Seren
by Peter Gooch
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Pub Date Apr 08 2025 | Archive Date Apr 29 2025
Mindbuck Media | Apprentice House
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Description
It’s 1978, and the high-end art scene in the Midwest is booming. Successful Detroit gallery owner Fairchild Moss is tired of his life as a middleman. He secretly yearns to return to his first love — painting. When Moss comes into possession of a mysterious masterpiece created by the reclusive genius Norris Bainbridge, his life takes an unexpected turn. Perplexed by several unexpected elements in the thick paint — the imprint of a female nipple and a partial handprint — Moss is intrigued. These clues convince him that the aging artist was not alone in the creation of his powerful work.
So begins a darkly comic quest to uncover the true story behind the eerie painting and to locate the muse who inspired the aging master’s greatest masterpiece. Moss is aided in his search by his favorite bartender, Claudine Boatwright, along with a cast of eccentric characters from the art world. The story follows Moss and Claudine from the posh suburbs of Detroit to the wilds of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula and overseas to a gala opening in London and an out-of-the-way atelier in Paris. During their journey, the pair discover a pattern of bizarre deaths linked to the Welsh muse, Seren. When Moss and the muse finally meet, she seduces him with the prospect of rekindling his failed painting career. Moss falls under the spell of this savage, otherworldly woman and discovers the high price of resurrecting old dreams.
Seren is more than the story of a man’s obsession with a painting. The novel also chronicles the on-again, off-again love story of Moss and Claudine — two social misfits who team up to unravel the secrets of the muse, and in the course of events discover just how complicated love can be.
Advance Praise
“A page-turning thriller, a meditation on art, and a touching exploration of second chances, Peter Gooch’s Seren is a novel that does all that.” — Adam Prince, author of The Beautiful Wishes of Ugly Men
“Seren is at once a sharply comic satire of the art scene, a canny meditation on the nature of art, and an entirely absorbing murder mystery. — Arnold Johnston, novelist, playwright, poet, and author of Swept Away, The Witching Voice and Where We’re Going, Where We’ve Been
“This novel skewers the pretensions and infighting of the art world in the context of a thoroughly satisfying mystery that will make readers laugh and think.” — Deborah Ann Percy, fiction writer, playwright, and author of Invisible Traffic and Dream Time, a Susan Smith Blackburn Award Finalist
“Seren is a tour de force. Rooted in an archetypal battle between darkness and light, the plot line quivers with energy and mystery.” — Phaedra Greenwood, author of Beside the Rio Hondo and coauthor of Those Were the Days: Life and love in 1970s New Mexico
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781627205614 |
| PRICE | $22.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 345 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
larissa R, Reviewer
I recently had the pleasure of reading a truly exceptional literary work that has left an indelible mark on my mind. This masterpiece is a testament to the author's skillful storytelling, weaving a narrative that is both captivating and thought-provoking.
From the opening pages, I was drawn into a world that was both familiar and yet, utterly unique. The author's use of language is masterful, painting vivid pictures with words that transported me to a realm that was both fantastical and grounded in reality. The characters that inhabit this world are multidimensional and relatable, with complexities that make them feel like old friends.
One of the standout aspects of this book is its ability to tackle complex themes and ideas with nuance and sensitivity. The author tackles difficult subjects with a deft hand, never shying away from the tough questions, but instead, presenting them in a way that is both accessible and thought-provoking.
The pacing of the book is expertly managed, with a narrative that flows effortlessly from one chapter to the next. The author's use of plot twists and surprises kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to discover what would happen next.
What truly sets this book apart, however, is its ability to evoke emotions. I found myself laughing, crying, and cheering alongside the characters, invested in their journeys and outcomes. The author's writing is evocative, conjuring up feelings and sensations that linger long after the final page is turned.
In short, this book is a triumph. It is a must-read for anyone who loves literature, and a testament to the power of storytelling to transport, educate, and inspire. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a truly unforgettable reading experience.
Paul T, Reviewer
Seren is a fantastic book about an artist searching for a muse, and willing to risk everything to find her, and to use her, and to be used by her. It's a trippy story and I was all in from the get-go. It's a peek into the lives of artists and art dealers. it's a story about the difficulty of knowing who we are and what we want. It's a story about art and what makes it great or boring. It's a story about inspiration and the lengths an artist will go to to find it.
Five Stars!
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