Black Light

Charlotte Moylan returns to her hometown of Kamensic, New York for the first time since her teenage years to attend the funeral of her former mentor. The small Hudson Valley artists' colony holds dark memories and unresolved questions from her youth in the 1970s, when she was part of an exclusive circle surrounding a charismatic photographer. As Charlotte reconnects with old acquaintances and revisits familiar places, memories surface of wild parties and ritualistic gatherings at a decaying mansion called Bolerium. The events of one particular party from her past begin to take on new significance as she pieces together connections in the present. The narrative moves between Charlotte's current investigation and flashbacks to her teenage experiences, building tension through occult undercurrents and suggestions of supernatural forces at work. The book combines elements of psychological suspense with aspects of folk horror and dark fantasy. Black Light examines themes of memory, artistic influence, and the thin boundaries between reality and illusion. The novel explores how past events shape identity and questions the reliability of memory itself.

Readers note the book's dark, dream-like atmosphere and supernatural elements that blend with realistic art world details. The prose style and vivid descriptions of 1970s New York City resonated with many reviewers. Liked: - Complex female protagonist who feels authentic - Detailed portrayal of the downtown NYC art scene - Supernatural elements that remain subtle/ambiguous - Strong sense of time and place Disliked: - Slow pacing in first third of book - Some found the ending unsatisfying/unclear - Secondary characters lack development - Drug use scenes feel repetitive Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 3.9/5 (80+ reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (400+ ratings) "The atmosphere and writing style pull you in completely" - Goodreads reviewer "Great setup but the payoff wasn't worth the build" - Amazon reviewer "Captures the gritty NYC arts scene perfectly" - LibraryThing review

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🌟 The book's protagonist, Charlotte Moylan, is inspired by real-life photographer Lee Miller, who worked as both a model and war correspondent during WWII 🌟 Elizabeth Hand wrote Black Light while living in a 200-year-old house in coastal Maine, which influenced the novel's atmospheric and gothic elements 🌟 The fictional town of Kamensic Valley draws heavily from New York's Hudson River Valley region, known for its artist colonies and occult traditions 🌟 The book explores the intersection of photography and ritual magic, a combination that reflects Hand's longtime interest in both art history and the esoteric 🌟 Before becoming a novelist, Elizabeth Hand worked at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, an experience that enhanced her ability to blend factual detail with fantastical elements in her writing