The Ghoul

by Frank King

Frank King (1892-1958) A prolific crime author, Dr. Frank King was born in Halifax in 1892 and educated at Leeds, where he qualified as a doctor in 1914. King's first novel, published while he was still a doctor, was 'Miriam of the Moorland' (1924). He became a full-time freelance writer in 1936, and soon won acclaim for his many crime and mystery novels. "The Ghoul" was first published in England in 1928 and was made into a film starring Boris Karloff in 1933......In an eerie, fog-shrouded London, an ancient curse has been unleashed and a reign of terror is about to begin! Horror movie legend Boris Karloff is unforgettable in this "blood-curdling" (Motion Picture Herald) thriller that brings to life the classic tale of the mummy! On his deathbed, famed Egyptologist Professor Morlant (Karloff) instructs his assistant to bury him with an ancient jewel he believes will grant him eternal life. But soon after he's entombed, the sacred treasure is ripped from his hand by a mysterious grave robber. Now, filled with fury, Morlant rises from his crypt as a grotesquely decaying mummy determined to avenge the theft and destroy everything in his path!

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1928

About the author

Dr Frank King was an English medical practioner and novelist, mainly writing crime and mystery fiction. His most famous novel was The Ghoul (1928), later filmed with Boris Karloff. Some of his many novels were published under the pen-name "Clive Conrad".

Reviews

[Creolecat]

What a Carve Up! (1961)

[Lisa Kucharski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief synopsis: A young woman is visited by a lawyer telling her of the death of her benefactor. If she is to acquire the estate she must spend six months living in the house. She must then meet the man the next morning to travel with him. Feeling a little nervous, she goes to tell her friend and flat mate about this. On her way, she is attacked but gets away by the aid of a drunk man stumbling upon the situation. She reaches her friend and the friend decides to go with her. Upon arrival at the house the two ladies find it well appointed by quite odd. Then things start to happen.

It is a mystery- as in- what is going on. And is is also part horror. For me it was a page-turner as in you just wanted to know what was going to happen. The story had elements that there were old-fashioned and ones that felt very contemporary. Now I need to find the film of this made with Bela Lugosi. (I know it's on youtube.)