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The Evil Guest
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
(Jacketless library hardcover.)
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1895
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About the author
J. Sheridan Le Fanu
1,211books1,271followersJoseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was the leading ghost-story writer of the nineteenth century and was central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. M.R. James described Le Fanu as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". Three of his best-known works are Uncle Silas, Carmilla and The House by the Churchyard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
April 17, 2020
A dark tale of murder, secrets, manipulation and tragic fate with some intriguing and mysterious characters.
I randomly picked this audiobook on LibriVox thinking I'd play it in the background and listen with a distracted ear, but instead I quickly found myself completely captivated by the mystery. I ended up dropping what I was doing and listened to the whole thing in one sitting. :)
This was surprisingly good, it had tension and a few gruesome moments. I particularly enjoyed the elegant, gothic writing style and the foreboding atmosphere.
It was just what I was in the mood for!
I randomly picked this audiobook on LibriVox thinking I'd play it in the background and listen with a distracted ear, but instead I quickly found myself completely captivated by the mystery. I ended up dropping what I was doing and listened to the whole thing in one sitting. :)
This was surprisingly good, it had tension and a few gruesome moments. I particularly enjoyed the elegant, gothic writing style and the foreboding atmosphere.
It was just what I was in the mood for!
August 20, 2017
Le Fanu protests in the intro that this isn't a sensationalist novel--but it's hard to see where it isn't. A proto-muder mystery, very similar to Lady Audley's Secret. However, much more tightly written, and with a minimum amount of "o woe is me."
September 11, 2016
A good Gothic tale that keeps the reader guessing, strong at the start but fading away as the book progresses. The literary style and Le Fanu's wizardry with the English language make this a must read for all fanciers of 19th century horror.
Consider elegantly spun sentences such as: "And how soon, my dear Richard, do you intend fixing his arrival?" she inquired, with the natural uneasiness of one upon whom, in an establishment whose pretensions considerably exceeded its resources, the perplexing cares of housekeeping devolved."
And in this scene, the young French governess is insinuating herself into the favors of her kind-hearted, care-worn mistress: "A spectator, marking the scene, might have observed a strange gleam in her eyes--a strange expression in her face--an influence for a moment not angelic, like a shadow of some passing spirit, cross her visibly, as she leaned over the gentle lady's neck, and murmured, 'Dear madame, how happy--how very happy you make me.' Such a spectator, as he looked at that gentle lady, might have seen, for one dreamy moment, a lithe and painted serpent, coiled round and round, and hissing in her ear."
The plot, however, is not entirely satisfying, with richly drawn characters in whom we have invested our interest and fascination, quickly dropped in the final pages.
Still, it is a short work, a novella, and overall, the reader's efforts are amply rewarded. I am moving on to Haunted Lives, which I hope to review here by the end of the year.
Consider elegantly spun sentences such as: "And how soon, my dear Richard, do you intend fixing his arrival?" she inquired, with the natural uneasiness of one upon whom, in an establishment whose pretensions considerably exceeded its resources, the perplexing cares of housekeeping devolved."
And in this scene, the young French governess is insinuating herself into the favors of her kind-hearted, care-worn mistress: "A spectator, marking the scene, might have observed a strange gleam in her eyes--a strange expression in her face--an influence for a moment not angelic, like a shadow of some passing spirit, cross her visibly, as she leaned over the gentle lady's neck, and murmured, 'Dear madame, how happy--how very happy you make me.' Such a spectator, as he looked at that gentle lady, might have seen, for one dreamy moment, a lithe and painted serpent, coiled round and round, and hissing in her ear."
The plot, however, is not entirely satisfying, with richly drawn characters in whom we have invested our interest and fascination, quickly dropped in the final pages.
Still, it is a short work, a novella, and overall, the reader's efforts are amply rewarded. I am moving on to Haunted Lives, which I hope to review here by the end of the year.
November 29, 2014
Through labeled as a gothic read this definitely isn't, however it is a classic murder mystery which takes a bit long to get back to the plot's focus at times. All in all its a pretty ok classic read through...
