Honeymoon in Jail: An “H.P. Lovecraft, Detective” Novel

Lovecraft scholar Joshi (the Joe Scintilla, PI series) turns the legendary horror author into a sleuth in this intriguing whodunit. Narrated by Lovecraft’s wife, Sonia Greene, the story picks up when she and Lovecraft attend the 1934 wedding of anarchist writer James Morton (a real-life friend of Lovecraft’s) to amateur journalist Pearl Merritt in Far Rockaway, N.Y. The celebration is marred by the murder of a woman on the rooftop of the hotel hosting the ceremony, a tragedy compounded by the arrest of the new Mrs. Morton, whom a witness placed at the scene around the time of the killing. Convinced of her innocence, Lovecraft, harnessing his teenage infatuation with Sherlock Holmes, investigates, aided by Greene, who hopes the case might strengthen their strained relationship. Joshi’s extensive knowledge of his subject is a major asset, with Easter eggs aplenty for hardcore fans, and his choice to have Sonia narrate and provide perspective on her eccentric husband is an inspired choice. Lovecraftians will hope for a sequel. (Self-published)