Edward Moody is a con-man. Setting up shop in 1870’s Boston, he uses the new technology of photography to lure unsuspecting victims, promising to capture the ghosts of their deceased loved ones. It’s all a scam, and one he’s extremely good at, but when he finds a real ghost in one of his fake photographs, it sends him down a dangerous and eerie path. Moody recognizes the ghost as someone from his past. He travels south to Louisiana to settle this business once and for all.
But there are others who aim to stop Moody. And they are prepared to do anything to keep Moody from his quest.
Why we’re excited about this book:
Ghosts are one of the oldest horror tropes, yet there remains an untapped wealth of stories within the sub-genre when placed in the hands of capable writers. When the stories have a historical slant, things can get a little creepy, and Dickens scholar Jon Michael Varese definitely knows the historical territory. The Spirit Photographer explores a con-artist facing the supernatural, which opens the door for dark character development against the backdrop of the emotional seduction of the chance for others to see their lost loved ones again. This debut novel from Jon Michael Varese hits bookstores 17 April 2018, and is available for pre-order right now.
BOB PASTORELLA