Most Popular Books by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876 - September 22, 1958) was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie, although her first mystery novel was published 14 years before Christie''s first novel in 1920. Rinehart is considered the source of the phrase "The butler did it" from her novel The Door (1930), although the novel does not use the exact phrase. Rinehart is also considered to have invented the "Had-I-But-Known" school of mystery writing, with the publication of The Circular Staircase (1908). (wikipedia.org) Mary Roberts graduated from the Pittsburgh Training School for Nurses in 1896. That same year she married physician Stanley M. Rinehart. She and her husband started a family, and she took up writing in 1903 as a result of difficulties created by financial losses. Her first story appeared in Munsey''s Magazine in 1903. The Circular Staircase (1908), her first book and first mystery, was an immediate success, and the following year The Man in Lower Ten, which had been serialized earlier, reinforced her popular success. Thereafter she wrote steadily, averaging about a book a year. A long series of comic tales about the redoubtable "Tish" (Letitia Carberry) appeared as serials in the Saturday Evening Post over a number of years and as a series of novels beginning with The Amazing Adventures of Letitia Carberry (1911). Rinehart served as a war correspondent during World War I and later described her experiences in several books, notably Kings, Queens and Pawns (1915). She produced as well a number of romances and nine plays. Most of the plays were written in collaboration with Avery Hopwood; her greatest successes were Seven Days, produced in New York in 1909, and The Bat, derived from The Circular Staircase and produced in 1920. She remained best known, however, as a writer of mysteries, and the growing popularity of that genre after World War II led to frequent republication of her works. Her most memorable tales combined murder, love, ingenuity, and humour in a style that was distinctly her own. Her autobiography, My Story, appeared in 1931 and was revised in 1948. At Rinehart''s death her books had sold more than 10 million copies. (britannica.com)

Welcome to the Essential Novelists book series, were we present to you the best works of remarkable authors. For this book, the literary critic August Nemo has chosen the two most important and meaningful novels of Mary Roberts Rinehart which are The Circular Staircase and The Bat. Rinehart wrote hundreds of short stories, poems, travelogues and articles. While many of her books were best sellers, critics were most appreciative of her murder mysteries. Many of her books and plays were adapted for movies, such as The Bat and The Circular Staircase - both published in this book. Novels selected for this book: - The Circular Staircase; - The Bat. This is one of many books in the series Essential Novelists. If you liked this book, look for the other titles in the series, we are sure you will like some of the authors.

Ghosts, Unexplained Disappearances, Murder? Welcome to Sunnyside! “People that trust themselves a dozen miles from the city, in strange houses, with servants they don''t know, needn''t be surprised if they wake up some morning and find their throats cut.” - Mary Roberts Rinehart, The Circular Staircase Rachel Innes is convinced by her niece and nephew to move outside the city, into a country house for the summer. The first couple of nights in Sunnyside however are troublesome and Rachel needs to figure what is happening. Can she do it? Xist Publishing is a digital-first publisher. Xist Publishing creates books for the touchscreen generation and is dedicated to helping everyone develop a lifetime love of reading, no matter what form it takes

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An infamous thief hides in the countryside—where cunning Cornelia Van Gorder picks up the trail—in a mystery from the #1 New York Times–bestselling author. For months, the city has lived in fear of the Bat. A master criminal hindered by neither scruple nor fear, he has stolen over one million dollars and left at least six men dead. The police are helpless, the newspapers know nothing—even the key figures of the city’s underworld have no clue as to the identity of the Bat. He is a living embodiment of death itself, and he is coming to the countryside. There, he will encounter the only person who can stop him: adventurous sixty-five-year-old spinster Cornelia Van Gorder. Last in a long line of New York society royalty, Cornelia has found old age to be a bore, and is hungry for a bit of adventure. She’s going to find it—in a lonely old country house where every shadow could be the Bat.

