The sinister mark

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

77033

Title

The sinister mark

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

In this suspenseful mystery, sculptor Donald Morris falls for the world-famous actress Mary Blake, only to discover her secret double life. As Peter Clancy investigates the disappearance of her sister, Anne, he uncovers a shocking deception involving a hidden birthmark and a masterful disguise that threatens to unravel the entire stage career.

Summary up to 500 words

In Lee Thayer's *The Sinister Mark*, sculptor Donald Morris becomes captivated by the celebrated actress Mary Blake, yet he is troubled by a profound sense of tragedy in her eyes. After a tumultuous evening following a successful performance, Donald insists on escorting the visibly shaken Mary home. There, he learns that she is terrified of her sister, Anne. The mystery deepens when Peter Clancy, a friend of the family, arrives and begins to unravel the deception. He discovers that the glamorous Mary Blake is actually Anne Curwood, a young woman with a severe facial disfigurement. Her aunt, Kate Rutherford, orchestrated an elaborate ruse to protect Anne's sensitive soul from public scrutiny. Using heavy makeup and special lighting, Kate hid Anne's birthmark, allowing her to perform on stage as Mary Blake while Anne lived in hiding under the same name. Peter finds a letter written by Anne that bears Mary's handwriting, confirming the deception. The narrative explores themes of identity, the cruelty of public judgment, and the lengths a family will go to protect a vulnerable member. As Peter and Donald confront the truth, they realize that Mary's success is built on a fragile secret. The story concludes with the revelation of the sisters' true bond and the emotional resolution of their shared fate, revealing that Donald had previously seen Anne in Hobart Falls but was repelled by her appearance, a memory that seared itself into her soul.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/77033.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg77033.epub

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Categories

• Fiction
• Mystery