An exhilarating story packed with magnificently complex characters, psychological intrigue, and horror…
Gordon brilliantly integrates psychological depth into a chilling horror plot in this mind-boggling debut which tells the story of three broken souls trying to come to terms with their painful pasts. Adam, a high school English teacher with a traumatic past, is struggling to find solace in alcohol after tragic death of his wife and son when he learns about the notorious Dagger Island, a place presumed to carry the sinister power of ghost-whispering. Trying to find closure, Adam decides to go to the island and lands at a crumbling old boarding house, a place haunted by the ghost of a mysterious woman. The boarding house is run by 82-year old recluse Anthony who is grappling with his own trauma and guilt. Haunted by their past memories, the trio try to come to terms with their very existence. The emotionally powered, indulgent narrative moves at a quick pace, and the tension between the three protagonists fuels the intrigue. Gordon delivers a suspenseful, tense horror that gets in with the novel’s Gothic island atmosphere and “Menage-a-Guilt” central theme. Gordon’s deeply moving prose (“She is stained-glass. She is a church on a quiet morning before the saints and sinners tarnish it for the mere mortals.” Writes Gordon) is an absolute treat for the fans of fine Gothic literature. This deeply affecting novel characterizes the thrills that readers seek out in a finely-constructed psychological horror story. It should easily rank with the best of its genre. A stunner!
