BEHOLDER

A teen with a dark past uses his unique talent to investigate a series of grim murders in New York City.

Athanasios Bakirtzis has avoided mirrors his whole life. He blames it on his paternal grandmother Yiayia’s superstitions, but the truth is much more unusual: Through mirrors, he can scry into the past as if rewinding through camera footage. After witnessing a brutal accident at a party, Athan is sought out by a winsome stranger named Dominik Rupasinghe, who convinces him to help investigate a string of murders that he believes are all connected to the party. Athan is charmed and intrigued by Dom, who seems to know more about him than he should, but as they work together, it becomes clear that Dom may have secrets of his own. Their hunt takes them into the corrupt underbelly of art world high society, where Athan’s scrying becomes instrumental to their activities. But as he searches mirrors for clues, he finds that, as Yiayia warned, something sinister is looking back at him—something that may have been watching for a very long time. New York City, with all its grime and shine, is a fitting backdrop for this novel, which also weaves in elements of folklore and urban fantasy, giving the story a uniquely ominous and epic feel. Athan’s family’s Greek immigrant background informs his backstory and motivation.

Gritty and imaginative: modern noir that’ll leave you wary of your reflection.