The Lodger · Chapter
The Lodger explained
The Buntings, facing financial ruin, take in a mysterious lodger named Mr.
What happens
The Buntings, facing financial ruin, take in a mysterious lodger named Mr. Sleuth, whose peculiar habits and nighttime wanderings soon arouse suspicion. Meanwhile, a series of murders by a figure known as 'The Avenger' terrorizes London, and the household becomes entangled in fear and moral ambiguity.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This is the dramatic climax because Bunting’s psychological tension peaks into a desperate, instinctive need f…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Appearance vs. Reality
Mr. Sleuth appears to be a quiet, respectable lodger, but his true nature and activities are hidden beneath this facade.
- Fear and Suspicion
The Buntings' growing unease about their lodger and the widespread terror of the Avenger murders permeate the chapter.
Characters to notice
- Mrs. Bunting
The landlady who, along with her husband, decides to take in a lodger to alleviate their financial distress.
- Mr. Sleuth
The mysterious lodger whose peculiar habits and nocturnal activities raise suspicion.
- Mr. Bunting
Mrs. Bunting's husband, who agrees to the plan of taking in a lodger.
- The Avenger
The serial killer whose murders are terrorizing London, creating an atmosphere of fear.
Key passages
“The Lodger”
The chapter introduces the arrival of a mysterious lodger at the Buntings' home.
This sets the central plot in motion.
