Skip to content
The Beetle: A MysteryRichard Marsh

The Beetle: A Mystery

by OpenStories

Original author: Richard Marsh

CompletedPublished Updated

"The Beetle: A Mystery" by Richard Marsh is a Gothic horror novel published in 1897. A shape-shifting ancient Egyptian entity arrives in London seeking vengeance against a British politician, Paul Lessingham. Through mesmerism and terror, the creature manipulates innocent victims to further its dark purpose. Told through four different narrators, the story weaves together mystery, supernatural horror, and psychological control as the Beetle pursues its prey through Victorian London, threatening everyone connected to its target.

The Beetle: A Mystery, by Richard Marsh. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #5164.

  • 106,443words
  • 48chapters
  • 0stars
  • 0bookmarks
  • 4hits
Start reading

48 Chapters

  1. 1.Chapter I: Outside2,023 words
  2. 2.Chapter II: Inside2,562 words
  3. 3.Chapter III: The Man in the Bed1,684 words
  4. 4.Chapter IV: A Lonely Vigil1,977 words
  5. 5.Chapter V: An Instruction to Commit Burglary3,235 words
  6. 6.Chapter VI: A Singular Felony2,841 words
  7. 7.Chapter VII: The Great Paul Lessingham2,829 words
  8. 8.Chapter VIII: The Man in the Street675 words
  9. 9.Chapter IX: The Contents of the Packet1,637 words
  10. 10.Chapter X: Rejected1,815 words
  11. 11.Chapter XI: A Midnight Episode2,169 words
  12. 12.Chapter XII: A Morning Visitor1,637 words
  13. 13.Chapter XIII: The Picture3,727 words
  14. 14.Chapter XIV: The Duchess’ Ball2,732 words
  15. 15.Chapter XV: Mr Lessingham Speaks2,253 words
  16. 16.Chapter XVI: Atherton’s Magic Vapour2,685 words
  17. 17.Chapter XVII: Magic?--Or Miracle?697 words
  18. 18.Chapter XVIII: The Apotheosis of the Beetle5,413 words
  19. 19.Chapter XIX: The Lady Rages1,572 words
  20. 20.Chapter XX: A Heavy Father1,565 words
  21. 21.Chapter XXI: The Terror in the Night4,220 words
  22. 22.Chapter XXII: The Haunted Man4,110 words
  23. 23.Chapter XXIII: The Way He Told Her1,843 words
  24. 24.Chapter XXIV: A Woman’s View1,190 words
  1. 25.Chapter XXV: The Man in the Street1,392 words
  2. 26.Chapter XXVI: A Father’s No1,184 words
  3. 27.Chapter XXVII: The Terror by Night2,267 words
  4. 28.Chapter XXVIII: The Strange Story of the Man in the Street3,544 words
  5. 29.Chapter XXIX: The House on the Road From the Workhouse3,987 words
  6. 30.Chapter XXX: The Singular Behaviour of Mr Holt746 words
  7. 31.Chapter XXXI: The Terror by Day1,475 words
  8. 32.Chapter XXXII: A New Client876 words
  9. 33.Chapter XXXIII: What Came of Looking Through a Lattice3,620 words
  10. 34.Chapter XXXIV: After Twenty Years2,644 words
  11. 35.Chapter XXXV: A Bringer of Tidings770 words
  12. 36.Chapter XXXVI: What the Tidings Were1,581 words
  13. 37.Chapter XXXVII: What Was Hidden Under the Floor2,164 words
  14. 38.Chapter XXXVIII: The Rest of the Find1,492 words
  15. 39.Chapter XXXIX: Miss Louisa Coleman3,492 words
  16. 40.Chapter XL: What Miss Coleman Saw Through the Window2,001 words
  17. 41.Chapter XLI: The Constable,--His Clue,--And the Cab2,496 words
  18. 42.Chapter XLII: The Quarry Doubles1,742 words
  19. 43.Chapter XLIII: The Murder at Mrs ’enderson’s3,759 words
  20. 44.Chapter XLIV: The Man Who Was Murdered2,105 words
  21. 45.Chapter XLV: All That Mrs ’enderson Knew1,208 words
  22. 46.Chapter XLVI: The Sudden Stopping2,553 words
  23. 47.Chapter XLVII: The Contents of the Third-Class Carriage862 words
  24. 48.Chapter XLVIII: The Conclusion of the Matter1,392 words