The Internet Book Database of Fiction

#	Date	Publisher	Binding	Cover
1	1949-04-15	Dodd, Mead

Blurb:: April Haddon, a spoiled, sophisticated girl of 20, returns to her father's home on Long Island, NY, upon his death. There for the first time she meets her stepmother, Florence (Riddel) Haddon, and instantly dislikes her. Her dislike increases when she finds circumstantial evidence indicating her father was murdered. After the funeral, her father's will is read and April discovers his estate is divided equally between them, but she can only inherit if she is 21, -- or (if under the age of majority) she agrees to live under Florence's guardianship until she reaches 21.

The chapters are written in a series of long journal-like entries which April periodically mails to her friend Ellen in California for safe-keeping. In them, she details finding more evidence of her father's murder -- circumstantial evidence yes, but it all points to her stepmother. April tries to enlist the help of the local police, but they disbelieve her. After all, Florence (Riddel) Haddon is a well-respected, well-known member of the community, having worked here all her life as a nurse. The local doctor, when April confides in him, discounts her findings as hysterical delusions. But April believes her suspicions that Florence committed murder for her father's money. And, she begins to think, Florence will murder her too, unless she can stay alive long enough to find someone who will believe her.