Rinehart's Girl Who Had no God

With an extensive introduction to Mary Roberts Rinehart and the long short story "The Girl Who Had no God," this eBook resurrects a novella that is forgotten, if not lost. Often called the American Agatha Christie in recognition of her role and influence as a writer in the American scene, Mary Roberts Rinehart was a prolific author who wrote hundreds of books, short stories, poems, travelogues, plays, and special articles. What distinguishes Rinehart the most is her style, a unique combination of romance, humor, suspense, and adventure. Nowhere else is that most manifest than in "The Girl Who Had no God: A Mystery Story," originally published as a serial in "The Meridian Times," Meridian, Idaho, in 1917. There is no readily available record of later publication in book form, either as a self-standing novella or as part of a collection. "The Girl Who Had no God" is the story of Elinor the young, good looking and gentle daughter of Hilary Kingston, the reclusive head of a band of robbers, and of her inner struggle with herself after the death of her father, when she is faced with the professed love of one of the gang members, the uncommon interest of Mr. Ward, a young bachelor and clergyman, and the actions of a band she now leads.