"The Woman with One Hand, and Mr. Ely's Engagement" by Richard Marsh is a late 19th-century story of James Southam, an individual struggling with misfortune, who responds to a strange newspaper advertisement. His decisions lead to mystery and intrigue, especially when a murder occurs at his hotel. The plot thickens with the introduction of Mrs. Barnes, who is dealing with her missing husband and an odd link to the murder victim, Duncan Rothwell. As Southam attempts to discover the truth, he finds himself in danger and struggles with deception, where dark secrets slowly reveal a complex plot connecting the characters' lives in surprising ways.

The Woman with One Hand, and Mr. Ely's Engagement
By Richard Marsh
Entangled in murder and mystery, a desperate man chases an elusive advertisement, unaware that he's about to uncover secrets that could cost him everything.
Summary
About the AuthorRichard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".
Richard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".