Mary Roberts Rinehart (August 12, 1876 - September 22, 1958) was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie, although her first mystery novel was published 14 years before Christie''s first novel in 1920. Rinehart is considered the source of the phrase "The butler did it" from her novel The Door (1930), although the novel does not use the exact phrase. Rinehart is also considered to have invented the "Had-I-But-Known" school of mystery writing, with the publication of The Circular Staircase (1908). (wikipedia.org) Mary Roberts graduated from the Pittsburgh Training School for Nurses in 1896. That same year she married physician Stanley M. Rinehart. She and her husband started a family, and she took up writing in 1903 as a result of difficulties created by financial losses. Her first story appeared in Munsey''s Magazine in 1903. The Circular Staircase (1908), her first book and first mystery, was an immediate success, and the following year The Man in Lower Ten, which had been serialized earlier, reinforced her popular success. Thereafter she wrote steadily, averaging about a book a year. A long series of comic tales about the redoubtable "Tish" (Letitia Carberry) appeared as serials in the Saturday Evening Post over a number of years and as a series of novels beginning with The Amazing Adventures of Letitia Carberry (1911). Rinehart served as a war correspondent during World War I and later described her experiences in several books, notably Kings, Queens and Pawns (1915). She produced as well a number of romances and nine plays. Most of the plays were written in collaboration with Avery Hopwood; her greatest successes were Seven Days, produced in New York in 1909, and The Bat, derived from The Circular Staircase and produced in 1920. She remained best known, however, as a writer of mysteries, and the growing popularity of that genre after World War II led to frequent republication of her works. Her most memorable tales combined murder, love, ingenuity, and humour in a style that was distinctly her own. Her autobiography, My Story, appeared in 1931 and was revised in 1948. At Rinehart''s death her books had sold more than 10 million copies. (britannica.com)

Mary Roberts Rinehart (1876-1958) was a prolific author often called the "American Agatha Christie." According to Dorothy B. Hughes, crime critic and novelist, Rinehart "has been and continues to be" the most important American woman mystery writer.

When a man is murdered in his berth aboard a train, the clues point to three completely different suspects.

Bab, only twenty months younger than her sister, the official debutante, rebels against her treatment by her family. Set during the pre-World War I era, when women''s roles were rapidly changing, Bab determines to assert her independence through this series of misadventures and mysteries. . . . "I am writing all of this as truthfully as I can. I am not defending myself. What I did I was driven to, as any one can see. It takes a real shock to make the average Familey wake up to the fact that the youngest daughter is not the Familey baby at seventeen. All I was doing was furnishing the shock. If things turned out badly, as they did, it was because I rather overdid the thing. That is all. My motives were perfectly ireproachible." - Bab And this Bab feels through all of her hilarious and at times dangerous adventures to prove she is not just a Sub-Deb. Written by that master of mystery and humor, Mary Roberts Rinehart, Bab is a delightful combination of both.

By the bequest of an elder brother, I was left enough money to see me through a small college in Ohio, and to secure me four years in a medical school in the East. Why I chose medicine I hardly know. Possibly the career of a surgeon attracted the adventurous element in me. Perhaps, coming of a family of doctors, I merely followed the line of least resistance. It may be, indirectly but inevitably, that I might be on the yacht Ella on that terrible night of August 12, more than a year ago

A missing person sets off the action in this classic whodunit from the bestselling mystery writer known as the American Agatha Christie. In The Window at the White Cat, bumbling lawyer Jack Knox agrees to help a beautiful young woman find her missing father. But when the politician is found dead at a backstreet social club serving up beers and illegal favors, and Jack’s aunt disappears, it looks like the daughter’s fiancé may be guilty of more than winning her heart. A #1 New York Times–bestselling author with ten million books in print, Mary Roberts Rinehart crafted a career out of writing mysteries that set the stage for generations of writers to come. “[Rinehart’s] literary distinction lies in the combination of love, humor and murder that she wove into her tales. . . . She helped the mystery story grow up.”—The New York Times

This is a story of love, intrigue and adventure in a European court. In this story Mrs. Rinehart combines mystery, heart interest, and excitement of her past successes into a story that will be hailed as the most interesting of all her stories.

The Circular Staircase is a mystery novel by American writer Mary Roberts Rinehart. The story follows dowager Rachel Innes as she thwarts a series of strange crimes at a summer house she has rented with her niece and nephew. The novel was Rinehart''s first bestseller and established her as one of the era''s most popular writers. The story was serialized in All-Story for five issues starting with the November 1907 issue, then published in book form by Bobbs-Merrill in 1908.

In "Haunted Lady," Mary Roberts Rinehart masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, set against the backdrop of an enigmatic mansion steeped in mystery. The novel is characterized by Rinehart''s sharp wit and her ability to blend elements of the Gothic and the detective genre, creating a riveting narrative that immerses readers in a world of hidden secrets and psychological tension. With her adept use of atmospheric descriptions and her knack for crafting complex characters, Rinehart invites readers to explore the fine line between reality and illusion, making them question what truly haunts the titular ''lady.'' Mary Roberts Rinehart, a pioneer in American mystery literature, found her inspiration in the early 20th century, a time marked by rapid changes in societal norms and gender roles. Her background as a nurse and her experiences during World War I lent her a unique perspective on human nature and the complexities of the human psyche. Rinehart''s keen observations and understanding of her contemporary society are reflected in her work, paving the way for future female authors in the genre. "Haunted Lady" is essential reading for fans of mystery and psychological drama alike. Rinehart''s compelling storytelling and richly drawn characters will captivate readers, transporting them into a world where every shadow holds a secret and every door may lead to danger. This novel is not just a tale of suspense; it is a reflection on the nature of fear and the mysteries of the human heart.

