I have previously posted on some dime novel reprints put out via a Kickstarter campaign from Darren Németh‘s Giant Squid Audio Lab Co. The first were two in his Page-Turner Series. Next was a campaign to reprint the novelization of a Lon Chaney movie, Outside the Law (1920). Then a campaign for another in the Page-Turner Series.
At this writing there is another to reprint a couple of works. One being Fritz to the Front, from a 1881 dime novel, reprinted in 1920. And the other, a reprint from the British penny dreadful series of Dick Turpin.
This time we’ll look at the third in the Page-Turner Series, The House of Mystery. This is a novelization by Grace Miller White of a play by Langdon McCormick from 1908. I did find it interesting that White had novelized the play that was reprinted in the first of the Page-Turner Series.
The House of Mystery was, for me, a bizarre story. With today’s current mania about human trafficking, this fits in with that matter, though set in the early 1900s. The “House” in question is a sinister group of rich men who bring in young, unassuming girls, and force them to be “companions” to their members.
The story focuses on two young girls. One is Bonny Colville, who comes to New York to find her father, who had mysteriously disappeared. But in looking for a safe hotel to stay at, is instead steered to the House. The other is Faith Worthing, who works at a department store, but is being blackmailed to come to the House.
But things change when young Jim Denton comes to town also looking for Bonny’s father, Jeff Colville, whom he had been in business with. It appears that Colville is now known as Robert Allison and seems to be involved in the House of Mystery group. But through hard work and perveverance, Denton goes up against the House and brings it to an end and rescues both Bonny and Faith, as well as Jeff.
It’s another melodrama from the early 1900s. I wonder how popular the play was? Was it turned into a movie as well? I do wonder.
Another great reprint from Giant Squid. I recommend that if people are interested in this to keep an eye out on Kickstarter. There aren’t many additional copies available, but maybe in future campaigns they may be made available. I believe Nemeth plans on doing a few of these each year, with different types of works. I think a collection of “Old Sleuth” stories are planned soon.
