Metta Fuller Victor (1831–1885) was a publisher, editor, author, and moral reformer. She is perhaps best known for her abolitionist dime novel Maum Guinea and Her Plantation “Children” (1861). Matching different pseudonyms to different genres, she published popular works for children and adults—including mysteries, Westerns, romances, temperance novels, and rags-to-riches tales. She wrote numerous pieces against slavery, alcohol, and Mormon polygamy.
Catherine Ross Nickerson is Associate Professor of English at Emory University. She is the author of The Web of Iniquity: Early Detective Fiction by American Women, also published by Duke University Press.

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"From the very beginning women writers have been of fundamental importance to the mystery genre and these highly entertaining works by two of the founding 'mothers' of the American mystery novel demonstrate why. Times may have changed since these books were first published, but good reading never goes out of fashion."--Dean James, coauthor of "By a Woman's Hand: A Guide to Mystery Fiction by Women "and manager of Murder by the Book (Houston, Texas)

Résumé
Presents two detective novels. In "The Dead Letter", a young attorney, Richard Redfield relates the events surrounding the murder of Henry Moreland. In "The Figure Eight", Joe Meredith undertakes a series of adventures and disguises to solve the mystery of the murder of his uncle and regain the lost fortune of his angelic cousin whom he loves.

Contenu

Introduction / Catherine Ross Nickerson 1
The Dead Letter: An American Romance 11
The Figure Eight; or, The Mystery of Meredith Place 209