March 6, 2012
Another great gothic mystery written by Sheridan Le Fanu.
April 15, 2015
Following up on the heels of Carmilla, this was not nearly as good. It's still interesting and I'm always a fan of books that take on the more psychological side of horror, but I fear its weaknesses were enough to downgrade a star.
Honestly, I think the biggest problem is that this piece is presented as one long narrative. Carmilla was broken up into chapters, and even if the action in one chapter bled into the start of the next, it still had that break. Kind of like allowing the reader to breathe before moving on. This piece allowed no such break, which isn't always bad; it just didn't work in this case.
I was enjoying it too, especially the parts where certain characters seemed to be losing their minds. But then it went on a weird track by bringing in Satanic/evil forces. Which, again, isn't always a bad thing to have in a horror story. It just seemed to switch the tone of this particular one.
I don't know, maybe if I read this one before Carmilla I would have a different opinion on it. It has some good moments and that sense of unease I like. I just think it would've done better as a psychological horror/thriller and not bringing in the more supernatural elements.
Honestly, I think the biggest problem is that this piece is presented as one long narrative. Carmilla was broken up into chapters, and even if the action in one chapter bled into the start of the next, it still had that break. Kind of like allowing the reader to breathe before moving on. This piece allowed no such break, which isn't always bad; it just didn't work in this case.
I was enjoying it too, especially the parts where certain characters seemed to be losing their minds. But then it went on a weird track by bringing in Satanic/evil forces. Which, again, isn't always a bad thing to have in a horror story. It just seemed to switch the tone of this particular one.
I don't know, maybe if I read this one before Carmilla I would have a different opinion on it. It has some good moments and that sense of unease I like. I just think it would've done better as a psychological horror/thriller and not bringing in the more supernatural elements.
August 19, 2012
This started off with a lot of promise of being a dark and deeply gothic murder mystery. Secrets were hinted at and there were tantalising glimpses at what had occurred in the Marston household. Disappointingly, the ending was neither mysterious nor particularly dark and far less exciting or satisfying than the possibilities I had entertained while reading.
October 31, 2016
I cannot see the point of this little story, there is no suspense, no horror, nothing. The title has no real meaning, lots of points are left unanswered and, even taking into account when it was written, the writing is dull.
August 21, 2016
A surprising read
I have long been a fan of Le Fanu's Gothic tales of horror so was expecting this to be in the same vein.
It isn't at all. The only monsters within this story are people. Any fear is due to the characters feelings of inadequacy, a hope of love that is never fulfilled and the betrayal of one of the most loyal, yet burdended, players within the story.
At it's heart it is a mystery, a whodunnit, and the circumstances around one particular event. Information that is given to a character is kept from the reader, in one instance we never truly find out what was discovered.
The biggest thread within the story seems to be - do we ever truly know who others are, deep down. Can we ever predict their actions, even if they are the closest people to us?
I would recommend this story to anyone, regardless of their reading habits. I would, however, warn that in places it is a hard slog, Le Fanu's writing style is of his era so can be trying at times!
It is worth it, though, as what you take away from the story is as apt now as it was 100+ years ago
I have long been a fan of Le Fanu's Gothic tales of horror so was expecting this to be in the same vein.
It isn't at all. The only monsters within this story are people. Any fear is due to the characters feelings of inadequacy, a hope of love that is never fulfilled and the betrayal of one of the most loyal, yet burdended, players within the story.
At it's heart it is a mystery, a whodunnit, and the circumstances around one particular event. Information that is given to a character is kept from the reader, in one instance we never truly find out what was discovered.
The biggest thread within the story seems to be - do we ever truly know who others are, deep down. Can we ever predict their actions, even if they are the closest people to us?
I would recommend this story to anyone, regardless of their reading habits. I would, however, warn that in places it is a hard slog, Le Fanu's writing style is of his era so can be trying at times!
It is worth it, though, as what you take away from the story is as apt now as it was 100+ years ago
February 3, 2011
Somewhat difficult to follow at times but was an ok read. Short.
