Book excerpt: When the Dowager Arabella, Lady Engleton announces to her relatives her jolly scheme to restore the family's fortunes by insuring their lives in favor of her grandson and heir, the young Lord Henry, they laugh at her and think her mad. But they won't be laughing for long. Soon she begins to kill them off one by one with sinister mirth and gruesome inventiveness . . . Forgotten today, Edwin Greenwood (1895-1937) was the author of several clever and darkly humorous crime novels that were highly acclaimed by critics and admired by the master of the macabre, Arthur Machen. This edition features a new introduction by Mark Valentine, who argues that although Greenwood's "novels have been largely lost to view, it is high time they delighted a fresh readership," and a reproduction of the original dust jacket art. "Mixes mirth and murder with immense spirit and success ... I am sure that each of the Deadly Dowager's methods will find its warm admirers." - Arthur Machen "Delectable ... it's a positive delight to watch her kill." - "Saturday Review" "Quite the jolliest crime story that has come our way in many moons." - "New York Times"