The Fire Within

A romantic treasure from the beloved author of the Miss Silver Mystery series, "a first-rate storyteller" ( The Daily Telegraph ). A grande dame of British crime, Patricia Wentworth is best known as the creator of Miss Maud Silver, the Tennyson-quoting schoolteacher whose second career as a private detective is just as unlikely as it is thrilling. With a prim, unassuming demeanor that belies her fierce intelligence, Miss Silver is never more formidable than when she's rescuing true love from wanton villainy. Love is an essential ingredient in the Miss Silver Mysteries, and the thread that connects Wentworth's early romances to her world-famous crime series. In this tale of the heart, a passionate young woman and her married sister compete for the affections of a handsome doctor. With a dash of mysticism and a hint of murder, The Fire Within is a compelling love story in its own right and a revealing glimpse into the genesis of the indomitable Miss Silver. Praise for the writing of Patricia Wentworth: "When I pick up a book by Patricia Wentworth I think, now to enjoy myself—and I always do." —Mary Dell, Daily Mirror "Timelessly charming." —Charlotte MacLeod