The Keeper of Lonely Spirits

Anderson (The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fisher) explores loneliness in old age in this refreshing gothic romantasy. Ghost hunter Peter Shaughnessy, 70, is cursed to live forever. His 200-year search for an evasive vengeful spirit takes him from town to town. He doesn’t get attached to anyone along the way, because he knows that he’ll inevitably outlive them. When his hunt takes him to Harrington, Ohio, he accepts a gig as the groundskeeper of Harrington Public Cemetery, responsible for sending away angry spirits that haunt the grounds. Lovable curmudgeon Peter still just wants to find the spirit he’s spent so long chasing, get rid of it, and move on to the next town, but as he spends more time in Harrington, he can’t help but grow closer to some of the residents—especially septuagenarian historian David Schwertner, with whom he develops a slow-burning romance. But to pursue a future together, Peter must confront his own past. The love story is moving and has just the right level of spice. Meanwhile, the search for the ancient ghost delivers enough horror-inflected moments to keep readers on the edge of their seats. TJ Klune fans will want to check out this heartfelt queer romp. Agent: Keir Alekseii, Azantian Literary. (Mar.)

Correction: A previous version of this review misstated the name of the cemetery where the main character takes a job.