"Persons Unknown"

"Persons Unknown" by Virginia Tracy is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Bryce Herrick, a struggling writer who becomes entangled in a murder investigation when he witnesses a chilling event through his window. The novel explores themes of deception, love, and the complexities of human relationships against a backdrop of crime and intrigue. The opening of the narrative introduces Herrick during a hot August night, where he is awakened by a dream of his childhood and a mysterious phrase calling him to "Ask Nancy Cornish." As he listens to a magnificent piano performance from an apartment across the street, he is abruptly drawn into a night of chaos when he sees a shadowy figure and hears a gunshot. This incident propels him into a flurry of activity as he attempts to assist the police in unraveling the mystery of the victim, James R. Ingham, whose death becomes the crux of a complex plot involving potential suspects, including the enigmatic actress Christina Hope. As Herrick grapples with the unfolding events, he finds himself torn between his growing fascination with Christina and the haunting circumstances surrounding her connection to the murder.