On the day of his wedding, Conrad, heir to the house of Otranto, is killed under mysterious circumstances. His calculating father, Manfred, fears that his dynasty will now come to an end and determines to marry his son's bride himself-despite the fact he is already married. But a series of terrifying supernatural omens soon threaten this unlawful union, as the curse placed on Manfred's ancestor, who usurped the lawful Prince of Otranto, begins to unfold. First published pseudonymously in 1764, The Castle of Otranto is a founding work of Gothic fiction.
Shakespeare finds himself the victim of treachery most foul when he is contacted by his dark mistress. His excitement at seeing her is short- lived as she threatens to expose their affair and blackmail him to pay for her considerable doctors' bills. A fire kills her, and the only witness is brutally murdered. Worse yet, Shakespeare is the primary suspect. With his reputation and his life itself on the line, Shakespeare must put down his quill and brace himself for a mystery like none other.
