The Grey Lady
A young woman named Faye Travers is found dead in a locked room in a New York City hotel. The only clue is a small, antique key discovered near the body. The investigation leads to a wealthy businessman, Henry Morland, who had a history of abusing his wife and was known to have a fascination with keys. However, he has an alibi for the time of the murder and there is no direct evidence linking him to the crime. As the detective delves deeper into the case, he uncovers a complex web of relationships and secrets among the hotel's staff and guests, leading him to suspect that the killer may be closer than he thinks.
By Anna Katharine Green · First published 1904 · Genre: Detective Fiction, Mystery, Suspense Fiction · 7,905 words
First lines
Was it a spectre?
For days I could not answer this question. I am no believer in spiritual manifestations, yetBut let me tell my story.
What this Textopian page supports
The Grey Lady is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anna Katharine Green, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Anna Katharine Green
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Detective Fiction, Mystery, Suspense Fiction, Crime Fiction, Classic Fiction
- Length: 7,905 words
- Structure: 1 section, 120 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Grey Lady by Anna Katharine Green
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Grey Lady?
- How does this short story by Anna Katharine Green fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Detective Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Midnight In Beauchamp Row by Anna Katharine Green
- Midnight In Beauchamp Row by Anna Katharine Green
- The Bronze Hand by Anna Katharine Green
- The Case Of The Lever Key by Arthur Morrison
- The Circular Study by Anna Katharine Green
- The Mystery Of The Hasty Arrow by Anna Katharine Green
Genres
- Detective Fiction — The book features a detective, Gryce, solving mysteries and crimes.
- Mystery — The plot involves an obscure crime and its investigation leading to unpredicted revelations.
- Suspense Fiction — There are various unexpected turns and continuous suspense throughout the story.
- Crime Fiction — The central theme of the story revolves around a crime and its subsequent resolution.
Tags
mystery · thriller · detective · crime · suspense · whodunit · victorian · historical · female protagonist · intrigue · clues · red herrings