The Dead Alive

Description

The Dead Alive is one of Wilkie Collins’ short gems, and according to the author, it actually was based on a real life case. The mystery story is counted among Collins’ most readable and timeless works, featuring a dynamic plot that will quite literally take your breath away, while completely immersing you into a very realistic depiction of America in the mid-19th century.

Wilkie Collins was an accomplished author and one of the leading writers of Victorian mystery fiction. While his health prevented him from achieving true greatness in the later years of his life, he was still responsible for outstanding novels such as The Woman in White, No Name, and The Moonstone – the latter being his crowning achievement, considered to this day to be the first true British detective novel.

Even though The Dead Alive takes place in the United States, its plot and characters are remarkably characteristic to Collins’ style. The book tells the tale of an Englishman who ends up working much too hard, and is forced to take a leave of absence for health reasons. As he decides to visit some of his distant relatives in America, he soon realizes that the farm in Vermont is the last place he can expect to get some genuine peace and quiet.

With two brothers accused of a murder, and he and one of the brothers’ fiancée being the only ones who can clear their names, a thrilling tale ensues, where nothing is as it seems, and the least plausible explanation for the strange events they are faced with might actually be the key to the whole mystery.

Collins’ story is quite exciting even from a modern perspective. Despite the fact that it’s a classic, the action is fast-paced, and as readers progress through it, even the supernatural cannot be ruled out. If you’re in the mood for an exciting mystery that will keep you on your toes, this is definitely one of the best you can enjoy.
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