Larson, best known for intensively-researched nonfiction like Dead Wake and The Splendid and the Vile, decided to release a gothic-style ghost story, similar to Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw. He has stated in interviews, and in the essay at the end of the book, that he wrote the ghost story he would want to read. Set in 1905, a group embarks on an investigation of a home on the fictional Island of Dorn off the coast of Cornwall, England. The leader of the hand-picked group, William James, is an actual person, a psychologist and philosopher, and brother of the novelist Henry James. William James was also a member of the Society of Psychical Research, a group that researched paranormal phenomena. James was part of the group dedicated to houses exhibiting such occurrences, and selected individuals for this project whose background or experience might be most useful to the investigation. Josiah Frost, our young narrator, is an engineer specializing in the new science of telegraphy, and wireless radio waves were thought to be excited by the presence of apparitions.

As the team sets to work taking careful dimensional measurements of the entire stone house, in order to detect any hidden rooms or passageways that would enable someone to create false illusions, peculiar events begin to take place on the island. Alliances are formed, characters harbor suspicions, and confrontations are inevitable. James asks that each person provide a talk each evening after supper about their area of expertise, or what experience lead to their selection by James. Ultimately, our narrator manages to save most of the team from the malevolence unleashed against them, although we discover his efforts to contact outside help are in fact unsuccessful and it was dumb luck that lead to their rescue.

Written in the style of a Henry James novel, some listeners may find the early twentieth century style of discourse stilted and off-putting. On the other hand, many listeners may enjoy the period verbal mannerisms, especially for a gothic supernatural tale. Please note that this novella is only available in audiobook format, either on CD or as a digital file. Larson states that the best ghost stories are told aloud, as opposed to read. I found this a fun departure for Larson, having enjoyed his previous books. Recommended.