In this first part of her Gothic mystery trilogy, National Book Award–winning author Joyce Carol Oates introduces Xavier Kilgarvan: romantic hero and amateur detective. He must discover who has murdered an innocent babe while it slept in its mother’s arms. This turn-of-the-century tale of monstrous deeds and heart-stopping suspense will leave you eagerly looking for the next Kilgarvan case. (This story is included in Oates' Mysteries of Winterthurn.)