My Darling Dreadful Thing: A Novel By Johanna van Veen

Roos Beckman has a spirit companion only she can see. Ruth—strange, corpse-like, and dead for centuries—is the light of Roos' life. That is, until the wealthy young widow Agnes Knoop visits one of Roos' backroom seances, and the two strike up a connection.

Soon, Roos is whisked away to the crumbling estate Agnes inherited upon the death of her husband, where an ill woman haunts the halls, strange smells drift through the air at night, and mysterious stone statues reside in the family chapel. Something dreadful festers in the manor, but still, the attraction between Roos and Agnes is undeniable.

Then, someone is murdered.

Poor, alone, and with a history of 'hysterics', Roos is the obvious culprit. With her sanity and innocence in question, she'll have to prove who—or what—is at fault or lose everything she holds dear.

"A Sapphic séance 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." — Clay McLeod Chapman, author of What Kind of Mother and Ghost Eaters. in 250 words
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"My Darling Dreadful Thing" emerges as a darkly enchanting gothic tale, gripping readers with its haunting atmosphere and intricate mysteries. Johanna Van Veen weaves a narrative that transcends the boundaries of the supernatural, captivating audiences with its richly drawn characters and spine-tingling suspense.

At the heart of the story is Roos Beckman, whose life is intertwined with the spectral presence of Ruth, her spirit companion. But when the enigmatic widow Agnes Knoop enters her world, Roos finds herself drawn into a web of intrigue and danger. Transported to Agnes's eerie estate, Roos discovers a realm shrouded in secrets, where whispers of malevolent forces linger in the shadows.

As Roos delves deeper into the mysteries of the manor, she grapples with her growing attraction to Agnes amidst the sinister events unfolding around them. But when a murder rocks the estate, Roos becomes the prime suspect, her past and mental health casting suspicion upon her innocence.

Van Veen's prose casts a spell, immersing readers in a world where the line between the living and the dead blurs, and every corner holds a whispered secret. With nods to classic gothic literature and a fresh, modern twist, "My Darling Dreadful Thing" enthralls with its blend of romance, mystery, and supernatural intrigue.

Praise from esteemed authors like Rachel Gillig and Clay McLeod Chapman further solidify Van Veen's place as a rising star in the literary world. With its captivating narrative and unforgettable characters, this novel promises to leave readers spellbound until the final page, cementing its status as a must-read for horror enthusiasts and lovers of gothic fiction alike. 📚❤️