The Hellfire Club

Product Description

“Surprising twists [and a] wildly inventive plot.”
—
The New York Times

They are dying, one by one. Wealthy, middle-aged women in an exclusive Connecticut suburb. Their murderer remains at large. Nora Chancel, wife of publishing scion Davey Chancel, fears she may be next. After all, her past has branded her a victim . . . .

“Combines the intellectual-puzzle mystery with a powerful vein of psycho-thriller suspense.”
—
The Washington Post

Then Davey tells Nora a surreal story about the Hellfire Club, where years before he met an obsessed fan of Chancel House’s most successful book,
Night Journey–a book that has a strange history of its own. . . .

“One of the most chilling villains to come along since Hannibal Lecter.”
—
San Francisco Chronicle

Suddenly terror engulfs Nora: She must defend herself against fantastic accusations even as a madman lies in wait. And when he springs, she will embark on a night journey that will put her victimhood to rest forever, dead or alive. . . .

Review

“
The Hellfire Club moves like an express train.”
—STEPHEN KING

“SURPRISING TWISTS [AND A] WILDLY INVENTIVE PLOT.”
—
The New York Times

“COMBINES THE INTELLECTUAL-PUZZLE MYSTERY WITH A POWERFUL VEIN OF PSYCHO-THRILLER SYSPENSE.”
—
The Washington Post
“ONE OF THE MOST CHILLING VILLAINS TO COME ALONG SINCE HANNIBAL LECTER.”
—
San Francisco Chronicle

From the Inside Flap

sing twists [and a] wildly inventive plot.”
—
The New York Times

They are dying, one by one. Wealthy, middle-aged women in an exclusive Connecticut suburb. Their murderer remains at large. Nora Chancel, wife of publishing scion Davey Chancel, fears she may be next. After all, her past has branded her a victim . . . .

“Combines the intellectual-puzzle mystery with a powerful vein of psycho-thriller suspense.”
—
The Washington Post

Then Davey tells Nora a surreal story about the Hellfire Club, where years before he met an obsessed fan of Chancel House’s most successful book,
Night Journey–a book that has a strange history of its own. . . .

“One of the most chilling villains to come along since Hannibal Lecter.”
—
San Francisco Chronicle

Suddenly terror engulfs Nora: She must defend herself against fantastic accusations even as a madman lies in w

From the Back Cover

“Surprising twists [and a] wildly inventive plot.”
–“The New York Times
They are dying, one by one. Wealthy, middle-aged women in an exclusive Connecticut suburb. Their murderer remains at large. Nora Chancel, wife of publishing scion Davey Chancel, fears she may be next. After all, her past has branded her a victim . . . .
“Combines the intellectual-puzzle mystery with a powerful vein of psycho-thriller suspense.”
–“The Washington Post
Then Davey tells Nora a surreal story about the Hellfire Club, where years before he met an obsessed fan of Chancel House’s most successful book, Night Journey–a book that has a strange history of its own. . . .
“One of the most chilling villains to come along since Hannibal Lecter.”
–“San Francisco Chronicle
Suddenly terror engulfs Nora: She must defend herself against fantastic accusations even as a madman lies in wait. And when he springs, she will embark on a night journey that will put her victimhood to rest forever, dead or alive. . . .

About the Author

Peter Straub is the author of thirteen novels, and his books have been translated into twenty-one foreign languages. He is the recipient of the British Fantasy Award, the Bram Stoker Award, and two World Fantasy awards. Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he resided in Ireland and England for a decade, and now lives in New York City.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

SHORELANDS, JULY 1938
 
AN UNCERTAIN AGNES Brotherhood brought her mop, bucket, and carpet sweeper to the door of Gingerbread at nine-thirty in the morning, by which hour its only resident, the poet Katherine Mannheim, should have been dispatching a breakfast of dry toast and strong tea in the