Best descriptive quote which takes you back to the title of the book....
"Had Ithuriel touched with his spear the beautiful young woman, thus for a moment, as it seemed, lost in a trance of gratitude and love, would that angelic form have stood the test unscathed? A spectator, marking the scene, might have observed a strange gleam in her eyes--a strange expression in her face--an influence for a moment not angelic, like a shadow of some passing spirit, cross her visibly, as she leaned over the gentle lady's neck, and murmured, "Dear madame, how happy--how very happy you make me." Such a spectator, as he looked at that gentle lady, might have seen, for one dreamy moment, a lithe and painted serpent, coiled round and round, and hissing in her ear." Location:151-59
So I had to google "Ithuriel". Turned up this..."By touching Satan with his spear, Ithuriel causes the Tempter to resume his proper likeness."
Best descriptive quote which takes you back to the title of the book....
"Had Ithuriel touched with his spear the beautiful young woman, thus for a moment, as it seemed, lost in a trance of gratitude and love, would that angelic form have stood the test unscathed? A spectator, marking the scene, might have observed a strange gleam in her eyes--a strange expression in her face--an influence for a moment not angelic, like a shadow of some passing spirit, cross her visibly, as she leaned over the gentle lady's neck, and murmured, "Dear madame, how happy--how very happy you make me." Such a spectator, as he looked at that gentle lady, might have seen, for one dreamy moment, a lithe and painted serpent, coiled round and round, and hissing in her ear." Location:151-59
So I had to google "Ithuriel". Turned up this..."By touching Satan with his spear, Ithuriel causes the Tempter to resume his proper likeness."
April 11, 2017
This is the second book I have read that was written by this author, the other being the vampire-tale Carmilla, which I enjoyed. Sadly, this book much less interesting. What starts out looking like a somewhat interesting period-piece murder mystery turns into a slow, plodding story of a miserable man and his family. It just wasn't any fun to read, and I wouldn't really recommend it.
March 9, 2010
Slow to start, but I expected that based on the author's era. The story does pick up eventually, but it never quite makes it to a racing finish. For my first exposure to Le Fanu, I was disappointed in the story, but I will try another of his works. Perhaps I simply chose poorly for my first book.
October 28, 2009
The ending of thie book left me with more questions than the mystery through out the book. It wasn't worth the read. Stick to other gothic novels. Try The Scarlet Pimpernel. Much more entertaining and fewer questions left.
January 18, 2011
Another free Kindle book; I read it while in Tucson and will write a review after I enter all the books I read while there.
March 5, 2011
Oh, brother. Well, it was free on my Kindle.
July 9, 2012
Wonderful gothic stuff.
May 11, 2012
Disappointingly vapid psuedo-gothic tale with a flimsy premise.
September 24, 2011
Readable, gothic, funny overuse of adjectives (in the gothic fashion). But a pretty pointless, transparent plot.
February 18, 2012
I didn't think it was as good as Carmilla, and it was largely interesting to me as a historical document.
February 22, 2012
This just didn't seem to hold up through the years I had a hard time holding my interest with it.
I'll try "Carmilla". That may work better
I'll try "Carmilla". That may work better
January 21, 2013
A good story, but convoluted and hard to follow. Carmilla is much better.
October 27, 2023
Questo volume di Gargoyle edizioni (ormai fuori catalogo) contiene due romanzi brevi di Le Fanu: L'ospite maligno e La stanza al Dragon Volant.
Nel primo vediamo la famiglia Marston accogliere un ospite nella loro dimora, denominata Gray Forest, ma purtroppo lo vediamo anche morire assassinato quest'ospite. L'omicidio, peraltro, sembra anche essere connesso alla presenza della strana istitutrice francese, Madame de Barras, che causerà un altro scandalo per la sciagurata famiglia.
Il secondo romanzo vede la nascita e l'esplosione di un amore profondo, quello del giovane e ingenuo Richard Beckett, arrivato in Francia dopo la battaglia di Waterloo in cerca di avventure, nei confronti della contessa St. Alyre, che lo coinvolgerà in sotterfugi, catalessi indotta, e sepoltura prematura.
