The Reptile Room

Not to be confused with the room of the same name. The Reptile Room is a 1999 book by Daniel Handler, narrated in first person as Lemony Snicket. It describes the Baudelaire orphans' stay in the house of their Uncle Monty. After their dreadful stay with Count Olaf, the Baudelaire children are driving to the house of their first cousin, once removed's brother-in-law, Dr. Montgomery, that works in the Herpetological Society. Their first days in their stay is good, where they get to see Monty's Reptile Room, but then a new assistant for Monty, Stephano shows up. The Baudelaires see through his disguise and recognise him as Count Olaf, but Uncle Monty doesn't. Stephano eventually kills Uncle Monty, but his disguise is revealed at the end of the book.

Beginning
For Beatrice,

My love for you shall live forever.

You, however, did not...

Note at the Back
Dear Reader,

If you have picked up this book with the hope of finding a simple and cheery tale, I'm afraid you have picked up the wrong book altogether. The story may seem cheery at first, when the Baudelaire children spend time in the company of some interesting reptiles and a giddy uncle, but don­'t be fooled. If you know anything at all about the unlucky Baudelaire children, you already know that even pleasant events lead down the same road to misery.

In fact, within the pages you now hold in your hands, the three siblings endure a car accident, a terrible odor, a deadly serpent, a long knife, a large brass reading lamp, and the reappearance of a person they­'d hoped never to see again.

I am bound to record these tragic events, but you are free to put this book back on the shelf and seek something lighter.

With all due respect,

Lemony Snicket