"The Landlady" by Roald Dahl is a short story that tells the tale of a young man named Billy Weaver who travels to Bath on a business trip and finds himself in need of a place to stay. As he is walking through the town, he comes across a cozy looking bed and breakfast called the Bell and Dragon. The landlady, Mrs. Willow, seems friendly and welcoming, and Billy decides to take a room for the night.
However, as the night wears on, Billy begins to notice some strange things about the bed and breakfast. For one, all of the clocks in the house are stopped at exactly ten minutes to nine. Additionally, the landlady seems to know an awful lot about her guests, including their names and where they are from, even though she has never met them before.
As Billy tries to sleep, he hears a noise coming from the room next door and decides to investigate. He finds that the room is empty, but the bed is neatly made and there is a pair of shoes sitting at the foot of the bed. When he returns to his own room, he finds that the landlady has left a tray of tea and sandwiches for him, which he eats despite his growing sense of unease.
The next morning, Billy decides to leave the bed and breakfast, but Mrs. Willow insists that he stay for breakfast. As they sit down to eat, Billy realizes that the other guests at the table are all people who have disappeared in the past, including a man who went missing ten years ago.
It becomes clear that Mrs. Willow is a serial killer who lures her victims to the bed and breakfast and then poisons them, preserving their bodies in the basement. Billy narrowly escapes with his life, thanks to the intervention of a police officer who has been investigating the disappearances.
"The Landlady" is a classic example of the horror genre, with its creepy setting, mysterious characters, and shocking twist ending. Dahl's writing is vivid and descriptive, and he is able to create a sense of mounting tension and dread as the story unfolds. The character of Mrs. Willow is particularly well-developed, as she seems sweet and innocent at first, but is revealed to be a cold-blooded killer.
Overall, "The Landlady" is a thrilling and suspenseful read that is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats. It is a testament to Dahl's skill as a storyteller and his ability to create memorable and terrifying characters.
