David Poindexter's Disappearance, and Other Tales

Set against the quiet, leafy villages of early‑19th‑century England, the collection opens with the curious case of a modest clergyman from a once‑prominent Sussex family. Educated at Oxford yet hampered by poverty, he is a striking figure—dark hair, blue eyes, a gift for preaching that sways both parishioners and admirers alike. His courtship of the spirited Miss Edith Saltine, daughter of a retired colonel, unfolds amid gentle humor and the social expectations of the day, hinting at deeper currents beneath his courteous exterior.

When the couple’s plans for marriage linger and the winter evenings grow colder, a sudden, unsettling event draws the community’s attention. Whispers of intrigue mingle with the ordinary rhythms of village life, and the narrator’s measured, almost conversational tone invites listeners to piece together clues while feeling the weight of the era’s moral and familial pressures. The tale promises a compelling blend of historical detail and quiet suspense, offering a glimpse into a mystery that has lingered in local lore for generations.