Obscurity
A gothic novel.
Obscurity, The Prologue
The first chapter of my gothic novel, in which a mysterious woman turns up at the Plantation St. Vincent.
Obscurity, The First Chapter
In which we meet Monsieur Le Propriétaire at his death bed.
Obscurity, The Second Chapter
In which the ménagère of the Estate St. Vincent has a disturbing premonition.
Obscurity, The Third Chapter
In which the widow enters society and rumors about her become a rather ghastly thing.
Obscurity, The Fourth Chapter
In which a rather mysterious figure appears to know the widow’s secrets.
Obscurity, The Fifth Chapter
In which the widow confesses her sins in the sacrament of reconciliation.
Obscurity, The Sixth Chapter
In which we discover three men with rather nefarious intentions.
Obscurity, The Seventh Chapter
In which the widow ventures into the swamp for a cure.
Obscurity, The Eighth Chapter
In which blood is spilled at the Mardi Gras ball.
Obscurity, The Ninth Chapter
In which a bottle of poison is discovered in rather familiar company.
Obscurity, The Tenth Chapter
In which daughters must atone for the sins of their fathers.
Obscurity, The Eleventh Chapter
In which a scream is heard within the widow's estate.
Obscurity, The Twelfth Chapter
In which a corpse is discovered behind the Cabaret St. Vincent.
Obscurity, The Thirteenth Chapter
In which the widow has something the philanthropist wants.
Obscurity, The Fourteenth Chapter
In which someone is alive who was thought to be dead.
Obscurity, The Fifteenth Chapter
In which we meet the Comte, and discover him in the rather unfortunate company of his wife.
Obscurity, The Sixteenth Chapter
In which the couturier discovers something in the philanthropist’s quarters, and it reveals a defect in his character.
Obscurity, The Seventeenth Chapter
In which we learn the history of three nuns named Marie, and perceive a threat to their future.
Obscurity, The Eighteenth Chapter
In which a missionary turns up dead and drifting in a canoe.
Obscurity, The Nineteenth Chapter
In which we learn the philanthropist's secrets.
Obscurity, The Twentieth Chapter
In which we meet the businessman once again.
Obscurity, The Twenty-First Chapter
In which the widow is haunted by her past—and a protection spell must be put into place.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Second Chapter
In which we meet the second of the Maries.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Third Chapter
In which the widow is discovered in a rather unusual part of town.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Fourth Chapter
In which a young debutante celebrates her engagement.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Fifth Chapter
In which the territory faces unrest.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Sixth Chapter
In which the abbess has a premonition.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Seventh Chapter
In which the mercenary discovers a rather unsettling scene.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Eighth Chapter
In which a rose wilts.
Obscurity, The Twenty-Ninth Chapter
In which the mercenary hunts the Comte.
Obscurity, The Thirtieth Chapter
In which the Comte finds his wife alone, at last.
Obscurity, The Thirty-First Chapter
In which we spend a sleepless night in the company of those left behind by the widow.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Second Chapter
In which the philanthropist prepares for his pending nuptials.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Third Chapter
In which the town descends into hysterics.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Fourth Chapter
In which the widow's retinue prepares for her return.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Fifth Chapter
In which a gentle haunting awaits the widow.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Sixth Chapter
In which things go awry at the philanthropist's wedding.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Seventh Chapter
In which the philanthropist meets his fate.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Eighth Chapter
In which we learn the secrets of the third Marie.
Obscurity, The Thirty-Ninth Chapter
In which a baby is born into the swamp.
Obscurity, The Fortieth Chapter
In which the truth is revealed.
Obscurity, The Epilogue
In which a young man inherits the Estate St. Vincent.
Set amidst the wild palms of 1790s New Orleans, the widow St. Vincent appears in the wake of her husband's death the wealthiest plantation owner in the South. But strange occurrences ensue in her wake and the town becomes obsessed with their superstitions about her. As they attempt to unravel the widow's secrets, we find she knows something of their secrets as well and the philosophical underpinnings of their pasts all surface to haunt them all.
Written in the style of 19th century gothic novels such as The Count of Monte Cristo, Dracula, The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Phantom of the Opera, and featuring a lush atmospheric setting with a mysterious female lead, Obscurity reads like a wandering through apothecary shelves, each step more haunting and mercurial than the last.
This novel was first serialized on my blog before being turned into a hardcover (very) first edition for paid subscribers. This is the first time it is available as an e-book or paperback edition, with a new cover illustration by Emiliano Raspante and design by Patricia Faggi.
It cost $1,439 to make. It has earned $144. It stands at −$1,295.
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