Description
Cut off by the Russian Civil War, the mysterious sanitorium known as ‘The Yellow House’ is beset by rumour, superstition, and strange, prophetic dreams.
Central Russia, 1919, a sanatorium cut off by the chaos of the Russian civil war. The murder of the chief doctor sets in motion a nightmarish series of events involving mysterious experiments, the secret police, the Tsar’s double, an enigmatic ‘visitor’, giant corpses, possessed cats, sorcery, and the overwhelming madness of war, in this fantastical and wildly exuberant historical novel.
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REVIEWS
Alan Bilton’s The End of the Yellow House is, aptly, a Russian doll of a novel in which an Agatha Christie-style whodunnit, a gory horror story, an examination of Soviet political history and a meditation on madness contain one another in a carefully crafted whole – as entertaining as it is thoughtful. – Gareth Smith, Wales Arts Review
Set in and around a snowbound Russian sanatorium in 1919, the novel is a darkly witty, hallucinatory exploration of madness, morality, and mortality, in a world in which no definitions are fixed. Part detective story, part surrealist fable, The End of the Yellow House riffs on Bulgakov, Gogol, Bruno Schulz and Boney M, but is ultimately a strikingly original and intriguing work in its own right – Oz Hardwick, Inverse Books of the Year
A gloriously maverick novel – Matthew G. Rees, Horla
Walks a tense tightrope strung between comedy and tragedy with a deft and steady sense of balance… there are plenty of excellent one-liners as this wild juggernaut of a novel careers its way along, sploshing mud and blood and tension as it goes. – Jon Gower, Nation Cymru
This at-times brutal, at-times comic, at-times surreal but always gripping novel … is very far from conforming to the rules of the mystery novel – Michael Stein, New Welsh Review
A brutal, but often witty and tender tale, The End of the Yellow House is a twistedly brilliant emotional rollercoaster. In experiencing its expansive vistas and claustrophobic tunnels, we learn to distrust the vibrant characters here, as well as the very landscape which they inhabit. A delicious mystery on every page —David Towsey
A bold and confident novel that throws us into the deep end of post-revolutionary Russian life with fervour and wit. There are knowing nods to Gogol and Bulgakov, but the voice is entirely original, with a gem of a phrase on every page. I love the quizzical, querulous, dry voice and it’s a satisfying whilst sometimes disorientating experience… the characters are larger than life, but the mud is real.
Alan Bilton has a real talent for the unexpected left-hand turn, with lines that turn on a sixpence and surreal narrative twists. It reads like a very modern translation of a 19th century Russian classic – if that sounds like your kind of thing, you will love this book – Mark Blayney
Amazon Reviews
Incandenza
5.0 out of 5 stars Totally unique
A beautifully presented, unique, edgy, totally extraordinary foray into a dark and epoch-defining historical moment. It is several books in one: mystery, horror, psychological thriller; historical fiction, dry comic satire, surrealist masterpiece, philosophical provocation… But the setting is so vivid, the characters so memorable, and the prose so bewitching that all the strands cohere into a satisfying whole. It is a virtuoso performance.
clemency99
5.0 out of 5 stars A darkly twisting multilayered novel…
A darkly twisting multilayered novel set in fascinating though desperate times. Bilton’s unique voice creates a world that swerves from the playfully absurd to the horrific. Gogal and Bulgakov have been mentioned in reviews though there’s plenty here for fans of Chuck Palahniuk to relish too… Read it!
TracyAnn
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and masterfully done
A truly fascinating mix of historical fiction, mystery, fantasy and (somehow) humour. Alan Bilton has weaved together a complex tale that is utterly riveting and despite the grimness of the setting and the nightmarish events there is humour, warmth and pathos in equal measure. I would call it a ‘page turner’ if the phrase didn’t have such low brow connotations, this book is too thought provoking for that. Oh what the hell – it’s a page turner.
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly horrifying whodunit
Utterly fantastic! A masterful blend of historical fiction and mystery. Set in 1919, the Yellow House is a former sanitorium for the rich which has shrunken into a lunatic asylum. The plot kicks off with the discovery of the body of the asylum’s superintendent. A eerie, macabre novel with witty and sharp dialogue and a fantastic ensemble of characters. I’m recommending this horrifying whodunit to everyone!!
Gerry C
5.0 out of 5 stars Murder, madness, mud…
Despite everything being in chaos in the aftermath of the Russian revolution, plus the fact that the setting is an institution where even the doctors show signs of madness and everyone is a potential enemy, there is humour and hope and a brilliant fast-paced plot in this novel. It’s real, but surreal. Life may be extremely difficult for the characters, but they’d rather live it than have their throats cut. Unfortunately, often things don’t work out as they hope… Brilliant novel!
ian
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, funny, moving
Immensely enjoyable, well worth buying. I will be re-reading mine. The dialogue crackles with wit; the characters manage to be funny, complex and tragic. An exciting and well-paced plot keeps you turning pages. The settings are made to come alive by the wonderful descriptions – the eponymous Yellow House is a magnificent backdrop, and you get fascinating insights into the Civil War and peasant life. I can’t recommend it enough. Great novel!
JoS
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read
A brilliant read. So much to enjoy. Wonderful depiction of the chaos of the era and the characters trying to survive in it. A story I’ll re-read and enjoy again.
Piers Ellison
5.0 out of 5 stars Dark and gripping
A fantastic read for fans of McCarthy and the like. Alan Bilton mixes the fictional and non-fictional worlds with ease in this dark, gripping novel.
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