Ghosts, Ghouls, and Gotham Noir
There’s nothing gory or shocking in the artwork—no blood, no violence—but the animals are unmistakably dead. One charcoal sketch shows a pair of rabbits and a bird, all on their backs with eyes closed: a hunter’s fresh catch. Another captures a single pheasant, wings spread and neck bent in eternal slumber.
If that kind of haunting subtlety appeals to you—and you enjoy stories with ghosts, witches, ghouls, and a good old-fashioned crime noir plot starring an intrepid reporter—then Ghosts of Gotham might be exactly what you’re looking for.
The story follows Lionel Page—occasionally nicknamed “Little Lion”—a thirty-something investigative journalist who gets drawn into a strange assignment from the enigmatic heiress Regina Dunkle. Is she merely a reclusive heiress who loves antiques and old manuscripts, or is there something more to her?
What unfolds is a smart, atmospheric dive into the world of rare books, ancient myths, and literary mysteries. Instead of a standard “whodunnit,” Craig Schaefer deals out creatures of lore like cards in a high-stakes poker game. One by one, the supernatural elements creep in—not with jump scares or gore, but with a quiet, creeping inevitability. By the end of Ghosts of Gotham, you realize the signs were everywhere, hiding in plain sight.
“These days I prefer to interact with humanity through books, as exclusively as possible. The pages, the type—they’re like the glass walls of a zoo enclosure. I can watch the wild animals all evening long, safe on my side of the window.”
Ghosts of Gotham was my first read by Craig Schaefer—and definitely not my last. The pacing was tight, the dialogue sharp, and the whole thing just… worked. Where so many author’s fail to blend SFF elements with crime noir, Schaefer does a great job. This book is a fantastic entry point into Schaefer’s world. I’m already looking forward to exploring the rest of his work. Definite add to my TBR pile.
Check it out—you won’t regret it.
*review has been updated from a previous post