" G]rew upon me with every page, until I came to the dramatic climax . . . often brilliant . . . with] the brilliance of fever, almost of delirium." - "Punch"
"It is very shocking . . . Houghton] has proved himself to possess considerable talent." - "Spectator"
""Neighbours" is a novel about ideas concerning life. It is full of dialogue, and good dialogue. It has beautiful moments. It is original." - Arnold Bennett, "Evening Standard"
"His novels bring us the finest and most firmly thought-out exposition of the spiritual problem of modern times." - "New York Times"
"In Claude Houghton's work you have come to expect not only an unusual and fast-moving story, but one with its hidden excitements or seeming touch of fantasy, the significance of which may not be apparent until you have reached the last page." - "Sunday Times"
The narrator of "Neighbours" is a young writer who has taken a room in the attic of a lodging house, where he hopes to find a quiet atmosphere in which to work. One night, the sound of a man's laughter outside his door alerts him to the existence of Victor, a fellow lodger in an adjoining room. The narrator feels an immediate and inexplicable hatred for his unwanted neighbour, which develops into an obsession as he listens to Victor's fervent conversations and amorous adventures through the thin wall and records it all in minute detail on endless sheets of paper. His morbid fascination with Victor gradually begins to dominate his existence, leading to a shocking climax when he finally resolves to destroy his neighbour, the man he blames for ruining his life . . .
Claude Houghton (1889-1961) won a devoted cult following in the 1930s with novels like "I Am Jonathan Scrivener" (1930) and "This Was Ivor Trent" (1935), psychological thrillers with brilliantly sharp dialogue and unusual metaphysical themes. This edition of his astonishing first novel, "Neighbours" (1926), is the first in over 75 years and features a new introduction by Mark Valentine.

" W]orthy of being compared to Dickens's creations . . . First-class entertainment." - William F. Deeck, "The Mystery Fancier"
"An exciting story told in a pleasant narrative style with considerable skill, and a whole portfolio of Dickensian characters, drawn against a rich background make "The Slype" an almost perfect piece of light fiction." - "The Outlook"
"No one will care to hurry when he can spend his time in the company of such delightful people as the Dean, the Paper Wizard, and Boyce's Boy. . . . "The Slype" is] a book to be read and put by for future rereading." - "New York Times"
"A unique and unusual mystery yarn." - "Baltimore Sun"
The Slype is a dark passage, reputedly haunted, adjoining the ancient cathedral of Dullchester, and it plays a central role in this thrilling mystery. As the story opens, this sleepy cathedral city has a sinister visitor whose ominous pastime consists of cutting paper silhouettes depicting a corpse hanging from a gibbet. After his arrival, a series of terrifying events ensues: ghostly screams are heard to emanate from the Slype, and the town's residents begin disappearing one by one, inexplicably and without a trace. Young Daniel Dyke, Sergeant Wurren, and Inspector Macauley of Scotland Yard will have to join forces to unravel this deadly mystery and uncover a centuries-old secret . . . before it's too late
Russell Thorndike (1885-1972) is best known for his popular series of swashbuckling tales featuring the smuggler Dr. Syn, but as Mark Valentine writes in his introduction to this new edition, the rediscovery of Thorndike's mystery and suspense fiction is long overdue. This edition of "The Slype" (1927), a fast-paced and ingenious tale with a plot and cast of characters reminiscent of Dickens, is the first in 80 years and features a reproduction of the scarce jacket art of the 1927 first edition.