"T he Postmaster's Daughter" by Louis Tracy is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story begins with the discovery of a drowned woman, Adelaide Melhuish, whose body is found in the river bordering the estate of John Menzies Grant, a writer and former army officer. The opening establishes a tense atmosphere, hinting at complex relationships, as secrets from the past intertwine with the present, suggesting themes of love, betrayal, and murder. The opening of the book introduces John Menzies Grant as he enjoys a serene morning in his garden, oblivious to the troubling events that will soon unfold. After discovering the body of the drowned woman, he is drawn into a web of suspicion when the police arrive. The narrative hints at his previous connection with the deceased, raising questions about his past relationship with Adelaide and the circumstances leading to her tragic death. Additionally, the presence of Doris Martin, the postmaster's daughter, adds another layer of tension and potential scandal as her involvement with Grant may complicate matters further. The chapter sets the stage for a complex investigation that intertwines personal histories with the broader implications of a crime that disrupts the peace of a small village.John Menzies Grant, having breakfasted, filled his pipe, lit it, and strolled out bare-headed into the garden. The month was June, that glorious rosemonth which gladdened England before war-clouds darkened the summer sky. As the hour was nine o'clock, it is highly probable that many thousands of men were then strolling out into many thousands of gardens in precisely similar conditions; but, given youth, good health, leisure, and a fair amount of money, it is even more probable that few among the smaller number thus roundly favored by fortune looked so perplexed as Grant. Moreover, his actions were eloquent as words. A spacious French window had been cut bodily out of the wall of an old-fashioned room, and was now thrown wide to admit the flower-scented breeze. Between this window and the right-hand angle of the room was a smaller window, square-paned, high above the ground level, and deeply recessed-in fact just the sort of window which one might expect to find in a farm-house built two centuries ago, when light and air were rigorously excluded from interiors. The two windows told the history of The Hollies at a glance. The little one had served the needs of a "best" room for several generations of Sussex yeomen. Then had Read more
