Anna Katharine Green 
The Leavenworth Case 

Although her initial interest was in poetry, author Anna Katherine Green turned to fiction when her verse failed to make a mark with readers. This fateful move transformed the detective fiction genre, to which Green is regarded as an important early contributor. The Leavenworth Case is her best-known detective novel, and it highlights her unique skill in developing airtight plots and top-notch procedural accuracy.