One of the most popular American crime writers of the 20th century, Mabel Seeley was known as The Mistress of Mystery. Critically acclaimed titles like The Listening House (1938), The Crying Sisters (1939), and the Mystery of the Year awarded The Chuckling Fingers (1941) have placed her stories and characters alongside those of Agatha Christie, Dorthy Sayers, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Amongst her many accolades and awards, Seeley was most proud of her service as the first director of the Mystery Writers of America. Born on March 25, 1903 in Herman, Minnesota, Mabel Seeley is best known for crime novels featuring female detectives who defied the stereotypes of the time as self-reliant and strong-willed Midwestern heroines.
Praise for The Listening House What a find! I'm so happy to have discovered Mabel Seeley. You will love her feisty heroine and the delightful cast of characters who live in the mysterious Listening House. I changed my mind a dozen times about who I thought the killer was, but I was wrong every time! --Victoria Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of Murder on Wall Street Like her tenacious heroine, Seeley's writing showcases intelligence and a razor-sharp wit. This exceptional reissue is certain to win Seeley a whole new generation of fans.--Publishers Weekly (starred review) Miss Seeley is to be welcomed as a very promising author of detective fiction.--Times Literary Supplement Miss Seeley, with a good story to tell, ingenious plot and counter-plot, character diverse and clearly seen, lifts her book into the first class.--Observer Blood-curdling . . . especially good.--Saturday Review of Literature The Crime Club have discovered a genius in Mabel Seeley. The author's style is unusual: she tells her story in natural everyday language, but she puts it 'right over'--and what a climax!--Manchester Evening News So packed with weird thrills that it grips from first page to last . . . should take its place as one of the best thrillers of the season.--National Newsagent