SHADOW OF THE HIDDEN

In Harrison’s horror tale, a Londoner fights to save a friend tormented by a malevolent entity.

After four months in Turkey as a linguistic attaché, Sebastian Mackie is ready to go home. The night before Seb leaves, his close friend and landlord, Oz, infuriates a local widow, who puts a curse on him. This unnerves Oz, as the Arabic passage she spoke cited a djinn, which in some interpretations are akin to demons (“I haven’t been to prayers in years. But the djinn still scare me to death”). He’s truly convinced that he’s cursed when, sometime later, there’s an incident of astounding violence at his parents’ farm. With help from university professor Deniz Yilmaz, Seb and Oz search for the widow and details about the ancient curse, which no one is willing to utter aloud. Meanwhile, the djinn seemingly strikes again, putting one of Oz’s loved ones in indisputable peril. Seb and the others rush to various places (including a mosque and a jaunt to North Africa) searching for anything that can put a stop to the curse—or perhaps to the djinn itself. Harrison’s short novel proficiently establishes its plot and cast. In relatively few pages, readers come to appreciate Seb’s background and his relationship with Oz as the curse slowly creeps in. Seb, who narrates, is a sublime protagonist who doesn’t hesitate to put himself in harm’s way to rescue his equally likable and sympathetic friend. Deniz fits right in, as her resolution to find answers rarely wavers. The most impressive element is the narrative’s grand environment—it’s engaging to follow the British Seb adjusting to Tunisia’s heat or growing noticeably anxious when a driver in Istanbul speeds through traffic. The descriptions of cuisine shine as well, from mechouia salad and egg-based menemen to Seb’s apparent obsession with coffee. While showcasing so much of the locales does occasionally lessen the narrative’s urgency (and corresponding suspense), everything culminates in a smashing final act and an unforgettable ending.

Dynamic characters energize this brisk, creepy, and enthralling story.