THE CLASSIC MYSTERY One of the first examples of the detective thriller novel. Art tutor Walter Hartright is drawn into a complex puzzle by a mysterious woman dressed entirely in white. He finds himself involved in a devious plot of kidnapping, stolen identity and a plan to illegally obtain a large sum of money. Met with a generally negative response on its initial release, Wilkie Collins' novel has become regarded as a classic, and one of the most influential novels of its time.