When a young man of undefined European descent inherits an estate in the leafy Virginia woods from a cousin he never knew he had, he gets a lot more than he bargained for—and so does the reader. The cousin has dispatched himself in the same manner (and on the same date) as his father, the butler has vanished, and the maze in the garden is partly sealed. Spanish cartoonist Cantero blends the mores of yesteryear with the latest technology to create a decidedly different ghost story.

Cantero (cartoonist, El Jueves magazine) has written a spectacular debut novel. Taking the title from a phrase used in Edith Wharton's classic ghost story "Afterward," the author employs an original narrative method involving diary entries, transcriptions from both audio and video recordings, letters, security footage, and even advertisements to move the action along. The novel begins with twentysomething A. inheriting a mansion in Virginia from an unknown distant cousin. Accompanying A. is Niamh, a mute Irish teenager; together they investigate the odd nature of Axton House, the home of the Wells family for several generations, and the rumors that it is haunted and was the site of ghoulish meetings throughout the years. Letters written in code lead to hidden rooms and treasures. Once the duo discover a society that was run by the last Wells family member, the world as they know it begins to break down. Using sophisticated code-breaking techniques, they learn of quests that could prove the existence of ghosts and the supernatural. VERDICT Cantero's fresh, original prose style and the steady flow of twists, turns, and code breaking will have mystery, thriller, and supernatural fans glued to their seats until they reach the electrifying conclusion. [See Prepub Alert, 2/24/14.]—Jason L. Steagall, Gateway Technical Coll., Elkhorn Lib., WI