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.