Many of the leading writers of crime fiction are women - Agatha Christie, Ruth Rendell et al - but it still comes as a surprise to many that the first full-length detective novel was by one Metta Fuller whose The Dead Letter, under the alias Seeley Regester, appeared as far back as 1866, predating Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone by two years. In fact. women writers were instrumental in developing the new genre of detective fiction. This anthology selects stories from the late Victorian and E...

The Dead Letter (1866), authored by Metta Victoria Fuller Victor under the pseudonym Seeley Regester, is a seminal work in the history of American detective fiction. The story begins with Richard Redfield, a young clerk working in the Dead Letter Office, who opens an unclaimed letter. The contents of this missive lead him to believe that the message holds the key to a mysterious and brutal murder that occurred two years earlier. As Redfield delves deeper into the investigation, the novel u...

'The Dead Letter' follows the brutal murder of Henry Moreland as he waits to board a New York train on the way to see his fiancé. He is fatally stabbed in the neck and his body isn't found until the next morning. Suspicions fall to his protege, Richard Redfield, who hires a detective to clear his name.A classic whodunit, 'The Dead Letter' is full of charming characters and could have easily been made into a series. Readers who enjoy classic detective stories like 'The Adventures of...

Before Raymond Chandler, before Dorothy Sayers or Agatha Christie, there was Metta Fuller Victor, the first American author—man or woman—of a full-length detective novel. This novel, The Dead Letter, is presented here along with another of Victor’s mysteries, The Figure Eight. Both written in the 1860s and published under the name Seeley Regester, these novels show how—by combining conventions of the mystery form first developed by Edgar Allan Poe with those of the domest...

"Alice Wilde: The Raftsman's Daughter. A Forest Romance" is a captivating tale set in the wilderness, combining elements of romance, adventure, and frontier life. The story centers around Alice Wilde, the daughter of a raftsman, who lives in the forested regions of America.Alice is a strong and independent young woman, accustomed to the rugged life of the frontier. Her beauty, intelligence, and resourcefulness make her a beloved figure in her community. The plot thickens when a series of e...

That ar' log bobs 'round like the old sea-sarpint, muttered Ben Perkins to himself, leaning forward with his pole-hook and trying to fish it, without getting himself too deep in the water. "Blast the thing! I can't tackle it no how;" and he waded in deeper, climbed on to a floating log, and endeavored again to catch the one which so provokingly evaded him. Ben was a "hand" employed in David Wilde's saw-mill, a few rods farther up the creek, a young fellow not without claims to admiration a...

The novel is an early example of the American detective genre and combines elements of romance and mystery. The plot centers around a mysterious letter that becomes the focal point of the story. The letter, which is central to the unfolding drama, leads to various revelations and conflicts among the characters.The story follows the protagonist as he investigates the origins and significance of the letter, uncovering hidden secrets and solving puzzles along the way. The romance aspect inter...

I have been, am now, and shall always be, a bashful man. I have been told that I am the only bashful man in the world. How that is I can not say, but should not be sorry to believe that it is so, for I am of too generous a nature to desire any other mortal to suffer the mishaps which have come to me from this distressing complaint. A person can have smallpox, scarlet fever, and measles but once each. He can even become so inoculated with the poison of bees and mosquitoes as to make their s...

The story is set against the backdrop of the Gold Rush era in California during the mid-19th century. It follows the adventures of Nat Wolfe, the protagonist, as he becomes involved in the pursuit of gold in the rugged and dangerous setting of the goldfields. The narrative likely revolves around Wolfe's experiences, challenges, and encounters with other gold hunters, capturing the excitement, risks, and allure of the Gold Rush.Metta Victoria Fuller Victor was a prolific writer during her t...

In "The Blunders of a Bashful Man," Victor likely explores the comedic misadventures and romantic entanglements of the protagonist, a bashful and awkward man. The narrative may follow his attempts to navigate social situations, overcome his shyness, and pursue love and happiness despite numerous obstacles and mishaps.Metta Victoria Fuller Victor's writing style in "The Blunders of a Bashful Man" is likely characterized by its humor, wit, and sympathetic portrayal of human foibles and vulne...

I paused suddenly in my work. Over a year’s experience in the Dead Letter office had given a mechanical rapidity to my movements in opening, noting and classifying the contents of the bundles before me; and, so far from there being any thing exciting to the curiosity, or interesting to the mind, in the employment, it was of the most monotonous character. Young ladies whose love letters have gone astray, evil men whose plans have been confided in writing to their confederates, may feel but ...

In this novel, the protagonist, a "bad boy" character, attempts to reform his behavior and pursue a career as an editor. The story likely follows his experiences and challenges as he strives to overcome obstacles, learn valuable life lessons, and ultimately achieve his goal of becoming an editor.Metta Victoria Fuller Victor, also known as Metta Victoria Fuller, was a prolific American author known for her works of fiction, particularly in the genres of mystery, romance, and domestic realis...