The Annam Jewel by Patricia Wentworth

The Annam Jewel by Patricia Wentworth

Thou hast betrayed, and thou hast slain.

What is the mystery shrouding the lovely but sinister Annam stone, stolen from a remote shrine? Every owner of it has suffered an unhappy fate. When Peter Waring, nephew of the original thief, inherited the jewel, it would mean great power and wealth--or so he imagined. His rude awakening leads to a maze of deceit and treachery, a bogus love affair, and a narrowly escaped death. Peter believes the gem is in the hands of the one man in the world he has every reason to hate. A game of cat and mouse is about to ensue, with each man believing the other has what he wants.

The Annam Jewel was originally published in 1924. This new edition features an introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.

When I pick up a book by Patricia Wentworth I think, now to enjoy myself--and I always do. Mary Dell, Daily Mirror

Patricia Wentworth (1878-1961) was a master of the traditional English mystery novel. Dora Amy Elles was born in India, and following the loss of her first husband, she began writing, publishing her first novel in 1910. Miss Maud Silver, the former governess whose heavy figure, liking for Tennyson, and enthusiasm for knitting served to mask a bright brain, was introduced in the 1920s and became her most famous character. Miss Silver is the definitive representation of the English style of cozy mysteries, alongside Agatha Christie's Miss Marple.