Published in 1860, The Woman in White is one of the earliest and most celebrated examples of the mystery and suspense novel. Wilkie Collins builds a gripping intrigue from a haunting encounter: Walter Hartright, a young drawing teacher, crosses paths with a mysterious woman dressed in white who seems to be fleeing an unknown danger. From this incident unfolds a complex story of deception, conspiracies, and family secrets, where identity and truth become pieces of a fascinating puzzle.
Narrated from multiple perspectives, the novel combines elements of the serial novel with a carefully structured narrative, anticipating many techniques of modern detective fiction. With memorable characters such as the courageous Marian Halcombe and the sinister Count Fosco, The Woman in White continues to captivate readers, cementing Collins as a master of suspense and a precursor of the detective novel.