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An Inspector Bonaparte Mystery. The Answerth family's mansion seems to deserve its nickname of "Venom House". Perhaps that's because of its forbidding setting, an island in the centre of a man-made lake, its treacherous waters studded by the skeletons of long-dead trees. Perhaps it's because of the unquiet ghosts of the Aborigines slaughtered by Answerth ancestors. Or perhaps it's just because the Answerth household is such a strange one.

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4 reviews
Most people are content to leave the Answerth family alone. Their mansion, Venom House, secluded on an island nt he center of a treacherous man-made lake, doesn't exaclty lay out the welcome mat for prospective visitors. And there are the stories tjat Venom House is haunted by ghosts of aborigines slaughtered by Answerth ancestors to keep oustsiders away. But when a couple of corpses are found floating in the stagnant lake, Detective-Inspector Napoleon Bonaparte has a sudden urge to get to know the Answerths and their charming home much better.

This almost read like a gothic novel--creepy atmosphere, troubled family, complete with faithful (?) retainer, mentally ill brother, dominant sister, etc. But it was really good. I enjoyed the show more setting a lot and the characters were well done. show less
Not my favorite in the series because of the gri atmosphere.. It involves a house built on land gained by killiing a band of Aborigines in the past, if I recall correctly, leaving it apparently cursed. Now two corpses have turned up in a nearby lake and Boney investigates.
Un opus différent, bien conçu et bien tiré par les cheveux comme il se doit
½

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56+ Works 6,448 Members
Author Arthur W. Upfield was born in Gosport, Hampshire, England on September 1, 1890. He moved to Australia and adopted it as his homeland. He is best known for his series of books featuring Detective Inspector Napoleon "Bony" Bonaparte of the Queensland State Police. He died on February 13, 1964. (Bowker Author Biography)

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Common Knowledge

Original title
Venom House
Original publication date
1952
People/Characters
Napoleon 'Bony' Bonaparte (Detective Inspector)
Important places
Australia

Classifications

Genres
Fiction and Literature, Mystery
DDC/MDS
823.912Literature & rhetoricEnglish & Old English literaturesEnglish fiction1900-1901-19991901-1945
LCC
PR9619.3 .U6 .V4Language and LiteratureEnglishEnglish LiteratureEnglish literature: Provincial, local, etc.
BISAC

Statistics

Members
209
Popularity
155,564
Reviews
4
Rating
(3.86)
Languages
English, French, German
Media
Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
ISBNs
22
ASINs
10