That Affair Next Door

In "That Affair Next Door," Anna Katharine Green crafts a story rich in suspense and psychological depth. When a shocking murder takes place in a neighboring house, Miss Amelia Butterworth, a spinster with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue, takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. With her keen observations, unyielding determination, and a touch of humor, Miss Butterworth becomes an unlikely detective, challenging the conventional police methods of her time. As the plot thickens, Green presents readers with a complex web of motives, alibis, and secrets, all set against the backdrop of New York society in the late 19th century. More than just a detective story, the novel also offers a keen commentary on the gender norms and social mores of its time, particularly through the character of Miss Butterworth, who defies the expectations placed upon women in her era.