2009

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

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

[Kristi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun story of a brave lady and the discovery she makes solving a mystery.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listen to this, ok. May try another one by her.

[Ramona Honan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clever book but two questions: 1) why?? - in that what happened in the secret room; and 2) what happened to the gold matchbox.

[MH · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, it was a quick read and very well written. I would definitely read more of this author's work.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 3 out of 5]

A page from an important document is lost as it slips into a locked-up room, and after being found, a tale regarding the room's history is revealed...

[Carrie Campbell-jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. She held my interest to the end. Short and sweet!

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining mystery listening

I listened to this as part of the Victorian Mystery Megapack. A very interesting short story mystery with a quick ending.

I would recommend to readers looking for a quick read or listen. 2023

[Naomi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The bit about the duel was embarrassingly bad. What an idiotic plot.

[MarilynLovesNature · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure what to think. I liked the young woman detective (she has been in other mysteries I've enjoyed. It was certainly a bit creepy.

[Katherine Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a plot twist!

[JoAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun mystery.

[Marielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pussig liten historie som endte snålt.