The Shadowy Thing by H.B. Drake

"The Shadowy Thing" by H.B. Drake is a supernatural novel published in 1928 by Vanguard Press. The narrative, presented as a first-person account by the protagonist Dick, centers on his schoolboy antagonism toward Avery Booth, a charismatic peer with apparent hypnotic powers. When Avery places the nervous student Gaveston into a trance, the boy becomes convulsed and claims possession by a disembodied spirit attempting to inhabit his body. Gaveston subsequently experiences psychological deterioration, plagued by nightmares and the sensation of something malevolent attempting to invade his consciousness. The novel explores themes of supernatural influence, possession, and the narrator's struggle to reconcile impossible phenomena with rational understanding. The narrative structure spans three parts with multiple chapters, examining the escalating mystery surrounding Avery's occult abilities and their devastating effects on vulnerable individuals.