🩸 Horror Fiction

Something More Than Night

✍️ Kim Newman
Reader Score
4.6
(1 review)
$15.95
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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A noir mystery featuring Raymond Chandler and Boris Karloff hunting monsters in 1930s Hollywood.

The novel places two iconic figures in a collaborative investigation. Chandler brings his experience with pulp magazines to the case, while Karloff applies his understanding of monster roles. They work under the direction of Joh Devlin, who demands results despite his poor professional reputation. The case they undertake exposes the dark machinery behind Hollywood's glamorous facade. Newman draws on the real-life personas of these men to create a unique dynamic. The story suggests that the monsters in the films have parallels in reality. This approach allows for a critique of the industry while maintaining a suspenseful plot.

Key Themes
Hollywood noir supernatural investigation historical figures
Literary Context

The book is set in Hollywood during the late 1930s. It draws on the real-life careers of Raymond Chandler and Boris Karloff. The narrative reflects the era's pulp magazine culture and the golden age of monster movies.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Raymond Chandler · Bram Stoker · H.P. Lovecraft
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Titan Books (UK) 📅 2021 📖 368 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781789097719

📝 Description: Something More Than Night

Kim Newman constructs a noir mystery set in late 1930s Hollywood. The narrative follows Raymond Chandler, known for pulp detective stories, and Boris Karloff, famous for playing movie monsters. They are hired by Joh Devlin, an insubordinate investigator for the DA's office. Their task involves examining a case that threatens to reveal hidden horrors within the film industry. The story blends historical fiction with supernatural elements. It explores the intersection of real-world detective work and cinematic horror tropes. The setting is a town where human and inhuman monsters coexist. The plot focuses on the investigation itself, forcing the characters to confront truths about their environment and each other. Newman uses the specific personas of Chandler and Karloff to drive the narrative forward. This book suits readers who enjoy genre-bending fiction that mixes historical figures with supernatural threats. It appeals to those interested in the golden age of Hollywood and hard-boiled detective tales. Readers seeking straightforward historical biographies or pure romance may find the tone too dark. The narrative does not shy away from the grotesque aspects of its setting.

💎 Our verdict on Something More Than Night

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Kim Newman crafts a sophisticated noir mystery that effectively merges pulp detective traditions with cosmic horror elements. The dynamic between Chandler and Karloff serves as the narrative engine, allowing for a sharp critique of Hollywood while maintaining genuine suspense. The setting is rendered as a town where the boundaries between film roles and reality blur, creating an atmosphere rich with dread and intrigue. This approach appeals strongly to readers who enjoy dark fantasy and psychological horror. However, those seeking pure romance or light historical accounts may find the tone too bleak. The book succeeds in its ambition to expose hidden horrors within the film industry through a gripping investigative lens.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate genre-bending fiction will find this title particularly rewarding for its unique premise. It offers a compelling look at the dark machinery behind Hollywood's glamorous facade, blending historical figures with supernatural threats. Those interested in the intersection of real-world detective work and cinematic horror tropes will enjoy the narrative’s critique of the industry. The book is ideal for fans who want to see how the personas of iconic writers and actors drive a suspenseful plot forward. It provides an engaging experience for those seeking more than straightforward historical biography, offering a dark, grotesque exploration of human and inhuman monsters coexisting in 1930s Los Angeles.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.6
Based on 1 reviews
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Horror Reads editorial team

Kim Newman crafts a sophisticated noir mystery that effectively merges pulp detective traditions with cosmic horror elements. The dynamic between Chandler and Karloff serves as the narrative engine, allowing for a sharp critique of Hollywood while maintaining genuine suspense. The setting is rendered as a town where the boundaries between film roles and reality blur, creating an atmosphere rich with dread and intrigue. This approach appeals strongly to readers who enjoy dark fantasy and psychological horror. However, those seeking pure romance or light historical accounts may find the tone too bleak. The book succeeds in its ambition to expose hidden horrors within the film industry through a gripping investigative lens.

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