The Curved Blades

"The Curved Blades" by Carolyn Wells is a suspenseful mystery set in a lavish estate called Garden Steps, where the wealthy and strong-willed Lucy Carrington finds herself surrounded by secrets and strained relationships with her cousins and social secretary. The story kicks off with a tense bridge game that shows Lucy's fiery personality and love for beautiful objects, also the dark feelings she has. The atmosphere quickly changes when Lucy makes hints about something bad about to happen. Her fears soon become real when she turns up dead, covered in jewels with a paper snake around her neck. The investigation that follows uncovers conflicting stories, drawing the reader deeper into a complex web of hidden motives.