Nevermore

Nevermore transports readers to 1923 New York City, where a series of bizarre murders mirror the gruesome tales of Edgar Allan Poe. The deaths draw the attention of two unlikely allies - escape artist Harry Houdini and Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The investigation leads Houdini and Doyle through the streets of Manhattan and into the city's spiritualist underground. Their contrasting worldviews - Houdini's determined skepticism versus Doyle's belief in the supernatural - create tension as they pursue a killer whose methods seem to defy explanation. This historical mystery blends real figures and events with a fictional narrative, recreating the vibrant world of 1920s New York. The novel examines the period's fascination with mysticism, stage magic, and the growing divide between rationalism and spirituality. The story explores themes of reality versus illusion, faith versus reason, and the human desire to connect with what lies beyond death. Through its period setting and supernatural elements, the novel considers how people reconcile the seemingly impossible with the rational mind.

Readers describe this occult detective novel as an odd blend of historical fiction and supernatural horror, featuring Edgar Allan Poe and Harry Houdini investigating murders. Positive reviews focus on the meticulous recreation of 1920s New York and the author's deep knowledge of both Poe and Houdini. Readers appreciate the dark atmosphere and macabre elements that echo Poe's own writing style. One reviewer noted "the historical details transport you completely." Common criticisms include the slow pacing, especially in the first third. Several readers found the supernatural elements "over-the-top" and felt they detracted from the historical aspects. Others struggled with the graphic violence and sexual content. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (80+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (90+ ratings) The book has gone out of print multiple times but maintains a small dedicated following among fans of occult detective fiction and Poe enthusiasts.

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🔍 The real-life Houdini and Conan Doyle were initially friends but had a bitter falling out over their opposing views on spiritualism and mediums 🎭 Edgar Allan Poe, whose works inspire the murders in the novel, actually invented the modern detective story genre that Conan Doyle later perfected with Sherlock Holmes 🌆 1920s New York City, where the novel is set, was experiencing the height of the Spiritualist movement, with over 100,000 registered mediums in America ⛓️ Harry Houdini spent much of his later career actively debunking spiritual mediums, offering $10,000 to anyone who could prove supernatural abilities under test conditions 📚 Author William Hjortsberg spent over seven years researching the historical period and the lives of Houdini, Doyle, and Poe before writing "Nevermore"