Night Film: A Novel
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A hair-raising mystery that’s equal parts family drama, horror movie, and jigsaw puzzle. . . . It’s impossible to look away.”— People (four stars)
“Maniacally clever . . . like an M.C. Escher nightmare about Edgar Allan Poe . . . You’ll miss your subway stop, let dinner burn, and start sleeping with the lights on.”—The Washington Post
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Cosmopolitan, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage
On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova—a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than thirty years.
For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself. Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.
The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time, he might lose even more.
“Maniacally clever . . . like an M.C. Escher nightmare about Edgar Allan Poe . . . You’ll miss your subway stop, let dinner burn, and start sleeping with the lights on.”—The Washington Post
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, Cosmopolitan, Kirkus Reviews, BookPage
On a damp October night, beautiful young Ashley Cordova is found dead in an abandoned warehouse in lower Manhattan. Though her death is ruled a suicide, veteran investigative journalist Scott McGrath suspects otherwise. As he probes the strange circumstances surrounding Ashley’s life and death, McGrath comes face-to-face with the legacy of her father: the legendary, reclusive cult-horror-film director Stanislas Cordova—a man who hasn’t been seen in public for more than thirty years.
For McGrath, another death connected to this seemingly cursed family dynasty seems more than just a coincidence. Though much has been written about Cordova’s dark and unsettling films, very little is known about the man himself. Driven by revenge, curiosity, and a need for the truth, McGrath, with the aid of two strangers, is drawn deeper and deeper into Cordova’s eerie, hypnotic world.
The last time he got close to exposing the director, McGrath lost his marriage and his career. This time, he might lose even more.
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Community Reviews
As much as I loved this read and really enjoyed this book, I felt that some of the writing choices could have been better executed. I loved the journalistic aspect of the web articles and newspaper articles ingrained in the story. The characters were likeable and frustrating at times and that bodes well for a solid job writing them but toward the end they seemed to just sort of fizzle out and lose sight of their fundamental truths. I think this story could have been better spread out into two books. The end, despite seemingly being drawn out, felt rushed. A lot is being explained there and a lot was left to wonder about but I was so relieved when it finally concluded I didn't realize how unsatisfied I actually was.
It doesn't sound like it but i'd recommend this read, it was good and mostly well done but strap in, it's a long one.
WOW!
Honestly had me hooked from the beginning. You really never know what to expect when you turn the page and that element stayed true... FOR ALL 587 pages!!
Honestly had me hooked from the beginning. You really never know what to expect when you turn the page and that element stayed true... FOR ALL 587 pages!!
I love the writing style of Marisha Pessl. Everything has a purpose and gets connected over and over.
I'm not really sure that this book deserves 3 stars, it's really somewhere between 2 and 3. There were parts that kept my attention, but overall, it fell pretty flat (like an iron that you've turned to the highest setting, only to find that it isn't plugged in).
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