From popular historical fiction author David Liss (A Conspiracy of Paper) comes the tale of a clueless young man embroiled in a deadly supernatural mystery in Victorian London. Rooted in strange conspiracies and secret societies, this absurdist comedic romp combines strange bedfellows with murderous creatures, resulting in an unexpectedly delightful consequences.
ISBN: Print ISBN: 978-1-61696-358-3; Digital ISBN: 978-1-61696-359-0
Published: September 2021
Available Format(s): Trade Paperback and Digital
“Highly recommended.” —Jonathan Maberry, author of V-Wars and Ink
All of his life, Thomas Thresher has been free of obligation and responsibility. But that is all over now. He is a twenty-three-year-old man whose best days are behind him. Thomas’s older brother Walter has trapped him in a tedious clerical job at the family bank in London, and Thomas is expected to wed a wealthy young woman in whom he has no interest.
But Thomas has more serious problems than those of a disaffected young man. There are irregularities at the bank he cannot explain. His childhood friend has mysteriously turned up dead. Worse, a verdant skin malady has infected him: leaves have begun sprouting on his skin. Thomas must conclude that it is due to the long-rumored Peculiarities. London’s famous grey fog has been concealing a rash of unnatural afflictions—and worse, the murderous Elegants.
As Thomas grows leafier, the conspiracies surrounding him become more apparent. He cannot determine whom to trust: his own family; his banking co-workers and superiors; the beautiful widow of his companion; the woman he is to marry. Perhaps a lycanthropic medium and the members of a secret occult society . . . including a strange man named Aleister Crowley.
“David Liss masterfully blends rich historical fiction with terrifying supernatural body horror. He stands with Robert Louis Stevenson and Bram Stoker. Highly recommended.”
—Jonathan Maberry, author of V-Wars and Ink
“Fascinating events, surprising at first but completely believable. Characters I cared about more with each page. And best of all, it made me think, and go on thinking as one idea sprang to another, and on, and on. That is the greatest gift a writer can give.”
—Anne Perry, New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series
David Liss is the author of fourteen novels, as well as numerous novellas, short stories, and comics. His previous books include A Conspiracy of Paper which was named a New York Times Notable Book and won the 2001 Barry, Macavity and Edgar Awards. The Coffee Trader (2003) was also named a New York Times Notable Book and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the year’s 25 Books to Remember. He is also the author of the middle grade Randoms series. Many of Liss’s novels are currently being developed for television or film. He has worked on numerous comics projects, including Black Panther and Mystery Men for Marvel, The Spider and Green Hornet for Dynamite, and Angelica Tomorrow. Liss lives in San Antonio with his wife and children.
On The Devil’s Company
“Accomplished, atmospheric and thoughtful.”
—The Washington Post
On A Conspiracy of Paper
“Tremendously smart, assured, and entertaining.”
—Newsweek
On The Whiskey Rebels
“Smart, page-turning fun.”
—St. Petersburg Times
On The Ethical Assassin
“A thought-provoking and highly enjoyable yarn.”
—Baltimore Sun
On A Spectacle of Corruption
“[A] wonderful book . . . easily one of the year’s best.”
—The Boston Globe
On The Coffee Trader
“Diverting . . . sincerity can be the greatest means of deception.”
—The New York Times Book Review
On The Day of Atonement
“Enthralling . . . [a] sly, rich and swift novel of vengeance and rough justice.”
—The Seattle Times
On Twelfth Enchantment
“Liss’s deft touch with historical subject matter and his ability to craft tremendously appealing characters makes this a thoroughly enjoyable, satisfying read.”
—Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches
The Peculiarities
David Liss
“Liss is a superb writer.”
—People
From popular historical fiction author David Liss (A Conspiracy of Paper) comes the tale of a clueless young man embroiled in a deadly supernatural mystery in Victorian London. Rooted in strange conspiracies and secret societies, this absurdist comedic romp combines strange bedfellows with murderous creatures, resulting in an unexpectedly delightful consequences.
The Peculiarities
by David Liss
ISBN: Print ISBN: 978-1-61696-358-3; Digital ISBN: 978-1-61696-359-0
Published: September 2021
Available Format(s): Trade Paperback and Digital
“Highly recommended.” —Jonathan Maberry, author of V-Wars and Ink
All of his life, Thomas Thresher has been free of obligation and responsibility. But that is all over now. He is a twenty-three-year-old man whose best days are behind him. Thomas’s older brother Walter has trapped him in a tedious clerical job at the family bank in London, and Thomas is expected to wed a wealthy young woman in whom he has no interest.
But Thomas has more serious problems than those of a disaffected young man. There are irregularities at the bank he cannot explain. His childhood friend has mysteriously turned up dead. Worse, a verdant skin malady has infected him: leaves have begun sprouting on his skin. Thomas must conclude that it is due to the long-rumored Peculiarities. London’s famous grey fog has been concealing a rash of unnatural afflictions—and worse, the murderous Elegants.
As Thomas grows leafier, the conspiracies surrounding him become more apparent. He cannot determine whom to trust: his own family; his banking co-workers and superiors; the beautiful widow of his companion; the woman he is to marry. Perhaps a lycanthropic medium and the members of a secret occult society . . . including a strange man named Aleister Crowley.
“David Liss masterfully blends rich historical fiction with terrifying supernatural body horror. He stands with Robert Louis Stevenson and Bram Stoker. Highly recommended.”
—Jonathan Maberry, author of V-Wars and Ink
“Fascinating events, surprising at first but completely believable. Characters I cared about more with each page. And best of all, it made me think, and go on thinking as one idea sprang to another, and on, and on. That is the greatest gift a writer can give.”
—Anne Perry, New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series
David Liss is the author of fourteen novels, as well as numerous novellas, short stories, and comics. His previous books include A Conspiracy of Paper which was named a New York Times Notable Book and won the 2001 Barry, Macavity and Edgar Awards. The Coffee Trader (2003) was also named a New York Times Notable Book and was selected by the New York Public Library as one of the year’s 25 Books to Remember. He is also the author of the middle grade Randoms series. Many of Liss’s novels are currently being developed for television or film. He has worked on numerous comics projects, including Black Panther and Mystery Men for Marvel, The Spider and Green Hornet for Dynamite, and Angelica Tomorrow. Liss lives in San Antonio with his wife and children.
On The Devil’s Company
“Accomplished, atmospheric and thoughtful.”
—The Washington Post
On A Conspiracy of Paper
“Tremendously smart, assured, and entertaining.”
—Newsweek
On The Whiskey Rebels
“Smart, page-turning fun.”
—St. Petersburg Times
On The Ethical Assassin
“A thought-provoking and highly enjoyable yarn.”
—Baltimore Sun
On A Spectacle of Corruption
“[A] wonderful book . . . easily one of the year’s best.”
—The Boston Globe
On The Coffee Trader
“Diverting . . . sincerity can be the greatest means of deception.”
—The New York Times Book Review
On The Day of Atonement
“Enthralling . . . [a] sly, rich and swift novel of vengeance and rough justice.”
—The Seattle Times
On Twelfth Enchantment
“Liss’s deft touch with historical subject matter and his ability to craft tremendously appealing characters makes this a thoroughly enjoyable, satisfying read.”
—Deborah Harkness, author of A Discovery of Witches
Visit the David Liss website.