The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow by Anna Katharine Green is a captivating tale of murder, deceit, and intrigue. Set in a small New England town, the story follows the investigation of a mysterious shooting that leaves a wealthy widow dead and her maid arrested for the crime.

As the town's top detective, Ebenezer Gryce is called in to solve the case, and he quickly becomes entangled in a web of lies and secrets. As he delves deeper into the investigation, Gryce uncovers a shocking conspiracy that reaches far beyond the confines of the town.

Green's writing is both suspenseful and detailed, drawing the reader in with vivid descriptions and well-developed characters. The plot twists and turns keep you guessing until the very end, and the resolution is satisfying and unexpected.

Overall, The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow is a must-read for fans of classic mystery novels. Green's skillful storytelling and clever plotting make this book a timeless classic that will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Book Description:
It is the noon hour at a museum in New York City. The date: May 23, 1913. The weekday, attendance is light; the attendees are scattered between two floors. Suddenly a cry rings out from the second floor. Scrambling to Section II, the museum director discovers a teenage girl dead with an arrow through her heart. An older woman hovers over her whispering incoherent phrases in the girl's ear and offering incomprehensible answers to the director's questions. She is the only witness to the crime, or accident, as the case may be. How will the feeble, 83 year-old Mr. Gryce unravel this mystery when this witness is apparently insane?

Anna Katharine Green was noted for her scientific approach to the murder mystery. In The Mystery of the Hasty Arrow she breaks more ground with her in-depth study of the psychological interplay between the murderer, the victim and the witnesses. Although more quietly paced, this mystery presents many elements of a current psychological thriller: blind ambition, narcissism, obsession and betrayal. Green adds a peculiar twist with the fact that two heartbroken relatives of the victim sacrifice virtually everything to protect the murderer.