The House on the Beach is a first rate suspense novel. On its publication in 1957, it was declared by a reviewer as "a magnificent story... the best mystery of the year". What's more (as I can attest), it's a thriller that can stay with the reader for decades. As a teenager, I borrowed it from the library by mistake (I got it confused with On the Beach ). Decades later, I recalled it vividly, and having recently located a copy, I reread it -- and it's still a thriller.

Twelve year old Katherine suddenly finds herself orphaned, and under the care of the man her mother recently married. Fortunately, she has inherited her mother's substantial estate; but with growing horror, she suspects that her new stepfather is trying to kill her. The suspense is agonizing, as her suspicions are gradually confirmed -- and entirely alone, she must match wits against the man who murdered her own mother.

This book was the first novel of George W. Potter, writing under a pseudonym, and it's too bad it has fallen into obscurity. When it comes to suspense, it certainly ranks better than a lot of works that are better known. ( )

Seat edge suspense as a little girl tries to avoid being murdered ( )