Mary Roberts Rinehart's The Circular Staircase kicks off when Rachel Innes, a sensible middle-aged woman, rents a grand country house called Sunnyside for the summer. She brings along her niece and nephew, expecting a season of peace. That peace shatters the very first night when a gunshot rings out. Rachel finds a dead stranger sprawled at the bottom of the home's distinctive circular staircase.

The Story

From that moment, Sunnyside becomes a fortress of fear and secrets. More strange events follow: mysterious figures lurk in the shadows, someone is definitely using the house's hidden passages, and a large sum of money has vanished from the local bank. Rachel, armed with nothing but her sharp mind and a deep distrust of the melodramatic, takes charge. She's not waiting for the police to sort it out. She questions the odd collection of houseguests and staff, tries to shield her impulsive niece Gertrude and nephew Halsey from danger, and slowly pieces together a puzzle involving fraud, hidden identities, and long-buried family secrets. Every answer she finds seems to lead to two more questions, and the danger creeps closer to home.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a delight because of Rachel. She's hilarious and totally relatable. She's scared out of her wits but too stubborn and too responsible to run away. Her narration is full of dry, witty observations about the chaos around her. Rinehart perfected the 'Had-I-But-Known' style here—where the narrator hints at future disaster—but it feels less like a cheap trick and more like you're listening to a clever friend tell a wild story about the worst vacation ever. The atmosphere is wonderfully spooky (the circular staircase itself is almost a character), and the plot has enough twists to keep you guessing.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves the cozy feeling of a classic mystery but wants a heroine with real grit. If you enjoy Agatha Christie's closed-circle plots or the gothic vibe of Daphne du Maurier, but with a good dose of humor, this is your next great read. It's the granddaddy of the 'old dark house' genre, and it's still a cracking good tale over a century later. Just maybe don't read it alone in a creaky house at night.