The Lodger

An Apple Books Classic edition.

Originally published in 1911 as a short story, The Lodger was based on the unsolved murders attributed to Jack the Ripper. Belloc Lowndes’s story is set in 1880s London, where the elderly Mrs. and Mr. Bunting are struggling to keep their failing lodging house afloat. Just as all hope seems lost, a mysterious stranger named Mr. Sleuth appears and asks about renting a room. Even better, he offers to pay the first month in advance—in gold. Is he the answer to the Buntings’ prayers? Or is something sinister afoot? At first, Sleuth’s night walks and biblical mutterings seem strange yet harmless. But with a violent serial killer stalking London, the Buntings eventually grow suspicious.

The Lodger is a gothic novel of ever-building suspense and a page-turning exploration of fear, guilt, and moral responsibility. A bestseller in its day, the book was adapted for the screen by none other than Alfred Hitchcock. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, give this classic story a try.