Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1837?1915), Victorian England?s bestselling woman writer, blends Dickensian humor with chilling suspense in this ?exuberantly campy? (Kirkus Reviews) mystery. The novel features Jabez North, a manipulative orphan who becomes a ruthless killer; Valerie de Cevennes, a stunning heiress who falls into North?s diabolical trap; and Mr. Peters, a mute detective who communicates his brilliant reasoning through sign language. This edition includes a critical Afterword and endnotes by Victorian scholar Dr. Chris Willis.