Nazar: a tale of the supernatural

Richard Morley’s Nazar follows philosophy lecturer Daphne Sheridan on a package holiday to Turkey. She seeks to recover memories of her late husband by revisiting their honeymoon region. The narrative centers on an Ottoman hammam built atop Roman thermae, which Daphne discovers at her hotel. Her decision to use this facility brings her into contact with a figure who may be the original keeper of the bathhouse. The story draws upon supernatural traditions and echoes the atmospheric dread found in works like MR James' The Stalls Of Barchester Cathedral. Morley, identified as the author, structures the tale around themes of truth and memory. The text references Ishtar, Queen of Hell, and includes verses about heroes, wives, and luckless children to establish a gothic tone. This approach suits readers who appreciate slow-building psychological horror rooted in historical settings. It may not appeal to those seeking fast-paced action or modern technological scares. The narrative relies on the tension between Daphne’s academic background and the ancient, possibly malevolent forces she encounters. The setting of the hammam serves as a focal point for these supernatural elements. Morley uses this location to explore how past events linger in physical spaces. The book is organized as a continuous tale rather than a collection of short stories. Readers interested in gothic fiction that examines the weight of history and personal loss will find this work relevant. The conclusion leaves the nature of the keeper ambiguous, focusing on the impact of memory.