The Queen of Hearts

An early innovator in the genre of mystery and detective fiction, Wilkie Collins gained an enormous readership during his lifetime. Though many readers became hooked on his work due to his meticulous plotting and mastery with suspense, critics say that Collins' popularity endured as a result of his incisive social insight and commentary. "The Queen of Hearts" is a masterpiece of Victorian-era detective fiction and a rewarding read for fans of classic mysteries.