The three novellas gathered here—Miss or Mrs? (1871), The Haunted Hotel (1878), and The Guilty River (1886)—demonstrate Collins' ability to construct a gripping situation and create an atmosphere of mystery and menace. Fast-paced and psychologically absorbing, all proceed through a series of dramatic scenes to a climax that in one case at least is literally explosive. These stories, varied in setting and tone, demonstrate Collins' plot-making skill at its most succinct and intricate. Featuring excellent critical apparatus, this edition also includes Collins' original prefaces.