Marina Scott’s recently released gothic horror The Night Guests is a unique historical fiction take on the spirituality craze of the early 20th century. Set in 1903 Omaha, Nebraska, this tale of mediumship and deception is a wild ride that will leave you hopelessly confused – in the best way.

Nina is a young woman (whose fiance recently broke things off) living on her family’s once-affluent property alongside her mother in the wake of her father’s death. Her dad left behind massive gambling debts, and her twin brother has been sent away after contracting a venereal illness from the local harem, leaving the family under heavy public scrutiny.

Her mother has always had a fascination with the paranormal, so they attend a séance hosted at Nina’s best friend’s house, featuring a well-known spiritualist named Leroy. Nina initially isn’t sure what she believes, but the spirit of a young drowned boy breaks through the veil and becomes attached to her.

Who is this young boy, and what does he want from her?

Can Leroy be trusted, or is he a showman preying on grieving families?

Throughout the novel, it becomes harder to tell whether Nina is experiencing a true haunting or a severe mental unraveling – and she isn’t sure which possibility terrifies her more.

This book can be difficult to follow at times, but the payoff is absolutely worth it. Scott captures the obsession with the afterlife that swept America during this era in a vivid, unsettling way. There are several unexpected revelations that you won’t see coming, and honestly I’m still confused by what I just read – but in a way that’s more entertaining than frustrating.

I’d recommend this one to fans of gothic hauntings that lean more mysterious and psychological than outright scary.

I read it through Kindle Unlimited and loved that it’s also available as an audiobook, which is perfect for holiday travel. If you’re looking for a supernatural period drama to help pass December’s dark evenings, give this one a try!