The Gray Phantom

"The Gray Phantom" by Herman Landon is an early 20th-century crime mystery set in the dramatic world of theater, where a performance at the Thelma Theater turns deadly. A young playwright named Helen Hardwick finds herself caught in the middle of chaos when a famous actress dies mysteriously on stage, uttering the name "Mr. Shei" before collapsing in laughter. The eerie incident occurs during the climax of Helen's own play and involves a puzzling hush that falls over the audience. Helen, watching from her box, grows increasingly intrigued by the suspicious details surrounding Darrow's death, as well as the enigmatic woman at the back of the theater. Drawn into the investigation, Helen must confront her past and also the criminal underworld, as she seeks to uncover the truth behind the Gray Phantom.