Herodotus, Shakespeare and other writers have noted the hulking, headless, cannibalistic creatures called Anthropophagi. In 1888, these beasts, originally from Africa, have begun attacking a New England village. Documenting the gothic horror in his diary (“discovered” by author Yancey while researching one of his Alfred Kropp titles) is 12-year-old orphan William James Henry, assistant to monstrumologist Dr. Warthrop. Having made the study of monsters a career, the aloof yet just doctor must solve the origin of the Anthropophagi in America and stop their widespread and extremely violent and bloody carnage, which may not rest easy with readers of any age. With numerous nods to H.P. Lovecraft and other literary and historic figures, Will’s intelligent diary captures their page-turning, nightmarish adventures and the constructs and evolving scientific theories of the time as well as his budding independence. Together, Will and the doctor also explore human relationships, especially that of father and son, and the dilemmas between science and morality. The ending hints of a sequel, but can readers stomach it? (Horror. 14 & up)
