The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice

"The Haunted Hotel: A Mystery of Modern Venice" by Wilkie Collins is a mystery novel written during the late 19th century. The story centers around Doctor Wybrow, a renowned London physician, who encounters a mysterious lady seeking his help concerning her mental state, while hints of a deeper intrigue involving her unexpected marriage, her troubled past, and the enigmatic circumstances surrounding her fiancé emerge. The beginning of the novel introduces Doctor Wybrow as he reluctantly agrees to see a foreign lady, described with a ghostly pallor and striking black eyes, who fears she may be going mad. She tells the doctor about her impending marriage to a man who was previously engaged to another woman, prompting her to feel a strange, foreboding sense of dread upon meeting that woman. The opening sets a tone of suspense and curiosity, as the doctor grapples with the peculiar nature of his patient while the dark undertones of her narrative unfold, hinting at the supernatural and moral complexities that will likely permeate the story.