In west London on the bank of the Thames lives Stephen Byrne, the war poet-the shining star of his well-heeled street. But Stephen isn't the perfect specimen they imagine him to be: he spontaneously assaults his new maid, killing her, and setting his life-and that of his friend John Egerton-on a dangerously out-of-control path.

The House by the River is A. P. Herbert's second novel. These days it is perhaps best known as the source material for Fritz Lang's 1950 film of the same name.

Perfect for readers who enjoy sophisticated British crime fiction with literary depth and historical atmosphere. Herbert masterfully weaves together the aftermath of war, the complexities of friendship, and dark secrets lurking beneath respectable society.