The House in the Mist

A light in the fog draws a hungry young traveler toward a rambling mansion in rural Pennsylvania. Its open doors, candlelit table and warm fire promise comfort, but the welcome comes with an unsettling announcement: supper will be served at nine, and other guests are expected. The traveler waits among old furniture and studies a striking portrait. When two men arrive, their reactions to the picture deepen the uncertainty about the house and the gathering.

Anna Katharine Green builds these mystery tales around close observation, puzzling encounters and details that may matter more than they first appear. Alongside the title story, the volume includes The Ruby and the Caldron and another tale. In the jewel mystery, a student loses a valuable ruby while helping to control a frightened horse outside a party. Readers can follow the careful account of movements, pockets and witnesses, enjoying suspense rooted in the small particulars of a scene.