The Macabre

Lambda Literary Award winner Jackson makes his dark fantasy debut (after the romance novel A Dash of Salt and Pepper) with this dazzling and nightmarish tale about the power of art. Painter Lewis Dixon is grieving the recent death of his mother when he receives an invitation from the British Museum to participate in an exhibition that could change his life. It does—but not in the way he expects. The invitation was a lure, disguising what the museum really wants from him. Handsome and mysterious curator Noah Rao reveals that magic is real and that Lewis’s own great-grandfather created a series of curse paintings entitled “The Macabre.” It’s up to Lewis, who has inherited the same magical talent, to track down and destroy these works. What follows is a page-turning, continent-spanning adventure that combines elements of psychological horror and gore with dark humor and a queer romance between Lewis and Noah, whose businesslike demeanor hides a complex and tragic past. Horror and fantasy fans alike will embrace Jackson as an exciting new voice. (Sept.)