"I must disagree," I said, thinking of those dreadful novels by Dumas.

It sounded like an episode in one those American penny dreadful novels.

"Border Music" must surely rank as one of the most dreadful novels to come along in a long time.

There were bolts on the doors, she could lock herself in-and although secret passageways and hidden doors in the walls were a hallmark of dreadful cheap novels, she knew enough about architecture to be aware that it was extremely difficult to construct such things, and even more difficult to conceal them.

Besides, to use that charming idiom your son has picked up from those dreadful novels of his, you can only play the cards you're dealt.

Lord, she felt as though she were walking through that dreadful novel by Mr. Walpole.

A penny dreadful novel?

Even this diary idea feels right...although it may only be the relief of finally being done with my dreadful pastoral novel.

Yet it was strangely reassuring to know that I hadn't been the first aristocratic fiend to move through the ballrooms of the world in search of my victims-the deadly gentleman who would soon surface in stories and poetry and penny dreadful novels as the very epitome of our tribe.