The Mystery of Edwin Drood

CentraltotheplotisJohnJasper：inpublicheisamanofintegrityandbenevolence;inprivateheisanopiumaddict.Andwhileseemingtosmileontheengagementofhisnephew，EdwinDrood，heis，infact，consumedbyjealousy，driventoterrifytheboy’sfiancéeandtoplotthemurderofEdwinhimself.AsinmanyofDickens’sgreatestnovels，thegulfbetweenappearanceandrealitydrivestheaction.SetintheseeminglyinnocuouscathedraltownofCloisterham，thestoryrapidlydarkenswithasenseofimpendingevil.CharlesDickens’sfinal，unfinishednovelisinmanywayshismostintriguing.Ahighlyatmospherictaleofmurder，TheMysteryofEdwinDroodforeshadowsboththedetectivestoriesofConanDoyleandthenightmarishnovelsofKafka.ThoughTheMysteryofEdwinDroodisoneofitsauthor’sdarkestbooks，italsobustleswithavastrosterofmemorable–anddelightfullynamed–minorcharacters：Mrs.Billikins，thelandlady;thefoolishMr.Sapsea;thedomineeringphilanthropist，Mr.Honeythunder;andthemysteriousDatchery.Severalattemptshavebeenmadeovertheyearstocompletethenovelandsolvethemystery，buteveninitsunfinishedstateitisagrippingandhauntingmasterpiece.(BookJacketStatus：Jacketed)