The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery

"The Incendiary: A Story of Mystery" by William Augustine Leahy is a mystery set in the late 1800s, introducing Robert Floyd, whose world is thrown into turmoil after a deadly fire consumes his home while also triggering whispers that question his integrity. The book starts with a housemaid, Bertha, alerting everyone to the fire at Professor Arnold's residence, with smoke pouring from the study as frantic firemen battle the blaze, showing just how urgent the issue is. Robert Floyd also faces intense scrutiny when people find out he was inside the house right before the fire, leading to increasing tension. The interplay between loss, suspicion, and the quest for answers shapes the narrative, setting readers up for a story where the characters' true natures are tested under pressure, and the search for truth is complicated by rumors and uncertainty.