“With her debut novel, van Veen presents a gothic tale of a woman with a ghastly spirit companion caught in the embrace of sapphic desire.”
Ruth. Dead for centuries. Strange, and very much like a corpse. She’s a spirit companion only Roos Beckman can see, and Ruth is the light of Roos’ life. Well, she is … until a rich young widow visits one of Roos’ seances. There, Ruth and the widow, Agnes Knoop, strike up a weird connection.
Roos is now at the decrepit estate Agnes inherited after her husband died. An ill woman haunts the halls, strange stone statues sit in the family chapel, and weird odors drift through the air. Something is festering in the manor, something dreadful. But yet, there’s a definite attraction between Roos and Agnes.
Then, someone is murdered.
Suddenly alone, unmoored, and harboring a history of ‘hysterics’, Roos looks to be the obvious culprit. Her sanity and innocence in the balance, Roos is forced to prove who—or what—is the murderer, or risk losing it all.
Spirits are drawn to salt, be it blood or tears.
Why we’re excited about this book:
Growing up in the Netherlands with her two sisters, Johanna van Veen is a new name to horror fiction, but a name you’ll soon be familiar with. van Veen received her MA in English Literature, specializing in early modern literature, as well as an MA Book and Digital Media with a specialization in early modern book history, both at Leiden University. With her debut novel, van Veen presents a gothic tale of a woman with a ghastly spirit companion caught in the embrace of sapphic desire. Cherie Priest (The Drowning House) says: “My Darling Dreadful Thing is a disquieting delight—an exciting and original gothic tale, told with tremendous flair.”, William Friend (Let Him In) says: “My Darling Dreadful Thing is an unabashed Gothic treat, with a plot that propels you with restless, creeping logic towards its brutal conclusion. Van Veen’s imagery is lushly cinematic, evoking the very best work of Guillermo del Toro. This is a delicious novel.”, and Clay McLeod Chapman (Ghost Eaters, What Kind of Mother) says: “A sapphic seance of preternatural proportions, My Darling Dreadful Thing summons a stunning new literary voice to be reckoned with. Johanna van Veen reaches beyond the veil to conjure up a gothic shocker like no other.”
Releasing from Poison Pen Press 14 May 2024, My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen is available for pre-order now.
BOB PASTORELLA
