Gene Wolfe presents Lovecraftian noir fiction!

The letter from the rich cousin came at a low point in the Marston family's finances. The man was as ill-bred and pushing as ever: utterly the model of a noxious relation -- but he was rich, and the Marstons were all but destitute. The family could hardly refuse him. But they would come to rue that letter, and the invitation that followed it; it was the beginning of the end for all of them. Of course it was! Common sense tells us not to take on . . . THE EVIL GUEST

Step into the eerie world of "The Evil Guest" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. This gothic fiction masterpiece is replete with elements of mystery and horror, showcasing Le Fanu's exceptional ability to craft spine-chilling tales. As a prominent work in English literature, it stands as a testament to the allure of the gothic genre and its enduring appeal.

Today, critics point to the work of Victorian-era horror author J. Sheridan Le Fanu as the pinnacle of suspense writing in the period. With a few subtle turns of phrase, Le Fanu can provoke a response of sheer terror in the minds of readers, working in the same vein that his American contemporary Edgar Allan Poe was able to master. The Evil Guest highlights all of Le Fanu's strengths as a writer, and it's sure to speed the heart of even the most seasoned horror fan.

"The Evil Guest" from Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels (1814-1873).

When Alan Monteith decides to help a friend in need by delivering a bottle of medicine to a sick woman, he never imagined being stranded in a blizzard. And he never imagined climbing a mountain on foot. But when his car breaks down in front of the Devereaux’s home, that’s just what he ends up doing. Daryl Devereaux was looking forward to a peaceful holiday until Alan Monteith arrives. As the young stranger and her brother trudge into the storm, Daryl is left to pray for their safe return, never realizing that night will change their lives forever.

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (1814 –1873) was an Irish writer of Gothic novels, one of the most influential ghost story writers of the nineteenth century. Filled with mystery, “The Evil Guest” is a murder story set in Victorian-era England. It tells a story of Richard Marston, who lives in poverty with his family. His house slowly decays, and moral principles fade away. This decline reaches its critical point when inhabitants of the mansion find Marston’s rich cousin dead in one of the rooms. But who committed the murder?