The Macabre

A Novel

De: Kosoko Jackson

Narrado por: Kevin R. Free

From award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Kosoko Jackson comes his adult speculative debut, a stand-alone novel blending time travel and globe-hopping adventure, art history, and dark fantasy about magical paintings and the lengths people will go to collect them, destroy them…or be destroyed.

A picture is worth a thousand nightmares.

Art has always been an escape for struggling painter Lewis Dixon. But other than his mom, who has recently passed away, no one has ever praised his work. If he is being honest, there’s really no one in his life. So he is shocked when the British Museum shows an unusual interest in his art. This is his chance to show the world what he’s capable of…he just has no idea that he might also be saving the world at the same time.

As Lewis soon learns, he has not been invited to participate in a curated show, but rather a test: to see if the fugue-like exhilaration he experiences when painting is actually magic, a power that allows him to enter nine very special paintings—paintings made by his great-grandfather. Spread across the globe, these paintings have unbelievable eldritch abilities…and not necessarily beneficial ones. In terms of power, these are the most valuable works of art in the world, and there are those out there who would do anything to possess just one.

And Lewis, upon passing the test, has been asked to destroy them all.

Partnered with an alluring agent in museum’s employ, Noah Rao, Lewis must travel to Japan, Australia, Nigeria—and the past—plunging himself into a world of black markets, gothic magic, ancient history, and cursed objects to save those unlucky enough to call any of the paintings their own—or to free the world from those who would misuse the power of the paintings. In doing so, he will need to discover if he has what it takes to truly be an artist, the confidence to finally open himself up to someone who could give his lonely life meaning, and the strength to enter and navigate a reality where magic is everywhere.

©2025 Kosoko Jackson (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Why did I finish this?

Why did I bother to finish this? I keep asking myself. This was an extremely interesting premise dulled very early in the book by the clumsy writing. The book kept stalling while the insipid main character, Lewis gave some self rightous speech. This was not an adult offering and never should have been advertised as such. It would have best been marketed to a YA audience and a not very sophisticated one at that. I don't believe I will ever read another book by Kosoko Jackson.

Lewis's attachment to his mother was uncomfortable for a grown man. He seemed to have no personality outside of this unhealthy obsessive connection. This book can only be described as sappy.

The narrator Kevin R. Free, whose work I had peviously admired managed to make a caricature of the Japanese character, dimming his star a bit for me.

Excellent

Found this storyline perfect for the spooky season. Enjoyed it every much. I would recommend it.