Dark, cerebral, and unforgiving…
Gatto’s latest novel is a haunting, richly imagined political gothic tale set in a Europe on the verge of collapse. Salbador, a repressed caretaker in an isolated coastal manse, grows increasingly unstable under the cruel authority of Pietro, a corrupt minister with a dark past. As war looms and the Church schemes to silence a powerful duchess, Salbador’s inner turmoil breaks into murder, setting off a quiet chain of violence and deception. Gatto’s prose is dense and lyrical, full of rot and ritual, perfectly suited to the manse itself, a forgotten coastal estate where the walls remember too much. The volatile dynamic between Pietro and Salbador remains at the heart of the story. Their quiet war—rooted in class, sexuality, and faith—is portrayed with stark authenticity. Gatto captures the historical dread with a slow, claustrophobic pace, and his vision of religious and political power is stark and unforgiving. For readers drawn to slow-burn psychological thrillers, political intrigue, and religious gothic, this is a hidden gem.
Not a light read, but one that lingers; unnerving, mournful, and deeply human.
Pub date
Palmetto Publishing
ISBN 9798822928480
Price $25.99 (USD) Hardcover, $10.00 Paperback, $5.99 Kindle edition
