The Ghost Finders

by Adam McOmber

Overview

Henry Coxton, a fledgling occult detective, has taken up recent stewardship of a ghost finding firm, investigating gaslit mysteries in the damp cobblestone streets of Edwardian London. Along with his friends and associates-Violet Asquith, a telekinetic with a mysterious past, and Christopher X, a monster of dubious origins-Henry must work against the clock to solve the agency's most terrifying case, one that threatens to destroy all he holds dear and perhaps even the very fabric of reality itself. Strongly influenced by the weird horror of Algernon Blackwood, M.R. James, and William Hope Hodgson, The Ghost Finders explores the darkest corners of London's occult realities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781950305810
Publisher:	JournalStone
Publication date:	06/04/2021
Pages:	238
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.54(d)

About the Author

Adam McOmber teaches creative writing at Columbia College Chicago and is the associate editor of the literary magazine Hotel Amerika. Stories from his collection, This New and Poisonous Air, have been shortlisted for Best American Fantasy and nominated for two Pushcart Prizes in 2012. Visit AdamMcOmber.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/05/2021

McOmber (Jesus and John) delivers an eerie and inventive supernatural tale set in Edwardian London. Occultist Henry Coxton runs a ghost-hunting business with his colleagues and close friends Violet Asquith, a high-society telekinetic, and Christopher X, a monster of dubious origins. Though the trio has put many specters to rest in the past, their newest job may prove too much for them, pitting them against a secret society whose roots go deeper than any of them could ever suspect. And when Henry, Violet, and Christopher find that they may themselves be linked to an otherworldly entity, it falls on them to stop the downfall of London—and, perhaps, the end of the world. McOmber’s prose is understated and refined, creating an eerie atmosphere that immediately immerses the reader in his intricate, multilayered world. With larger-than-life characters and expertly conjured gritty, gas-lamp ambience, this is a treat for fans of dark historical fantasy and weird fiction alike. (June)

Publishers Weekly

"Strangely affecting and wildly imaginative, Adam McOmber's The Ghost Finders is a gripping fog-and-cobblestones romp that rivals Caleb Carr and Alan Moore at their best ... but with a startlingly fresh and grisly heart all its own. This is no starchy tale of faded ghosts and old legends-this is visceral, white-knuckle, brain-rattling stuff. There are wonders in here." -Polly Schattel, author of The Occultists

"With larger-than-life characters and expertly conjured gritty, gas-lamp ambience, this is a treat for fans of dark historical fantasy and weird fiction alike." -Publishers Weekly

"More than the traditional occult detective fare, this intricate novel manages to intertwine period fascination with spiritualism/occultism and the question of those greater cosmic forces which might be lurking in the wings. This is a skilful blend of interesting characters, conflicting loyalties and betrayals which, with a wry-and purposeful-nod to Hope Hodgson's Carnacki the Ghost Finder, also questions the whole endeavour of investigating the supernatural. Clever and intriguing." -John Linwood Grant, author of The Assassin's Coin and Where All is Night, and Starless

From the Publisher

06/01/2021

When his mentor retires, Henry is left in charge of an occult detective agency in Edwardian London, where he explores cases of the "abnatural." He's finding his way as the new manager of agency employees Violet and Christopher, but a new case threatens to upset everything. A menacing evil has launched a personal and well-researched attack on the trio and the world at large. This atmospheric tale has strong worldbuilding and a well-constructed mystery plot, but its outcast characters particularly shine. Christopher is a monster not of this world, Violet has dark paranormal powers with deep and misunderstood roots, and Henry a gay man in a society where nothing could be worse. McOmber maintains the pace by alternating between the three points of view. The characters' reckoning with their pasts builds intrigue and suspense, inspires sympathy, and allows exposition and plot twists to flow naturally. VERDICT This series opener will have a wide readership because of the authentic setting, well-drawn protagonists, and compelling but not overly terrifying mystery. It expertly pays homage to writers like Algernon Blackwood (originator of this kind of story) and to present-day works that explore the format, like Alma Katsu's The Deep, or Steven Hopstaken and Melissa Prusi's "Stoker's Wilde" series.

Library Journal