The Lodger


Fiction - Short Story/Novela
58 Pages
Reviewed on 10/18/2023
Buy on Amazon

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.

This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.

Author Biography

Robert E. Kearns is the author of novels, Carnivore, Crabb, Freedom is For the Few, Ossuary, Embers, Lost and Found, A Donnybrook Affair and Hy Brasil: Island of Eternity
In addition, he has written multiple short stories and novellas, many of them to critical acclaim.
Robert lives and writes in Dublin.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Bryone Peters for Readers' Favorite

The Lodger by Robert E. Kearns is about a recently graduated woman, Alice Foley, who accepts a position in Dublin. The trouble was finding suitable accommodation there. Her friends warned her that it might be a nightmare. Alice struggles for a while but eventually finds an accommodation to her liking. The rental price is cheaper than most other places. She found it curious because it had ample space and was in a desirable location. It ticked all the boxes for her requirements, except for one thing. There was something inexplicably different about the landlord. Regardless, she was thrilled to have found suitable lodgings and ignored any reservations about the place. She invites her mother to come and view her new rental abode. Then, events take an unexpected turn.

The story has a strong vein of psychological terror. The drama and nerve-wracking scenes make it a worthwhile read. The antagonist, the butler, is creepy and bizarre. The writing is good and is perfect for the plot. The build-up to the climax is excellent, and the ending will leave you with a quickened pulse. The best part of the narrative is in the dialogue. The dialogue between Alice and her mother reveals the thoughts of any like-minded individual who might find themselves in such a situation. The mother’s apprehension about the new landlord drives the suspense. The mother’s concerns parallel the concerns of anyone who fears for their child’s wellbeing. The Lodger by Robert E. Kearns will not disappoint readers who enjoy suspense.