Mask of Silver: An Arkham Horror Novel

Rosemary Jones writes a novel set in Arkham, focusing on Hollywood make-up artist Jeany Lin. She travels to the city to work for director Sydney Fitzmaurice on a new film. The star is her sister, Renee Love, who serves as both collaborator and lover to the enigmatic director. Sydney prepares occult-infused dream sequences for the cast, aiming to surpass the terror of Lon Chaney’s popular pictures. This approach leads to recurring nightmares, accidents, and impossible waking visions among the actors. As events take a sinister turn and people die on set, Jeany must unmask the monsters before Sydney's obsessions doom everyone. The narrative draws on gothic and supernatural fiction traditions, blending early cinema history with cosmic horror elements. It suits readers who enjoy atmospheric tales of creative obsession and hidden dangers within the film industry. Those seeking fast-paced action or historical non-fiction may find this slow-burn psychological horror less appealing. The story relies on character interactions and mounting dread rather than explicit gore. Jones constructs a tense environment where the boundary between performance and reality blurs dangerously. The plot progresses through Jeany’s investigation of the set’s strange occurrences. It offers a look at the cost of artistic ambition when mixed with dangerous rituals. The setting provides a claustrophobic backdrop for the unfolding tragedy. Readers interested in meta-narratives about filmmaking will appreciate the detailed depiction of on-set dynamics. The conclusion hinges on Jeany's ability to intervene before it is too late.