Title: Magnum OpusAuthor: Caitlin Marceau
First Published: August 30, 2022
Publisher: Timber Ghost Press
Pages: 65
Genre: Horror, Short Stories
Format: Ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Rating:
Synopsis:
Charlotte Curran is willing to do whatever it takes to make sure her newest book is a best seller... even if that means murdering her best friend.
Nobody suspects her of killing renowned author Kim Lavoie, but when Charlotte starts seeing Kim everywhere she turns, she quickly realizes it's more than just her guilty conscience haunting her. With each passing day, Kim’s judging gaze grows more difficult to escape.
Magnum Opus is a dark look at the price of fame and the legacy we leave behind.
Buy the Book: AmazonReview
Beware the green-eyed monster; the sin of envy can be deadly! I picked this novella up on a whim and am glad I did. From the synopsis, I expected a violent murder, and I was surprised to find that the set-up was closer to the opening of Yellowface, though this story was published first. Charlotte is incredibly jealous of her more successful author friend Kim and judges her work harshly. Her jealousy becomes unhinged and toxic, made worse by her guilt and driving her to the brink of madness.
This little novella reminds me why indie horror is so fantastic. It’s well-paced, and I genuinely found it to be chilling. One of the better ghost stories I’ve read in a while. After reading this, Caitlin Marceau has quickly become a must-read author for me, and I’m excited to check out more of their work.
Quote
“Charlotte grins back at her, trying hard to quiet the envious voice in the back of her brain that doubts the other woman knows what great art is, let alone that she’s ever written any.”
Content Warnings
View Spoiler »About the Author
About Caitlin Marceau
Caitlin Marceau is a queer author and lecturer based in Montreal. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, is an Active Member of the Horror Writers Association, and has spoken about genre literature at several Canadian conventions. She spends most of her time writing horror and experimental fiction, but has also been published for poetry as well as creative non-fiction. Her work includes Palimpsest, Magnum Opus, A Blackness Absolute, and her debut novella, This Is Where We Talk Things Out. Her second novella, I’m Having Regrets, and her debut novel, It Wasn’t Supposed To Go Like This, are set for publication in 2023.
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