Mignon G. Eberhart was one of the most successful American mystery novelists of all time. Her works drew favorable comparisons to Agatha Christie and it is east to see why. While The Patient Slept, first published in 1930 was Eberhart's novel and featured her only recurring detective Nurse Sarah Keate.

Keate works as an in-game nurse attending to a patient who has recently suffered a stroke. The house is filled with family members and other potential beneficiaries of the patient's will. Things become complicated when one of the family members is shot to death in the patient's room. But Nurse Keate is determined to care for her patient in spite of potential danger to herself. Working alongside Detective Lance O'Leary, whom she met in Eberhart's debut novel, The Patient in Room 18, she helps to unmask the killer while still finding time to nurse her patient back to health.

This is a classic puzzle mystery with a closed circle of suspects. Eberhart's detailed descriptions of the house and its inhabitants highlighted the gothic in atmosphere. Nurse Keate is a formidable character who does not shy away from danger especially when a patient's life is at stake.

This is a great introduction to Eberhart work. I hope thus is the first of many of her books we see brought back into print.

Thanks to Penzler Publishers/American Mystery Classics and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.