Mary Elizabeth Braddon, Victorian England's bestselling woman writer, blends Dickensian humor with chilling suspense in this 'exuberantly campy' (Kirkus Reviews) mystery. The novel features Jabez North, a manipulative orphan who becomes a ruthless killer; Valerie de Cevennes, a stunning heiress who falls into North's diabolical trap; and Mr. Peters, a mute detective who communicates his brilliant reasoning through sign language.