Review: A New York Haunting by C.L. Nightjar

A sprawling and deliciously disturbing historical thriller that begs to be savored, A New York Haunting by C.L. Nightjar unveils a guilty conscience made flesh, right on the page.

A promising young medical student named Anders becomes dangerously tangled in the thrilling intimacy of psychoanalysis through a new mentor, Dr. Schuller. Unexpectedly bound to a beautiful new patient of the doctor with a troubling pattern of behavior, Anders’ seemingly certain future is shaken by his undeniable attraction to her mysterious anguish.

Observation, interpretation, and obsession blur as her knot of mysteries deepen. Not only does she wish to become a doctor herself, against the wishes of her elite family, but her nights are being haunted by a vengeful spirit, or a dream, or perhaps something in between. A story about desires and secrets that lay hidden in our subconscious, whether we wish to admit to them or not, the novel explores the countless shadowy corners of human nature.

In the book’s enthralling environment, set at the turn of the 20^th century, there are myriad psychological and sexual rabbit holes particular to the time. Granted, some of the ideas referred to from that era are now seen as outdated – or outlandish – but it’s a pleasure to dive into a story so enmeshed in secret Freudian desires, right at the cusp of historical understanding. The supernatural edges of the story add an entirely different and intriguing layer, but they don’t dominate this character-driven epic.

Within such a hefty tome, an expansive world can easily exist, not only in terms of character detail, but also in the methodical narration of individual scenes. While this can often hinder a story’s pace, the depth of this book is an undeniable asset, making it effortless for readers to immerse themselves, and allow the prose to challenge and educate them. Throughout the novel, the narrator sagely expounds from his omniscient seat, drawing out existential musings from characters on family, masculinity, America, sex, medicine, charlatanism, advertising, and many other pertinent themes – both then and now. The storytelling is seamlessly woven within these thoughtful passages and asides, which never seem distracting, only thought-provoking, like the highlights of a fascinating lecture that stay with you.

The historical research is impressive, as there is rarely a moment where the subject matter being discussed by professional characters feels shaky or vague. The dialogue is also masterful from top to bottom, flexibly moving between witty repartee, academic discourse, casual banter, and language loaded with quiet intent. A novel of this scope is demanding to write, but Nightjar is more than up to the task. Capturing the occasional raw eroticism of good romance writing, without compromising the eloquent prose and complex plot, the author does an excellent job appealing to a broad readership.

There are also few technical issues to critique, as the prose is clean and enticingly varied. For readers who appreciate steadily clever and challenging prose, this is a period-piece psychological thriller that is not to be missed.