<b>Armadale</b> is a mystery novel by <b>Wilkie Collins</b>, first published in 1864-66. It is the third of his four &#39;great novels&#39; of the 1860s, after &quot;The Woman in White&quot; and &quot;No Name&quot;, and before &quot;The Moonstone&quot;. The story starts with a deathbed confession by the murderer in the form of a letter to be given to his baby son when he grows up. Armadale is Collins&#39;s longest novel and combines several of his favorite themes, including the supernatural, identity, murder, and detection.<br /><br /><b>Wilkie Collins </b>(1824-1889) was an English writer and early master of the mystery story, known for his sensational novels and plays. He is considered the grandfather of the English detective novel and a pioneer of detective fiction. Collins explored the effects of mysterious, shocking, and criminal happenings within Victorian middle-class families in his works, including &quot;The Woman in White&quot;, &quot;No Name&quot;,&nbsp; &quot;Armadale&quot;, and &quot;The Moonstone&quot;.