The House of the Whispering Pines

The House of the Whispering Pines by Anna Katharine Green is a mystery novel first published in 1908. The story follows the protagonist, Dr. John Leslie, as he investigates a series of strange occurrences at an old mansion called the "House of the Whispering Pines." The novel is known for its suspenseful plot and atmospheric setting, which adds to the overall sense of mystery and intrigue.

By Anna Katharine Green · First published 1908 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Classic · 36 chapters · 133,043 words

First lines

To have reared a towering scheme Of happiness, and to behold it razed, Were nothing: all men hope, and see their hopes Frustrate, and grieve awhile, and hope anew; But -- "A Blot in the 'Scutcheon."

The moon rode high; but ominous clouds were rushing towards it -- clouds heavy with snow. I watched these clouds as I drove recklessly, desperately, over the winter roads. I had just missed the desire of my life, the one precious treasure which I coveted with my whole undisciplined heart, and not being what you call a man of self-restraint, I was chafed by my defeat far beyond the bounds I have usually set for myself.

What this Textopian page supports

The House of the Whispering Pines is listed on Textopian as a novel by Anna Katharine Green, dated 1908 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novel
• Author: Anna Katharine Green
• Date: 1908 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Classic, Gothic Fiction
• Length: 133,043 words
• Structure: 36 chapters, 2,524 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The House of the Whispering Pines 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 House of the Whispering Pines?
• How does this novel by Anna Katharine Green fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
• Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?

Similar titles

• One Of My Sons by Anna Katharine Green
• The Sword Of Damocles by Anna Katharine Green
• X Y Z by Anna Katharine Green
• The Circular Clew by Ambrose Bierce
• The Mill Mystery by Anna Katharine Green
• The Old Stone House by Anna Katharine Green

Genres

• Mystery — The novel sets up a mysterious murder in an isolated location, which is a center piece of the mystery genre, with protagonists aiming to solve it.
• Detective Fiction — The book incorporates a structured quest for answers, sleuthing, and unraveling of clues typical of the detective fiction genre.
• Classic — Written by Anna Katharine Green, one of the first writers of detective fiction in America, this work has earned acclaim and readership over more than a century, thus making it a part of classic literature.
• Gothic Fiction — The book includes elements of the gothic genre such as the eerie isolated house and the overall gloomy, suspenseful atmosphere.

Tags

mystery · thriller · detective · crime · whodunit · suspense · gothic · horror · supernatural · psychological · literary · classic

Contents

• THE HESITATING STEP
• IT WAS SHE - SHE INDEED!
• "OPEN!"
• THE ODD CANDLESTICK
• A SCRAP OF PAPER
• COMMENTS AND REFLECTIONS
• CLIFTON ACCEPTS MY CASE
• A CHANCE! I TAKE IT
• "WE KNOW OF NO SUCH LETTER"
• "I CAN HELP YOU"
• IN THE COACH HOUSE
• "LILA - LILA!"
• "WHAT WE WANT IS HERE"
• THE MOTIONLESS FIGURE
• HELEN SURPRISES SWEETWATER
• 62 CUTHBERT ROAD
• "MUST I TELL THESE THINGS?"
• ON IT WAS WRITTEN
• "IT'S NOT WHAT YOU WILL FIND"
• "HE OR YOU! THERE IS NO THIRD"
• CARMEL AWAKES
• "BREAK IN THE GLASS!"
• AT TEN INSTEAD OF TWELVE
• ALL THIS STOOD
• "I AM INNOCENT"
• THE SYLLABLE OF DOOM
• EXPECTANCY
• "WHERE IS MY BROTHER?"
• "I REMEMBERED THE ROOM"
• "CHOOSE"
• "WERE HER HANDS CROSSED THEN?"
• AND I HAD SAID NOTHING!
• THE ARROW OF DEATH
• "STEADY!"
• "AS IF IT WERE A MECCA"
• THE SURCHARGED MOMENT

More by Anna Katharine Green

• A Difficult Problem (1900)
• The Staircase at the Heart's Delight (1894)
• The Woman in the Alcove (1902)
• The Filigree Ball (1908)
• The Leavenworth Case (1904)
• Dark Hollow (1898)
• Agatha Webb (1907)
• The Mill Mystery (1908)
• All works by Anna Katharine Green