My Lady's Money

"My Lady's Money" by Wilkie Collins is a story set in the Victorian era that follows Lady Lydiard, a kind widow, and her adopted daughter, Isabel Miller, as they deal with complicated relationships, social expectations, and the fallout from a puzzling theft. Early in the novel, Lady Lydiard is pondering letters from a poor artist named Mr. Tollmidge, who says he's related to her dead husband. The story then turns to her dog's sudden sickness, which makes her want to help Mr. Tollmidge's family. But when money goes missing from a letter that was supposed to go to the clergyman, some begin to suspect Isabel wasn't being honest. As things get more tense, interesting characters such as Robert Moody and Felix Sweetsir appear, making the mystery deeper and raising moral questions. The beginning of the book creates a scene full of mystery, comments on society, and personal struggles.