The Courtesy of Death

By: Geoffrey Household

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Synopsis: A retired engineer in rural Britain finds himself caught up in the murderous machinations of an ancient pagan blood cult A former British mining engineer, Yarrow is hoping to start over in the English countryside as the owner and operator of a small combination inn and garage. But while staying the night at a prospective property near Avalon, he is awakened by a loud pounding at the door—and opens it to discover a distraught, seemingly mad visitor babbling on about all manner of incomprehensible concerns. Intrigued by the engaging lunatic Barnabas Fosworthy and unable to turn a deaf ear to his desperate pleas for help in finding a missing young woman, the all-too-good-hearted Yarrow inadvertently invites grave danger into his life. Fosworthy is part of a circle of crazed fanatics tied to ancient and terrifying beliefs—and before Yarrow realizes what he has gotten himself into, he finds himself trapped in an underground cavern, the prisoner of determined cultists who view murder as a gift. Now he must pursue every conceivable path toward escape—or consign himself a horrifying end. Chilling, surprising, and utterly riveting, The Courtesy of Death is a wildly imaginative suspense yarn that blends intrigue with a touch of the otherworldly. Filled with action and unforeseen twists, this is the bravura work of a master storyteller operating at the very top of his game.