The Master of the Priory

Jack Winter is an abusive man who exploits and beats women. One night, after a quarrel with a man whose gamekeeper he was, Jack is found dead, shot from his own gun. Soon after that, Jack's widow runs away, catching a train, and disappears, becoming the main suspect. While the police unsuccessfully investigate the murder and search for a suspect, a mysterious woman appears at the Davenant Priory. Weak sighted Sir Oswald doesn't notice anything suspicious, but there is something strange about Miss Martin and she can't hide the secret forever.

Annie Haynes (1865-1929) was a renowned golden age mystery writer and a contemporary of Agatha Christie, another famous crime writer, which often led to her comparison with the latter. Haynes devised complex plots in her works and combined the style of nineteenth century sensation novels with Golden Age detective fiction. In her work, the emotions of female protagonists and themes of scandal, secrets and romance often took precedence over the detective plot line. Her novels are lauded for their quick-pace action and sustaining aura of suspense till the end.