House of Horrors
by James Reach

House of Horrors Book Cover — House of Horrors Cover

Highlights

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Synopsis

This rapid-moving farce packs a laugh for every thrill, and a thrill a minute.

Janice Cantrell and Chloe Clark are two ex-chorus girls.

They have been travelling in Australia and have just returned to the States to learn that Janice has inherited the “Cantrell Mansion,” left to her by her uncle, Randolph Cantrell, the famous chemist who had been mysteriously drowned two years previously.

The girls, arriving at the “Mansion” late one stormy Autumn night, find to their dismay that, instead of the fine country estate their lawyer had described it as being, it is really just an old house badly in need of repairs.

But that’s not all.

The house has the local reputation of being haunted by the ghost of Randolph Cantrell!

And instead of being vacant, the house, as the girls speedily discover, is tenanted by some very amazing people.

There is Guppy, a half-witted young man who is fond of playing dangerous games.

There is Marya, a mysterious young woman who tells them an astounding story, Singh, a religious mystic from India, and Voriloff, a Russian adventurer.

What do all these people want in the house?

One thing is certain: the girls are determined to solve this mystery in one night of fast and hilarious action.

Characters

Character	Gender	Age	Description
Chloe A pretty girl of 25 with an excellent sense of humor. Gets off her "wise-cracks" in an expressionless, "dead-pan" manner.	female	—	A pretty girl of 25 with an excellent sense of humor. Gets off her "wise-cracks" in an expressionless, "dead-pan" manner.
Guppy A half-witted young man of 20. Bizarre in appearance, with a great shock of unruly, flaming red hair (preferably a wig). Though grown, he has the mentality and instincts of a child.	male	—	A half-witted young man of 20. Bizarre in appearance, with a great shock of unruly, flaming red hair (preferably a wig). Though grown, he has the mentality and instincts of a child.
Mrs. Shump A woman in her 40’s. Large and very capable-looking, she is not the kind of person you'd want as an enemy.	female	—	A woman in her 40’s. Large and very capable-looking, she is not the kind of person you'd want as an enemy.
Marya A young woman of 25. Very quick, nervous, and with a passionate temper.	female	—	A young woman of 25. Very quick, nervous, and with a passionate temper.
Dick A young man of 25. Clean-cut and athletic in appearance	—	—	A young man of 25. Clean-cut and athletic in appearance
Singh A tall dark Hindu of uncertain age. Wears a dark business suit and white turban. A person of apparent culture.	—	—	A tall dark Hindu of uncertain age. Wears a dark business suit and white turban. A person of apparent culture.
Cantrell A tall, slim man in his sixties. A very well-bred person, and distinguished in appearance.	male	—	A tall, slim man in his sixties. A very well-bred person, and distinguished in appearance.
Herbie A young man of 28. Slight and wiry in appearance, never loses his professional manner.	male	—	A young man of 28. Slight and wiry in appearance, never loses his professional manner.
Wanda A young woman of 22. Bubbly and attractive.	female	—	A young woman of 22. Bubbly and attractive.
Pansy A stout, good-natured colored woman of any age.	female	—	A stout, good-natured colored woman of any age.
Vorjloff A sleek-looking man of 30. Well-dressed and seemingly untrustworthy.	—	—	A sleek-looking man of 30. Well-dressed and seemingly untrustworthy.
Janice A charming and attractive girl of 20. She is a young woman of intelligence, with a will of her own.	female	—	A charming and attractive girl of 20. She is a young woman of intelligence, with a will of her own.