The Last Spirits of Manhattan - by John A McDermott (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The Last Spirits of Manhattan transports readers to 1956 Manhattan, where the glamorous and eerie collide in a narrative as intricate as the city itself. At the heart of the novel is Carolyn, a spirited young woman who flees her mundane Midwest life, finding herself amidst the spectral chaos of a party hosted by none other than Alfred Hitchcock. Set in a crumbling mansion owned by her enigmatic great-aunts, Carolyn is thrust into a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs. Here, real ghosts, including the whimsical Snug and the remorseful Uncle James, mingle with legends like Charles Addams and Henry Fonda. As Carolyn grapples with romantic entanglements and ghostly encounters, she uncovers long-buried family secrets, challenging her understanding of love, loyalty, and legacy."-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Based on a true story, this sparkling and witty novel whisks you to 1956 Manhattan, where famed director Alfred Hitchcock is hosting a star-studded party in an allegedly haunted house...only for the soiree to be interrupted by a ghostly party crasher.

After fleeing her mundane life in the Midwest, Carolyn Banks finds herself in her enigmatic great-aunts' eerie mansion on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Inside its crumbling façade, suspense director Alfred Hitchcock is throwing a party, gleefully informing his celebrity guests that the venue is supposedly haunted. It all seems like a fun gag, but Carolyn knows that the line between reality and the supernatural is dangerously blurred here.

Soon, the paranormal entities are mingling with guests like Charles Addams and Henry Fonda. As Carolyn grapples with romantic entanglements and ghostly encounters, she discovers long-buried family secrets, challenging her understanding of love, loyalty, and legacy. A striking mix of the haunting and the heartwarming, The Last Spirits of Manhattan is an unputdownable novel about a family reunion unlike any other, set against the bewitching backdrop of 1950s New York City.

Review Quotes

"McDermott weaves ghost story and social satire into pure storytelling magic."
--Diane C. McPhail, USA Today bestselling author of The Seamstress of New Orleans

About the Author

John A. McDermott was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin. He now serves on the board of directors for the Writers' League of Texas and teaches creative writing at Stephen F. Austin State University. Prior to teaching, he worked as an actor, bartender, house painter, and advertising copywriter. He lives in Nacogdoches with his wife and teenage daughter. This is his first novel.