The three strings

In Short

Set against the backdrop of Washington, D.C., during the First World War, this mystery novel centers on a baffling murder discovery. When a dead man is found in the library of a seemingly empty home, the investigation pulls together a cast of socialites, government officials, and foreign agents. The story, which weaves together espionage and domestic drama, relies on the intellectual rigor of chess strategy to resolve its complex, international plot. It remains a notable example of the period’s penchant for tightly plotted, atmospheric, and character-driven detective fiction.

The Story

The narrative opens in late September, as Washington swelters under a heat wave. Evelyn Preston returns to her home to find it closed and stifling. Soon after, a gruesome mystery emerges: a man is discovered dead in the library. Bafflingly, Evelyn insists the room was empty hours prior, and the coroner confirms the man has been dead for at least twelve hours. As the police investigate, suspicion falls on various figures, including the nervous, volatile Peter Burnham, who suspects he is being targeted by his rival, the French officer René La Montagne.

The mystery deepens as it extends beyond the Burnham residence. In a nearby apartment building, residents like Marian Van Ness and the socialite James Palmer find themselves entangled in a web of surveillance. Dan Maynard, a man of mysterious background and sharp intellect, arrives on the scene, ostensibly to assist with a chess problem but clearly operating under a deeper agenda. As the police struggle to identify the victim, tensions rise. Burnham suffers a mysterious attack, and personal alliances—specifically the romantic entanglement between Evelyn and La Montagne—are tested by accusations of sabotage and espionage.

As the investigation progresses, the distinction between a simple murder and international intrigue blurs. It is revealed that chess diagrams are being used to transmit coded messages to Germany, providing a motive for the lethal violence that has plagued the neighborhood. The climax takes place when the various threads of the conspiracy are pulled together in the presence of Chief Connor. Maynard, revealed as an operative for the Intelligence Service, exposes the true nature of the crime. The victim, a man named Von Eltz, had inadvertently poisoned himself with a trap intended for Maynard. Dr. Hayden is unmasked as the primary antagonist, having manipulated Burnham’s psychological state to serve his own ends. With the spy ring dismantled, the personal conflicts are resolved: Evelyn finds her romance with La Montagne, and Maynard and Marian reconcile their fractured relationship, putting the shadows of the war years behind them.

How It Unfolds

The inexplicable discovery Evelyn Preston finds a corpse in her library, leading to a clash with physicians who assert the man has been dead for half a day. This impossibility forces the police and the household to confront the reality of an intruder who entered the house undetected.

The rising tension Peter Burnham experiences a violent incident that he attributes to his rival, René La Montagne, heightening the atmosphere of paranoia. Meanwhile, social gatherings and chess matches serve as fronts for deeper inquiries into the true identities of the people moving through the neighborhood.

The web of suspicion Marian Van Ness and Dan Maynard navigate a difficult dynamic characterized by accusations of espionage and missing documents. The discovery of a decoded message leads to a confrontation that forces characters to choose between their personal loyalties and their national duties.

The final gambit Chief Connor and the investigators corner the suspects, revealing that the murder was a case of accidental suicide within a larger plot of enemy sabotage. The motives of the primary villain are exposed, and the various domestic and international entanglements are brought to a definitive, peaceful conclusion.

The People

Evelyn Preston is the catalyst, a young woman whose return home disrupts the plans of a killer. Her resilience and desire for independence, particularly in her choice of suitor, drive much of the interpersonal conflict.

Peter Burnham, the master of the house, is a man undone by his own insecurities. Consumed by jealousy and manipulated by the deceitful Dr. Hayden, he becomes a paranoid figure who resorts to underhanded tactics to maintain control over his family.

Dan Maynard functions as the intellectual heart of the mystery. An agent of the Intelligence Service, he uses his experience and talent for observation to untangle the ciphered messages hidden within chess problems. His growth involves moving past the skepticism of others, particularly Marian, to prove his true allegiance.

Marian Van Ness is an astute observer who suspects the worst of those around her, including Maynard. Her journey is one of overcoming fear and misplaced suspicion to find clarity and reconciliation.

Dr. Hayden serves as the architect of the chaos. He uses his medical authority to manipulate the mental health and fears of the other characters, standing as a calculated antagonist who is ultimately undone by the very schemes he set in motion.

In Its Own Voice

“Evelyn’s foot came down with a stamp. ‘I used that telephone there, right by the fireplace; do you suppose I could have done so and not become aware that a dead man was sitting by my elbow?’”

Evelyn challenges the coroner’s timeline of the murder, highlighting the central mystery of the house.

“‘While in Switzerland my suspicions were aroused by the great frequency with which chess problems were going and coming from Germany--they have been allowed through the mails from every country since the outbreak of the world war.’”

Maynard explains the international scale of the espionage ring to the investigators.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the vulnerability of social and private spaces during times of national crisis. It examines how fear, particularly during the paranoia of wartime, can be used to erode the trust between intimate friends and family members. The chess motif serves as a structural metaphor for the novel, suggesting that human actions are often part of a larger, calculated game where the players are not always who they appear to be. The underlying question is whether one can truly know the intentions of those they hold dear when the pressures of duty and secrecy are applied. It also contrasts the rigid social conventions of early 20th-century Washington with the chaotic, shifting realities of global conflict.

Why Read It Today

This book is a fascinating artifact for readers who enjoy historical atmosphere and the intellectual puzzle-solving style of classic mystery fiction. The writing reflects the distinct social norms of the World War I era, including the heavy focus on reputation, the influence of family wills, and the rigid separation between public and private life.

However, a modern reader should be prepared for the period-typical melodrama. The dialogue can be quite formal and occasionally overwrought, and some of the character motivations—particularly those regarding the "homicidal mania" of the time—reflect the limited medical understanding of the era. The plot relies heavily on the reader’s interest in the mechanics of chess as a cipher, which adds a unique, technical flavor to the mystery. The pacing is steady, moving from the initial shock of the discovery to a satisfying, if somewhat exposition-heavy, resolution. If you appreciate a story that captures the "hush-hush" environment of the American capital during a major war, and if you enjoy a mystery that rewards careful attention to detail, you will find this a compelling, if occasionally archaic, journey. It leaves the reader with a sense of the fragility of the domestic sphere when exposed to the cold, calculated logic of international espionage.