Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole (1884-1941) was a New Zealand-born English novelist famous for his skill at scene setting and vivid plots. He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s and remains popular to this day.

The Tarn is one of the most grisly horror stories ever conceived. Giles Foster goes to visit his old acquaintance, Fenweick, in his remote cottage in the Lake District. He has heard that Fenwick bears him some grudge, and he is keen to put things right between them.

But Fenwick is in no mood to make peace with Foster. His secret fantasies are all about slowly squeezing Foster's scrawny neck...and now here is Foster in person. What will he do?