The Lodger

Marie Belloc Lowndes

The classic and chilling Jack the Ripper story

The book tells the story of Mr and Mrs. Bunting, owners of a failing lodging in London, who see in Mr. Sleuth, their only guest in a long time, their chance to salvage their business. As new murders happen in the surrounding neighbourhoods, the couple slowly begin to suspect their lodger might be the one responsible for them.

The story is based on the Whitechapel murders of 1888, committed by Jack the Ripper. The Lodger is the first known novelization based on the story. It has been considered an example of how to write a psychological suspense due to its focus on the effects the serial killer has on the main cast of characters, instead of on the murders themselves. The novel was adapted multiple times to the cinema and radio, including Alfred Hitchcock's first thriller film, The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog.