Publisher's Synopsis
1945. The war is over, veteran Sydney Otterton is penniless and all that is left is Cranfield, the dilapidated family pile. His terrifying mother has taken everything else and don't think for a minute she will stop at that... Sydney moves in with his beautiful wife, three children and the faithful observant housekeeper, Annie. Mr Johnson, an ex-army sergeant, joins them at the house as does a series of unorthodox governesses, and a rather dubious butler. Once the elderly romantic Mr Rakowski, an eccentric historian delving into the family archives, unearths some dark secrets and a body is found in the lake, the stage is set for a classic comic melodrama:a brilliant post-war period piece with all the conventions of a murder mystery. The House is an inventive, intriguing and humorous novel which evolves through the eyes of four characters who narrate the events in a variety of formats - from letters and diaries to academic notes. With touches reminiscent of Wilkie Collins and Oscar Wilde this is a classic novel with a contemporary twist.
