The adventuress : A Craig Kennedy detective story by Arthur B. Reeve
"The Adventuress: A Craig Kennedy Detective Story" by Arthur B. Reeve is a detective novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative revolves around Craig Kennedy, a scientist-detective known for his sharp intellect and scientific methods, as he investigates a complex mystery involving the murder of a wealthy munitions magnate, Marshall Maddox. The storyline weaves themes of intrigue, betrayal, and the interplay of personal relationships, particularly focusing on Maddox's estranged wife,
her brother, and a mysterious cabaret dancer named Paquita. The opening of the story introduces an urgent atmosphere with a revolver shot that disrupts the calm of the laboratory, where Kennedy and his friend are engaged in scientific discussions. A distressed man, Maxwell Hastings, bursts in, claiming he was targeted and bearing news about Maddox's recent death after a family conference held on a yacht. As Hastings reveals essential details about family tensions, business stakes concerning a revolutionary invention—the telautomaton—and the personalities involved, it becomes evident that various motives intertwine, hinting at a deeper conspiracy. The tension escalates when Kennedy learns of a missing brief-case containing valuable plans, which raises numerous questions about the family and their potential collusion, setting the stage for a gripping mystery. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Carol Brown, Tim Lindell and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.)
Reading Level
Reading ease score: 82.7 (6th grade). Easy to read.
