A tragedy of love and hate : $b or, a woman's vow

"A Tragedy of Love and Hate: or, A Woman's Vow" by Bertha M. Clay, is a late 19th-century novel driven by love, betrayal, and murder, focusing on the tragic death of Lady Clarice Alden. The story starts with a peaceful summer scene, only to be shattered by the discovery of a woman's body in the river. The prologue shows a beautiful Holme Woods before revealing Lady Clarice's drowning, which is found to be murder. The characters, including her grieving husband, Sir Ronald Alden, and the loyal maid, Mary Thorne, react to her death as the mystery unfolds. The combination of a beautiful yet ominous setting and the revelation of the crime sets a strong base for drama and an exploration of human emotions.