02574cam a22003133u 450000100060000000300070000600500170001300600020003000700050003200800410003704000110007804100170008905000070010610000490011324500200016226400510018230000470023333600260028033700260030633800360033250000310036850801930039952014360059253400620202865300360209085600720212685600430219899900190224172236UtSlPG20260610134653.0mcr n260607r20231879utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d  aUtSlPG 7aen2iso639-1 4aPR1 aBraddon, M. E.q(Mary Elizabeth),d1835-191513aAn open verdict 1aSalt Lake City, UT :bProject Gutenberg,c2023  a1 online resource :bmultiple file formats  atextbtxt2rdacontent  acomputerbc2rdamedia  aonline resourcebcr2rdacarrier  aRelease date is 2023-11-27  aDavid Edwards, Eleni Christofaki and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)  a"An Open Verdict: A Novel, Volume 2" by M. E. Braddon is a fiction work written in the late 19th century. This novel explores themes of mystery and suspense, centering on the sudden death of Christian Harefield and its impact on his daughter, Beatrix. As the investigation unfolds, the narrative delves into the lives of those connected to Harefield, particularly the complex relationships among Beatrix, her father, and her suitor, Cyril Culverhouse.  The beginning of this volume introduces a bleak and gloomy atmosphere, marked by Beatrix's heavy slumber, which is contrasted with the bustling, often chaotic life she left behind. Bella Scratchell, her companion, waits impatiently, reflecting on her life and the stark differences in their circumstances. The narrative soon shifts dramatically as the household’s staff discovers Mr. Harefield is missing and eventually found dead. As tension builds with the arrival of ominous news regarding Mr. Harefield's death, the capabilities of each character are assessed through their reactions and interactions, especially as Beatrix struggles with the implications of her father's behavior and the arrival of Christmas, which now feels overshadowed by tragedy. The unfolding mystery and emotional turmoil invite readers to ponder deeper questions of trust, love, and societal judgment, setting the stage for complex developments ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)  pOriginally published:cLondon: John Maxwell and Co., 1879  aEnglish fiction -- 19th century4 uhttps://archive.org/details/openverdictnovel02brad/page/n3/mode/2up40uhttps://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/72236  c112961d112961