23 - Goddess - A Demon by Richard Marsh

In the aftermath of a night filled with debauchery and gambling, John Ferguson is haunted by a petrifying dream. His neighbor is savagely butchered by an unseen enemy in the dream, and to his horror, he wakes up to the sight of a mysterious, blood-stained woman clambering through his window, her memory lost. His terror heightens when he discovers his dream wasnt merely a nightmare, but a gruesome reality. His neighbor was indeed savagely murdered. As suspicion surrounds the enigmatic woman, Ferguson embarks on a quest to unveil her identity and apprehend the ruthless murderer. First published in the Manchester Weekly Times and Salford Weekly News in a series of twelve installments, The Goddess is a quintessential Richard Marsh novel. It flawlessly intertwines elements of crime, romance, and the supernatural, while offering a profound commentary on the eras pressing issues, including imperialism, the turn of the century, and the emergence of the New Woman.