A brilliant yet ruthless physician, James Marshall has earned renown for his efforts in fighting epidemics in every corner of the world, yet at home he is feared and despised by all, including his brother and sister, who have long been tormented by his diabolical perversity and sadistic cruelty. When he finally succumbs to the one outbreak he is unable to conquer, everyone is relieved to be rid of him. But when his niece Olive begins to exhibit strange mannerisms and behaviors reminiscent of her uncle, is it merely a peculiar way of grieving—or could the soul of the wicked dead man actually be trying to take possession of her body? As her family struggles to save her from a terrible fate, the chilling suspense builds towards a harrowing and unthinkable conclusion . . .   

Dennis Parry (1912-1955) was the author of ten critically acclaimed novels but fell into an undeserved obscurity after his untimely death in a car accident at age 42. His third novel, The Survivor (1940), a classic story of the supernatural, earned rave reviews from critics, who ranked it alongside Henry James's The Turn of the Screw and the works of Algernon Blackwood. This first-ever republication of Parry's novel features a new introduction by Mark Valentine.