In entrambe le storie a farla da padrone è un edificio: per i Marston si tratta di Gray Forest, per Richard la locanda del Dragon Volant. Sono luoghi fatiscenti, sull'orlo dell'abbandono, proprio come la dimora de Lo zio Silas - il capolavoro di Le Fanu. A essere incolto e selvaggio è anche Richard Marston, un gentiluomo decaduto, amareggiato, isolato, mentre Beckett è tutt'altro che vetusto. È ricco, bello, ma talmente ingenuo da pensare di poter divenire ancora più ricco al gioco d'azzardo e di poter conquistare le nobildonne parigine. Beckett, sappi che purtroppo non tutte le donne sono nobili.
Sicuramente Le Fanu avrà scritto questi due splendidi romanzi brevi di notte. Perché, come racconta il figlio George, "scriveva quasi sempre di notte e a letto, servendosi di grossi quaderni rilegati e sfruttando la luce di due candele poste sul comodino. Dormiva pochissimo e verso le due del mattino, appena desto, si preparava grosse quantità di tè forte che consumava proprio in quelle ore della notte in cui si dice che le forze ultraterrene riescano ad avere il sopravvento". Ecco spiegate le sue storie misteriosi e terrificanti: erano letteralmente figlie del buio.
Nel primo vediamo la famiglia Marston accogliere un ospite nella loro dimora, denominata Gray Forest, ma purtroppo lo vediamo anche morire assassinato quest'ospite. L'omicidio, peraltro, sembra anche essere connesso alla presenza della strana istitutrice francese, Madame de Barras, che causerà un altro scandalo per la sciagurata famiglia.
Il secondo romanzo vede la nascita e l'esplosione di un amore profondo, quello del giovane e ingenuo Richard Beckett, arrivato in Francia dopo la battaglia di Waterloo in cerca di avventure, nei confronti della contessa St. Alyre, che lo coinvolgerà in sotterfugi, catalessi indotta, e sepoltura prematura.
In entrambe le storie a farla da padrone è un edificio: per i Marston si tratta di Gray Forest, per Richard la locanda del Dragon Volant. Sono luoghi fatiscenti, sull'orlo dell'abbandono, proprio come la dimora de Lo zio Silas - il capolavoro di Le Fanu. A essere incolto e selvaggio è anche Richard Marston, un gentiluomo decaduto, amareggiato, isolato, mentre Beckett è tutt'altro che vetusto. È ricco, bello, ma talmente ingenuo da pensare di poter divenire ancora più ricco al gioco d'azzardo e di poter conquistare le nobildonne parigine. Beckett, sappi che purtroppo non tutte le donne sono nobili.
Sicuramente Le Fanu avrà scritto questi due splendidi romanzi brevi di notte. Perché, come racconta il figlio George, "scriveva quasi sempre di notte e a letto, servendosi di grossi quaderni rilegati e sfruttando la luce di due candele poste sul comodino. Dormiva pochissimo e verso le due del mattino, appena desto, si preparava grosse quantità di tè forte che consumava proprio in quelle ore della notte in cui si dice che le forze ultraterrene riescano ad avere il sopravvento". Ecco spiegate le sue storie misteriosi e terrificanti: erano letteralmente figlie del buio.
October 18, 2021
I decided to read this book as part of my “Spooky October Reading,� having found another work by this author—“Carmilla”—to be a fantastic work of early horror. This book wasn’t half as good. And it really needs a TW: Mental Illness.
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As someone who has experienced a great deal of trauma from someone else’s mental illness, this was a hard book to read. It wasn’t until I was about 3/4 of the way through the book that I truly realized that the father was mentally ill. And first I just thought he was mean (which, is exactly how my mentally ill loved one seems at first, before a bad episode). I kept reading wondering who “The Evil Guest� was. Was it meant to be the man who was murdered? Is there an evil spirit taking up residence in the mansion and possessing the inhabitants? Is it the governess? Someone else? I’m actually still not completely certain what the title precisely means. I’m guessing it’s meaning the governess� but that doesn’t seem like a very fitting title. A governess is an employee, not a guest.
