Anna Katharine Green 
The House of the Whispering Pines 

A posh clubhouse deserted for the winter is the scene of a chilling crime in The House of the Whispering Pines, a mystery masterpiece from early detective fiction pioneer Anna Katherine Green. When the local police department can't make any headway in the case, a crack detective from New York is called in—and his discoveries lead the investigation down a completely unexpected path.