This fast-paced psychological thriller, like many of Wilkie Collins' novels, has been instrumental in the development of the detective novel as a distinct literary genre and inspired later writers of crime fiction such as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Moving between the cities of London and Venice, the fates of the adventuress Countess Narona and the woman whose fiance she marries, Agnes Lockwood, become intertwined in a chilling tale of suspense, greed and vengeance. With its gripping plot and brilliantly drawn characters, this 'mystery of modern Venice' is a thrilling story from the master of the Victorian sensation novel.