The Visitant: A Venetian Ghost Story by Megan Chance is a 2015 Lake Union publication.

A dark and moody Gothic historical ghost story-

Venice- such a romantic city- but one that harbors dark secrets. Elena’s reasons for coming to Venice is twofold. She desperately needs an escape after a terrible miscalculation on her part, destroyed her father’s livelihood and reputation. On the other hand, this opportunity could bring redemption, and help restore her father’s good name.

Her assignment is to care for Samuel Farber, a man suffering from a secret malady and recovering from a horrific beating. Upon arrival she learns Samuel also suffers from hallucinations, and can be violent and crude.

The crumbling Palazzo, where Samuel is housed, is owned by his best friend, Nero, and comes with an uncooperative staff. Right from the start, Elena has her work cut out for her. She is convinced that the violent episodes that plague Samuel are due to a condition he wishes to keep secret at all costs. Yet, as time passes, it looks as though something far more sinister is haunting Samuel, and the Palazzo. With the time ticking, Elena must work quickly to save Samuel, and maybe even herself…

This is a solid Gothic novel with paranormal elements. The atmosphere is heavy, and the story is certainly absorbing. The pacing, as with many Gothic novels, is not especially brisk, but this helps the suspense and drama to develop in a stronger, more effective manner. The ending is a bit predictable, but overall, I thought this was a good malevolent ghost story, perfect for a cold winter night, or a stormy spring day.

If you want a traditional ghost story, this is not the book for you. It begins as the story of Elena Spiro who travels from America to Venice to care for an epileptic,,Samuel Farber who needs to be ready and reasonably well to return to NYC by January to marry his betrothed who doesn't know he is ill. As her father was superintendent to Glen Echo a sanitarium for the mentally ill and people who have epiilepsy her father has faith in her ability to cure him. Unfortunately the palazzo, Casa Basilio is a run down palace that has seen better days and has a definite unhealthy ambience. Her treatments with Samuel are not successful and he end up assaulting her. In the midst of this his old friend and confidante as well as heir to the palazzo Nero Basilio returns. Nero's aunt who was to be his future mother-in-law before his fiancee died (or was murdered) according to her mother gives the novel a more ghostly atmosphere. Samuel starts speaking in Venetian, a dialect of Italian to an "angel" who tells him to harm Elena as she begins to fall in love with Nero. Events begin to spiral out of control and the book is really quite a page turner. I give it five stars as I enjoyed it a great deal. Thanks to Megan Chance, Net Galley and Lake Union publishers for giving me tingles down my spine reading this great book.