The Greene Murder Case

The Greene Murder Case by S. S. Van Dine is a classic detective novel that forms part of the Philo Vance series. Set in New York City, the story revolves around the affluent and enigmatic Greene family, who reside in a large, gloomy house in Manhattan. The narrative begins with the murder of Mrs. Tobias Greene, the matriarch of the Greene family. Her death is quickly followed by the suspicious demise of her children under strange and horrifying circumstances. These sequential deaths prompt the intervention of Philo Vance, a sophisticated and astutely intelligent amateur detective known for his erudite approach and keen observation skills.

S. S. Van Dine is the pseudonym used by American art critic Willard Huntington Wright (1888–1939) when he wrote detective novels. Wright was active in avant-garde cultural circles in pre-World War I New York, and under the pseudonym he created the fictional detective Philo Vance.