The Betrayal

"The Betrayal" by E. Phillips Oppenheim is an early 20th-century story about Guy Ducaine, a young man facing tough times and personal losses in a coastal town, particularly after a puzzling death occurs. The book creates a tense atmosphere filled with social issues and the shadow of approaching warfare, it explores themes of honesty, hidden secrets, and difficult moral choices. The book begins with a powerful image of Guy Ducaine battling a storm while teaching in a run-down school. He kindly refuses an invitation from Mr. Moyat, a local merchant he dislikes, choosing his lonely cottage instead. There, he meets Mostyn Ray, a tough soldier, and Lady Angela, whose arrival suggests hidden dangers. The night takes a dark turn when Guy sees a mysterious stranger outside his window, who is later found dead in the marshes, that pulls the reader into a thrilling maze of secrets and suspense.