The Invisible World

July 17, 2023
Fussner’s debut combines quotidian interpersonal dilemmas with an edge of the uncanny—just enough to pep up the action when mundane friction between characters wears thin. The ensemble cast is loosely arranged around three couples: Eve and Ryan Hawthorne, whose newlywed home is allegedly haunted; Sandra, producer of a reality TV show about ghost hunting, and Alan, the paranormal investigator she brings in to provide a veneer of authenticity for her scripts; and perky Caitlin and staid Charles, adolescent ghost enthusiasts who constitute Alan’s “team.” The first third of the book sets up the couples, mixing third-person narrative from shifting perspectives with transcripts of the day’s filming. The women in particular stake out the story’s emotional territory. Eve is resentful at having left the New York art world behind to settle in Pennsylvania because of her husband’s business. Sandra is bored with her job and crushing on Alan. Caitlin is reckless in her desire to prove the spooks are real. While bumps in the night do eventually manifest, the novel’s primary concern is mapping these territories and their overlaps. The result is highly readable and never really scary, ideal for nonhorror fans who still want some spooky season reading. Agent: Aimee Ashcraft, Brower Literary.

Starred review from March 1, 2024

Fussner's spellbinding debut follows the crew of Searching for...the Invisible World, a paranormal investigations TV show reluctantly led by overworked producer Sandra. When their new house shows signs of supernatural activity, Eve and Ryan Hawthorne reach out to the ghost-hunting show. Upon arrival, none of the Searching For... crew members think the house is actually haunted, until they too witness strange, unexplainable occurrences. As the week continues and the phenomena intensify, Eve is desperate for the show to find answers, Sandra tries to create something watchable from the chaos, and young ghost hunter Caitlin is simply eager to touch the other side. Fussner wisely eschews the tropes of bleeding walls and jittering spectral entities, going instead for slow-build tension and character development. Transcripts of interviews from the show give listeners a pretend peek behind the curtain, lending an air of authenticity. Stellar vocal performances by a large cast, including Samantha Desz and Cynthia Farrell, incorporate multiple points of view, communicating the personal truths that haunt each character. VERDICT Outstanding narratorial performances take this novel to the next level. Fussner doesn't offer easy answers but allows listeners to ponder the existence of the invisible world.--James Gardner

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