The Little Steel Coils
A young woman named Ruth Vincent is found dead in her home, with a strange symbol carved into her forehead. The investigation reveals that she was killed by a rare and exotic poison, which leads the detective to suspect a sinister plot. As he delves deeper into the case, he discovers that Ruth was not who she seemed to be, and that her death is connected to a larger conspiracy involving powerful corporations and criminal underworld figures. The story unfolds through a series of twists and turns, as the detective races against time to uncover the truth behind Ruth's murder and bring the perpetrators to justice.
By Anna Katharine Green · First published 1907 · Genre: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Thriller · 2 chapters · 9,118 words
First lines
I looked up and was at once impressed by the grace and beauty of the person thus introduced to me.
"Is there anything I can do to serve you?" I asked, rising.
What this Textopian page supports
The Little Steel Coils is listed on Textopian as a short story by Anna Katharine Green, dated 1907 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: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Mystery, Detective Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction
- Length: 9,118 words
- Structure: 2 chapters, 157 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Little Steel Coils 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 Little Steel Coils?
- How does this short story by Anna Katharine Green fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Mystery first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- The Thief by Anna Katharine Green
- A Mysterious Case by Anna Katharine Green
- A Detective Story by Anna Katharine Green
- The Hermit Of Street by Anna Katharine Green
- The Ruby And The Caldron by Anna Katharine Green
- The Staircase At Hearts Delight by Anna Katharine Green
Genres
- Mystery — The novel revolves around a mysterious event featuring a small steel coil that's tightly linked to a murder case. The reader must unravel the various clues and signs left in the book to uncover the truth.
- Detective Fiction — Detective Gryce is the protagonist of this piece, and the narrative follows his logical and systematic investigation of a murder case, consistent with the detective fiction genre.
- Thriller — Tension and suspense are heavily employed throughout the plot, keeping readers on the edge of their seats as Detective Gryce unravels the murder mystery.
- Historical Fiction — The novel was written in 1899 and provides a detailed depiction of life and societal norms during that time period, thus fitting as well under the historical fiction genre.
Tags
mystery · thriller · detective · crime · suspense · whodunit · investigation · clues · red herrings · plot twist · sleuth · detective work