Murderous Houses. You know what I mean. Of course they feature most especially in gothic mysteries, but not always, regular mysteries like a nicely spooky house too though occasionally the mystery within has little to do with the house on the cover. (I hate when that happens.) The creepy house is simply there as a lure for suckers like me.
For if the cover art features a sinister house, then I will always pick up the book and, at least, take a good look. And doesn't it make your blood boil when the title features a house but the cover art doesn't? Drives me mad. But then, I've been known to overreact.
Great covers, Yvette! The cover for Rebecca reminds me of the great short story by Richard Connel titled "The Most Dangerous Game." — Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteNot familiar with the Connel story, Mark. I'll have to look it up. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend too. :)
DeleteThe Most Dangerous Game is about a big game hunter that gets shipwrecked on an island that's inhabited by another big game hunter. The island's owner has gotten bored with hunting animals and lets his guest know that now the game is hunting shipwrecked people who wash ashore. But he's a good sport — he allows the guest some supplies, including a knife, and a head start.
DeleteThanks for the info, Mark. Not sure if this is the kind of story I'd want to read. Sounds more like a manly man type thing to me. :)
DeleteLOVE this post! Nothing gets me as excited as a creepy old house! Growing up with Nancy Drew (Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion, The Bungalow Mystery, The Ghost of Blackwood Hall, and others), The Haunting of Hill House, and the Gothic romance revival of the 1960s, it's not surprising that an old, creepy house in a book or a movie is something I can't resist.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joan. I really enjoy these more visual posts, like rounding up the covers and all. I looked for the Nancy Drew covers on my Pinterest board, but wouldn't you know it? - the titles you mention have no houses on the covers. Just parts of houses or rooms indoors. Go figure. I thought I'd already done a gothic covers post a while back but couldn't find it. Maybe I'll do another one. :)
DeleteAfter reading your response, I checked the covers, too, and, of course, you're right. Maybe that just points up my susceptibility. Mention a creepy old house in a title and I'll conjure one up in my imagination for the cover art!
DeleteI'm the same way, Joan. My favorite Nancy books (at least in memory) are THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE (mention a spooky staircase and I'm there as well) and THE MYSTERY OF THE MOSS COVERED MANSION. I mean, really, how can you go wrong? :)
DeleteI'm with you, Yvette ... a spooky cover with a scary house gets me every time. I want to read all of these books (some would be for the 2nd or 3rd time). Especially Rebecca, which is not only a great book, but also named after me ... I mean, I was named after it! (I'm not egotistical, not at all!)
ReplyDeleteNot egotistical at all, Becky. But a little fanning of the flame never hurts. :) I would automatically pick up any book with a scary house on the cover too. But there's more to come, I have a couple of more book cover posts of this kind coming in the next few weeks. So stay tuned. :)
DeleteYvette, such wonderful covers! Thanks for sharing them. I think many of these covers are hardbacks and I might have come across such books at the book exhibitions I frequent. Next time I'm going to look harder.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Prashant. I hope you do come across some of these beauts in your book travels. :)
DeleteI'm working on an art piece made up of just Agatrha Christie paperback covers which I plan to then to photograph and sell the prints. How does that sound?
P.S. You could probably do the same thing by printing out the covers online and making your own wall hanging. Just cut them out and paste them down on an appropriate sized cardboard. If you're so inclined, that is.
DeleteYvette, I'd interested in seeing your Agatha Christie paperback covers. I haven't seen many old covers.
DeleteI love 'em. You'll see more as we go along. I have an Agatha Christie Pinterest board, Prashant. LOTS of vintage covers. Here's the link. Hope it works.
Deletehttps://www.pinterest.com/yvettespaintbox/dame-agatha/
Wonderful! And WHILE THE WIND HOWLED has the best title of the bunch!
ReplyDeleteYes! Though my favorite cover art is THE PLAGUE COURT MURDERS. Imagine living in a place called Plague Court? Me either. :)
DeleteYvette, there's an Arsene Lupin (the French Gentleman-Thief, created by Mauice Leblanc) mystery called "The Mysterious Mansion." Lupin becomes involved in two kidnapping cases where the victims describe a sinister couple of kidnappers and a rather distinctive house. He manages to trace the house...but the couple living in the house are NOT the kidnappers and he becomes convinced that the house itself is not what it seems to be. It's a fun thriller - the only English translation I've seen is a Kindle e-book version; I'm not sure if this particular Lupin was translated into English before now, but it's an enjoyable read and the house itself makes an interesting "character." I'll have a full review on my podcast next week.
ReplyDeleteI'll be looking forward to it, Les. Sounds like a story I will want to read. Arsene Lupin - now there's a name from antiquity. I wonder if he was the model for Hercule Poirot?? Or maybe Lupin was based on Edgar Allen Poe's creation? Forgot his name.
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