First published 2010
The curtain rises on a Pennsylvania theater that has been brought back to life after years of abandonment. As opening night approaches, strange incidents begin to plague the production and cast. The protagonist finds themselves caught in a web of increasingly disturbing events that defy easy explanation. Is someone systematically targeting the theater company with deadly intent? Has the stress of mounting a show triggered psychological breakdowns among the performers? Or do supernatural forces lurk within the renovated walls, feeding on the creative energy that now fills the space? Williamson structures his tale like a theatrical performance, complete with overture and curtain call, letting each act build the mystery while withholding crucial answers. The reader becomes a detective, sifting through evidence that could support multiple theories about what threatens this artistic community. At its heart, this is a story about the thin line between creativity and madness, where the passion that drives performers to the stage might also drive them to destruction.
Genres: mystery, horror, supernatural, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, suspenseful
Tropes: mystery, psychological-suspense, supernatural-elements
Setting: Pennsylvania
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
ebook · Crossroad Press
Content warnings: violence