Suspense

by Isabel Ostrander

Suspense is a novel that explores the intricate layers of fear, uncertainty, and hidden motivations that shape human behavior. The narrative examines how individuals, when placed in unfamiliar and unsettling environments, must navigate both external dangers and inner doubts. It emphasizes the ways in which ambition for stability can lead to entanglement in circumstances that are far more complex and treacherous than they first appear. The story draws attention to the subtle cues and undercurrents that signal danger, encouraging reflection on how perception and instinct guide choices. It considers the psychological tension that arises when ordinary aspirations collide with forces beyond one’s control, creating a constant sense of unease. The novel offers insight into how secrecy and unspoken histories within a household can alter relationships and foster suspicion. Through its portrayal of uncertainty and the quest for security, the work underscores the fragile balance between trust and caution, and how quickly it can be upended by the unknown.

263 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1918

About the author

Isabel Egenton Ostrander (1883–1924) was a mystery writer of the early twentieth century who used, besides her own name, the pseudonyms Robert Orr Chipperfield, David Fox, and Douglas Grant. Christopher B. Booth is sometimes (falsely) credited as a pseudonym of hers.

She was born in New York City to Thomas E Ostrander and Harriet Elizabeth Bradbrook. Her Ostrander pedigree goes back to seventeenth century Kingston, New York.

(wikipedia)