The Witness on the Roof

Polly Spencer of London has a habit of hiding on the rooftops in order to escape from family problems. One day, during her roof adventures, Polly accidentally witnesses a break-in. Startled and confused, Polly peeps through a window and realizes that the robbery turns into a murder. Petrified, Poly keeps her secret from anyone as she moves to a wealthier part of town. A decade goes by and Poly is now Lady Warchester, married to a wealthy gentleman. But it finally comes the time for her secret to come back and haunt her.

Annie Haynes (1865-1929) was a renowned golden age mystery writer and a contemporary of Agatha Christie, another famous crime writer, which often led to her comparison with the latter. Haynes devised complex plots in her works and combined the style of nineteenth century sensation novels with Golden Age detective fiction. In her work, the emotions of female protagonists and themes of scandal, secrets and romance often took precedence over the detective plot line. Her novels are lauded for their quick-pace action and sustaining aura of suspense till the end.