Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1938 Whodunit 'Die Villa am Meer' Still Thrills

Mary Roberts Rinehart's 1938 novel 'Die Villa am Meer' (The Villa by the Sea) has been named the crime tip of the week by Kulturnews. The story follows young Marcia Lloyd, who enjoys a summer of sailing, riding, golf, and cocktails on a New England island estate. Her idyll is disrupted by the unannounced visit of her former sister-in-law Juliette, who soon disappears. A week later, Juliette's murdered body is found. Marcia fears she may be the next victim or be framed for the crime. The old mansion becomes increasingly eerie, creaking and thumping. With Sheriff Shand, Marcia untangles a web of lies surrounding an old family secret, and more deaths loom. Rinehart (1876–1958) published the novel in 1938. The book is described as a timeless whodunit with an old-fashioned setting that still delivers chills. It made the list of best crime novels for July 2026.