Trent's Last Case (The Woman in Black)

<i>Trent's Last Case</i>, published in 1913 by Edmund Clerihew Bentley, introduces gentleman sleuth Philip Trent in a unique whodunit that parodies the detective genre. The plot centers on Trent's investigation into the murder of a business tycoon, during which he falls in love with a primary suspect and ultimately draws incorrect conclusions despite gathering evidence. This novel is notable for its self-aware critique of detective fiction conventions, as Trent learns from the actual murderer about his logical missteps, leading him to abandon crime detection altogether.