"The Beetle: A Mystery" by Richard Marsh is a late 19th-century Gothic novel that kicks off with Robert Holt, a down-on-his-luck wanderer searching for a place to rest, ultimately discovering an unlocked, seemingly vacant house. The story immediately picks up on themes of city decline and supernatural elements as Holt's situation takes sharp turns. The book starts by following Holt’s increasingly desperate state as he navigates London's dark streets, turned away from shelter, before spotting an open window in a strange house offering escape from relentless rain. The ominous atmosphere that envelops him as he enters implies he's not alone, further intensified by a peculiar encounter with a figure in a bed. This presence manipulates Holt to perform disturbing actions, propelling him toward a showdown with the powerful and mysterious Paul Lessingham. The combination of suspense and unnerving surrealism lays the groundwork for a captivating mystery.
The Beetle: A Mystery
By Richard Marsh
A homeless man's search for shelter leads him into a terrifying encounter with an ancient evil that seeks to control his very soul.
Summary
About the AuthorRichard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".
Richard Marsh was the pseudonym of the English author born Richard Bernard Heldmann. A best-selling and prolific author of the late 19th century and the Edwardian period, Marsh is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which was published the same year as Bram Stoker's Dracula (1897), and was initially even more popular, outselling Dracula six times over. The Beetle remained in print until 1960. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humour. Many of these have been republished recently, beginning with The Beetle in 2004. Marsh's grandson Robert Aickman was a notable writer of short "strange stories".
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