A Dead Reckoning

** "A Dead Reckoning" by T. W. Speight is a late 19th-century novel that centers on the life of Clara Brooke and her marriage to Gerald Brooke. The story unfolds with lighthearted moments that quickly turn ominous, especially after gunshots pierce the tranquility. Clara's reflections on relationships with her friends create a somber mood, and the arrival of the Picots stirs even more suspense. Through acts of kindness and escalating secrets, the novel escalates as a murder happens, casting suspicion and uncertainty over Clara's social circle, and pulling the reader into a web of suspense and emotional entanglements. **