The Story

The book kicks off with a down-on-his-luck clerk, Robert Holt, who takes shelter in an abandoned house. Bad idea. He’s hypnotized and enslaved by a grotesque, ancient creature that can appear as a man, a woman, or a giant beetle. This being has one goal: to destroy the charismatic politician Paul Lessingham. The story then jumps between Holt, Lessingham, a detective, and a headstrong young woman named Marjorie. Each gets their own section, showing how the Beetle’s revenge plot tangles their lives together in increasingly dangerous ways.

Why You Should Read It

Forget stuffy Victorian prose. This book moves. Marsh writes with a frantic energy that pulls you from one cliffhanger to the next. The real horror isn’t just the Beetle’s appearance, but how it works—it uses hypnotism and psychological torture, preying on shame and weakness. It’s a monster that feels modern in its methods. I also loved seeing London from these different, desperate perspectives. You’re never quite sure who to trust, or if anyone will make it out sane.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a page-turning gothic thriller with a bizarre, unforgettable villain. If you enjoyed the pace of a Wilkie Collins mystery but wished it had more outright horror, this is your next read. It’s a fascinating slice of popular fiction from the 1890s that proves some fears—of the unknown, of losing control—are truly timeless.