What I am certain of is reading the paragraphs where the father speaks, either to his wife, his daughter, or the clergyman� it is like reliving moments of my life with a mentally ill loved one. The author HAD to have experience with someone like this for it to be so spot on.
I can’t recommend this book. It feels like a whole lot of waiting around for nothing. Also it’s triggering if you’ve had experiences like my own. And, it’s not a great spooky book to read� if you want spooky, read “Carmilla.�
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As someone who has experienced a great deal of trauma from someone else’s mental illness, this was a hard book to read. It wasn’t until I was about 3/4 of the way through the book that I truly realized that the father was mentally ill. And first I just thought he was mean (which, is exactly how my mentally ill loved one seems at first, before a bad episode). I kept reading wondering who “The Evil Guest� was. Was it meant to be the man who was murdered? Is there an evil spirit taking up residence in the mansion and possessing the inhabitants? Is it the governess? Someone else? I’m actually still not completely certain what the title precisely means. I’m guessing it’s meaning the governess� but that doesn’t seem like a very fitting title. A governess is an employee, not a guest.
What I am certain of is reading the paragraphs where the father speaks, either to his wife, his daughter, or the clergyman� it is like reliving moments of my life with a mentally ill loved one. The author HAD to have experience with someone like this for it to be so spot on.
I can’t recommend this book. It feels like a whole lot of waiting around for nothing. Also it’s triggering if you’ve had experiences like my own. And, it’s not a great spooky book to read� if you want spooky, read “Carmilla.�
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2024
An unwanted guest visiting a dreary and isolated home is murdered; the thriller leads the reader down countless ‘dead� ends before revealing the identity of the guilty party.
September 7, 2024
esta reseña no es para este relato, es para "el testamento de toby marston" pero no lo encontré en goodreads así que estoy improvisando porque lo quiero registrar. Me gustó muchísimo, en serio fue creepy todo lo que tenia que ver con el perro y las ultimas partes donde las enfermeras eran aterrorizadas, no lograba hacerme muy bien la imagen de como se subía el dogo a Charlie pero igual me daba miedo, creepiest dog. Lo disfruté mucho, no entendí muy bien el final pero estuvo bastante bien. 4 stars! �(≧◇�)�!!
April 1, 2019
I read this as a free kindle book, part of a project to read cool, old horror stories. Le Fanu is excellent even when the tale doesn't have much of an uncanny element. I wouldn't strongly recommend this one because it is quite predictable and the characters aren't very well developed, but I wouldn't dissuade someone who had a hankering to read all of Le Fanu. There are pleasures to be had from following the unrolling of a well worn plot.
March 22, 2019
Le Fanu was an Irish ghost story/horror genre writer from the 1800's, but this was an early murder mystery. The writing and narration follows the stilted style of the times, but the story is interesting and the plot is intricate, involving two apparent murder weapons that complicate the mystery elegantly. I liked the tale, but wasn't enraptured by it.
January 27, 2022
Ending Not a Surprise
I have not studied the works of J. Sheridan Le Fanu. This is only the second book I have read of his, the first was Carmilla.
The Evil Guest was shorter and was more predictable. From the moment a secondary secondary character was murdered, I guessed correctly who the real murderer was. I will not reveal who it was. See if you know who it was!
I have not studied the works of J. Sheridan Le Fanu. This is only the second book I have read of his, the first was Carmilla.
The Evil Guest was shorter and was more predictable. From the moment a secondary secondary character was murdered, I guessed correctly who the real murderer was. I will not reveal who it was. See if you know who it was!
June 28, 2018
Doesn't match up with Le Fanu's best works but it left me feeling unsettled. Perhaps the plotting could have been tighter but perhaps the book will linger in my memory more due to the loose ends. Whether that was his aim or not, I don't know!
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