The House of the Secret (La maison des hommes vivants)

"The House of the Secret" by Claude Farrère is a suspenseful novel set in the early 20th century, beginning with our main character urgently writing his last words, knowing he will die soon. The story is told through Captain André Narcy, who is sent on a mission that pulls him into strange events involving a mysterious woman named Madeleine and an odd, almost magical, old man. Captain Narcy is ordered to deliver an important message about a possible military plan, taking him through the dark and spooky lands around Toulon. As he travels through the rough landscape, hinting at his past with Madeleine, he starts to realize some scary truths that mix love, mystery, and a feeling of coming danger. The beginning of the story creates a feeling of suspense as the main character struggles with what is real and what is not, setting the scene for an adventure full of risks.