by Matt Ruff
First published 2016
Chicago, 1954. Army veteran Atticus Turner learns his father Montrose has vanished somewhere in New England. Atticus sets out to find him, joined by his uncle George, who publishes The Safe Negro Travel Guide, and his childhood friend Letitia. Their destination is the Braithwhite manor, where the current heir claims a connection to Atticus's enslaved ancestors. The road trip exposes them to the everyday violence of Jim Crow America and supernatural forces that mirror the horror stories George loves to read. At the manor, Atticus finds Montrose imprisoned by the Order of the Ancient Dawn, a secret society led by Samuel Braithwhite and his son Caleb. The cult has orchestrated Atticus's arrival for a ritual that places him at its center. His family's survival depends on powers that could ultimately destroy them. Matt Ruff weaves together historical fiction with cosmic horror, following two Black families as they navigate both systemic racism and occult conspiracies across multiple generations.
Genres: historical-fiction, horror, supernatural, alternate-history, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, road-trip
Setting: Braithwhite Manor, Chicago, New England
Period: 1954
13 pages · Audiobook · Blackstone Pub
Content warnings: racism, violence