Gothic Readers Book Club

Sandy DeLuca's new novella is a classic example of modern Gothic literature. Her protagonist Donna was raised in a strange and mystic household, but she flees from her bizarre upbringing into the 'normal' world of kids, a job, and a marriage. But like many a Gothic tale, she cannot escape the long, dark shadows that lurk just out of sight. Horrors and terror will not remain buried, and Donna must confront her own nightmares as well as those of the distant past. Complete with a hospital and its sinister past, Messages from the Dead is a frightening tale.

If You Like: Henry James, Algernon Blackwood, Sheridan Le Fanu

In her novel Affinity, Sarah Waters takes us to Victorian England. Exploring a dual system of oppression, the prison system and the social condition of women, Waters weaves a master multi-layered tale. Imprisoned for a seance gone terribly wrong, Selina Dawes sits festering in horrific conditions in a women's prison. Margaret Prior, recovering from a suicide attempt, tends to the women and their needs as charity. These two women's lives collide, changing both forever. Affinity is a tale of forbidden arts, forbidden love, and forbidden social rights. The story unfolds in dense, complex layers, leaving the reader questioning motivations, actions, and the reality of the supernatural. The prose is elegant, drawing us into a tangled web of ghosts, fear, and ever-increasing tension. Hints of madness creep around the edges in classic Gothic tradition and the uncertainty builds to a feverish pitch.

If You Like: Henry James, Edgar Allan Poe

Andrew Barger is well-known for his horror anthologies and this is one of the best. He has compiled twelve of the best short stories from the early modern Gothic period. He also includes a wonderful list of the over 300 tales he read for this collection, giving the reader an excellent reference source to continue.

If You Like: Dickens, Poe, Balzac