Stephan M. Arleaux

The Haunted Hotel the tale of a haunting -- the tale of a crime. The ghost of Lord Montberry haunts the Palace Hotel in Venice ---. Montberry's beautiful-yet-terrifying wife, the Countess Narona, and her erstwhile brother are the center of the terror that fills the Palace Hotel. Are their malefactions at the root of the haunting -- or is there something darker, something much more unknowable at work? With a title like The Haunted Hotel you might be forgiven if you expected this book to be a ghost story. The books does have some dark and nasty scenes, -yes-there is a ghost as well, but The Haunted Hotel is a gothic mystery as well as a ghost story. The story is set in 1960 and the heroine is a lady named Agnes Lockwood, whose fianc ; Herbert Westwick (Lord Montbarry) jilted her for the rather sinister Countess Narona. He died shortly afterwards, under suspicious circumstances, while the couple were on an extended stay in Venice, accompanied by the Countess" equally sinister brother (Baron Rivar). A further mystery surrounds the disappearance of Lord Montbarry's courier (Mr Ferrari). While in Venice Lord Montbarry stayed-and died-in an old, decaying palace. Later in the book the palace is refurbished as a hotel. Lord Montbarry's brother Henry has money invested in the project so, when his nephew gets married, and honeymoons in Europe, it seems only natural that the newlyweds should spend a little time at the new hotel. The rest of the family agree to meet the happy couple in Venice and...

David Barringer is a defence barrister and is congratulating himself on a brilliant performance which has just seen Rick Spectre acquitted of murder. His ego is pricked by Margaret Spectre confessing to him that Spectre was guilty. The man himself boasts of it to Barringer a day or two later. Cue moral crisis and a vow never to defend anyone again unless he is sure of their innocence. Spectre himself then dies and Barringer believes he perjures himself in giving evidence at the inquest. He believes Margaret has killed her husband. Margaret is withdrawn and indifferent towards life, taking advantage of the things money can provide her, but not enjoying them. Barringer feels the stirring of an attraction. We then cross paths with Sir. Phillip Cross, who openly mocks David when he declares war on criminals...."I am not going to be content with a negative position as regards evildoers. I am going to set my heel on as many of the human vermin of this city as I can find." Cross it turns out is-Margaret Spectre's father. After crossing verbal swords (an argument of sorts), Cross prophesises that within a few yards of the bar they are in, later tonight a crime will be committed. As if by magic, a murder occurs and Barringer factoring in Cross's seedy reputation on some quarters.....he's murdered someone abroad, he holds lavish orgies at the walled mansion on the banks of the river.... gets it into his head that Cross is a criminal mastermind. Time: 1969 Place: London