A chilling atmosphere, a town’s haunting legacy, a resilient heroine, and a lingering sense of dread are perfectly intertwined in Emily Carpenter’s newest novel, Gothictown.
Billie, her husband Peter and their daughter Mere, live in NYC and post pandemic financial strains have taken nearly everything from them. One day, an advertisement comes her way about a town in Georgia – Juliana, Georgia, where there is a small-town initiative that is trying to bring in commerce and bring back small town living. This catches their attention, and while things seem too good to be true at first, all the boxes are checked and they take off to Juliana to start over, get out of the city and find their happiness.
From the moment Billie and her family officially move to Juliana they are immersed in a chilling atmosphere where every shadow hides a story, and every corner is steeped in a history that refuses to be forgotten, and haunting legacies linger. The sense of dread is palpable, as the boundaries between the living and the dead blur on the pages.
The suspense builds steadily throughout, as Carpenter drops subtle clues and revelations that make the reader question what’s real and what’s imagined. The historical backdrop of the town itself feels like a character, including the buildings, street names, and, at times, overly friendly residents creating a perfect stage for the unfolding mystery.
Gothictown is not just a ghost story; it’s a story about family, legacy, and the ways in which the past shapes the present. It’s a thrilling ride into a town where the whispers of the past speak volumes. This is not a book you will soon forget and may possibly leave you a little unsettled even after you turn the final page.
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