A String of Pearls

A String of Pearls

By I. M. Purkiss, published by the David C. Cook Publishing Company (copyright 1922), this is a domestic mystery novella. When Polly Trent's friend Bernie Sinclare suddenly departs for England, she leaves Polly a hastily scrawled note reminding her of a secret promise. The previous evening, Bernie had given Polly a string of pearl beads to hide. While examining them, Polly accidentally breaks the string by catching it in her drawer. Meanwhile, a valuable pearl necklace belonging to a houseguest, Mrs. Turnbull, goes missing, and police are called. Fearing the lost pearls and the broken string may be connected, Polly hides the beads in the barn loft. The investigation turns toward the family maid Susan. Polly falls ill with worry and fever. The narrative explores her moral distress and the complications arising from her promise to Bernie.