E-text prepared by Sankar Viswanathan, Suzanne Shell, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team
"Ravensdene Court" by J. S. Fletcher is a mystery novel written in the early 20th century. The story unfolds as the protagonist, Leonard Middlebrook, receives an invitation to Ravensdene Court, an old manor house in Northumberland, to evaluate a vast collection of antiquarian books. Upon arrival, he encounters a chilling mystery involving the murder of Salter Quick, a seafaring man, setting the tone for a tale filled with secrets and intrigue. At the start of the narrative, Middlebrook embarks on a journey to Ravensdene Court and receives a letter from Francis Raven, the new owner, inviting him to explore the extensive library left behind by Raven's uncle. As he walks along the dramatic Northumbrian coastline, he meets Salter Quick, who is searching for gravestones of his ancestors. Shortly after their conversation, Middlebrook discovers Quick's lifeless body on the beach, revealing the gruesome act of murder. The discovery raises questions about the connections between Quick and another man also seeking the same family name—Netherfield. This opening sets the stage for a layered mystery as Middlebrook becomes entangled in the search for answers surrounding the crimes linked to the past and the secrets of Ravensdene Court. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading ease score: 79.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
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