The story begins with a late-night discussion between the narrator, Mr. Otway, and his friend Philip Bennion, over [Thomas De Quinceys essay] Murder Considered as One of the Fine Arts. [
] Otway finds himself in a position to examine this theory when, the next morning, Bennion is found dead on the floor of his apartment, seemingly of natural causes. In light of the previous nights odd discussion, Otway is not so sure, and begins to investigate.
there is a large list of suspects: Raymond Clinton, the no-good nephew of Bennion; Nina Macrae, Bennions ward; and her fiancé Ralph Hardwicke. Most surprising of all is that Otway cannot rule himself off the list of suspects: he is a somnabulist, and recalls a singular dream in which he watches Bennion die!
there is a large list of suspects: Raymond Clinton, the no-good nephew of Bennion; Nina Macrae, Bennions ward; and her fiancé Ralph Hardwicke. Most surprising of all is that Otway cannot rule himself off the list of suspects: he is a somnabulist, and recalls a singular dream in which he watches Bennion die!
(skullsinthestars review)
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Richard Marsh (12 October 1857 9 August 1915) was the pseudonym of English author Richard Bernard Heldmann. One of the most popular and prolific authors of the late-Victorian and Edwardian periods, he is best known now for his supernatural thriller novel The Beetle, which for a time outsold Bram Stokers Dracula. Marsh produced nearly 80 volumes of fiction and numerous short stories, in genres including horror, crime, romance and humor.
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This book, first published in 1897, is in the public domain worldwide.
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