In ''The Greatest Works of Mary Roberts Rinehart'', the author delivers a captivating anthology that showcases the distinct blend of mystery, romance, and social commentary for which she is renowned. Rinehart''s literary style is characterized by her sharp wit and keen observations of early 20th-century American society. This collection features some of her most celebrated stories, including iconic characters and plot twists that echo the conventions of her contemporaries while paving the way for future genres such as the cozy mystery. Rinehart''s work not only entertains but also engages with themes of gender roles, class distinctions, and the complexities of human relationships, making it essential reading for those interested in feminist literature and early detective fiction. Mary Roberts Rinehart, often referred to as the "American Agatha Christie," gained prominence in the early 1900s, writing prolifically across various genres. Her experiences as a nurse during World War I and her keen observational skills informed her narrative style, enabling her to create psychologically rich characters and intricate plots. Rinehart''s ability to merge suspense with daily life resonated with audiences, leading to her status as one of the highest-paid female authors of her time. Readers seeking to delve into the foundations of mystery and detective fiction should not miss this anthology. Rinehart''s engaging storytelling, combined with her mastery of suspense, makes her works timeless treasures. ''The Greatest Works of Mary Roberts Rinehart'' offers both nostalgia and intrigue, ensuring an enjoyable experience for audiences new to her work as well as longtime fans.

The Bat is a three-act play by Mary Roberts Rinehart that was first produced by Lincoln Wagenhals and Collin Kemper in 1920. The story combines elements of mystery and comedy as Cornelia Van Gorder and guests spend a stormy night at her rented summer home, searching for stolen money they believe is hidden in the house, while they are stalked by a masked criminal known as "the Bat". The Bat''s identity is revealed at the end of the final act.

A blood-stained rope and towel, and a missing tenant, convince Mrs. Pittman that a murder has been committed in her boarding house. But without a body, the police say there is no case. Now, it''s up to Mrs. Pittman to ferret out the killer. For as the landlady, she has the perfect excuse to do a little snooping--and the key to Jennie''s apartment.

The Man in Lower Ten is the first book ever written by Mary Roberts Rinehart, arguably the greatest American mystery writer of her generation. Vividly imagined, it combines adventure, suspense, horror, and mystery at breakneck speed.

The imaginary story of the adventures of a soldier in the A.E.F. just previous to leaving the United States.

McKnight is gradually taking over the criminal end of the business. I never liked it, and since the strange case of the man in lower ten, I have been a bit squeamish. Given a case like that, where you can build up a network of clues that absolutely incriminate three entirely different people, only one of whom can be guilty, and your faith in circumstantial evidence dies of overcrowding. I never see a shivering, white-faced wretch in the prisoners'' dock that I do not hark back with shuddering horror to the strange events on the Pullman car Ontario, between Washington and Pittsburg, on the night of September ninth, last. McKnight could tell the story a great deal better than I, although he can not spell three consecutive words correctly. But, while he has imagination and humor, he is lazy. "It didn''t happen to me, anyhow," he protested, when I put it up to him. "And nobody cares for second-hand thrills. Besides, you want the unvarnished and ungarnished truth, and I''m no hand for that. I''m a lawyer." So am I, although there have been times when my assumption in that particular has been disputed. I am unmarried, and just old enough to dance with the grown-up little sisters of the girls I used to know. I am fond of outdoors, prefer horses to the aforesaid grown-up little sisters, am without sentiment (am crossed out and was substituted.-Ed.) and completely ruled and frequently routed by my housekeeper, an elderly widow.

The summer occupants of "Sunnyside" find the dead body of Arnold Armstrong, the son of the owner, on the circular staircase. Following the murder a bank failure is announced. Around these two events is woven a plot of absorbing interest.

The Circular Staircase is a mystery novel by American writer Mary Roberts Rinehart. The story follows dowager Rachel Innes as she thwarts a series of strange crimes at a summer house she has rented with her niece and nephew.

The Man in Lower Ten is the first book ever written by Mary Roberts Rinehart, arguably the greatest American mystery writer of her generation. Vividly imagined, it combines adventure, suspense, horror, and mystery at breakneck speed.