This is a great read.
I’ve encountered Jeff Clulow‘s short stories before in several anthologies (including, ahem, one I edited myself, in which Jeff’s story attracted award nomination – see
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63110139-from-the-waste-land),
and I always thoroughly enjoy them.
Imagine my delight at receiving an advance copy of Clulow’s first novel, Veil.
Clulow’s writing is impeccable: so succinct, evocative, and accomplished that the story almost reads itself to you. I love clever writing that masters expression so well that the reader doesn’t notice the exquisite crafting of every paragraph and page. There is such care for each of the characters that each one is fully rounded, even the horrid ones – we can see where they are coming from.
Protagonist Suze — ex-orphange girl — is a first-rate survivor, and her haunted house story combines all the best elements of fantasy, family, and freedom. The retro 20th century setting is also spot-on — take it from someone who was there LOL.
I wish there could be more stories about Suze (that should have you thinking just WHY I’m not expecting any more — although…).
This is a gripping tale of loss and redemption (of sorts), the terror balanced finely with life’s beauty. Clulow writes dark fantasy with a great big heart. A brilliant read. More please.
Wait! There IS more!
If you’d care to check Jeff’s writing for yourself, I recommend that you sign up for his fantastic Remixed Myths collection – FREE for his newsletter subscribers. I’ve read them all (I’m a fangirl, yes!) and I highly recommend them. They come in audio or ebook form. Such a generous gift to the reading public.
