Sleuth (The Lodger)

Mr. Sleuth
Biographical Information
Aliases	Sleuth The Avenger
Home country	England, United Kingdom
Homeworld	Earth
Physical Information
Species	Human
Gender	Male
Chronological / Political Information
Citizenship	British
Fictional Information
Created by	Marie Belloc Lowndes
First Appearance	The Lodger
Final Appearance	The Lodger

“	Do not think to escape the consequences of your hideous treachery. I trusted you, Mrs. Bunting, and you betrayed me! Put I am protected by a higher power, for I still have much to do. Your end will be bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword. Your feet shall go down to death, and your steps take hold on hell.	”
–Mr. Sleuth, threatening Ellen Bunting in their final encounter

Sleuth was the name used by a British serial killer of the 20th century, who was referred to by newspapers of the time as the Avenger.

Personality

Sleuth possessed a puritanical personality; he was an abstainer who refused to imbibe alcohol. He was subsumed by a religious mania that led him to believe his killings were sanctioned by God. (PROSE: The Lodger)

Notes

Behind the Scenes

• The Avenger was created by English author Marie Belloc Lowndes.

Trivia

• While in the full novel Sleuth survives and escapes without being caught, in the original short story he is found to have drowned in a river.

Appearances

• The Lodger (first and final appearance)