Honestly, I picked up 'David Poindexter's Disappearance, and Other Tales' out of pure curiosity. Julian Hawthorne (son of Nathaniel, fact fans!) writes with that older, formal charm, but don't let that fool you. His stories bite. This collection is a handful of short, strange situations, each one a little puzzle. They're the kind of tales that used to be whispered around the fire, where things feel safe until suddenly they don't.

The Story

The title tale is a perfect start. David Poindexter annoys a neighbor so much she tracks his movements, only to discover he simply vanishes mid-conversation. That's the setup. The answer is far more bizarre than a simple magic trick. Other stories are like that too—someone inherits an item that might be haunted, a painting seems alive, a family secret comes scratching at the door. Nothing feels like a who-done-it murder mystery; instead, they’re psychological. A woman on a long sea voyage drives herself to the edge of madness because she’s made everything up. What’s real and what isn't? You'll never be sure.

Why You Should Read It

Hawthorne’s real magic isn't jump scares—it's lingering dread. His characters aren't brave heroes going up against ghosts. They’re ordinary people who see something they can't explain and keep it to themselves. Other stories in the batch rest on small coincidences that make you go, 'No, that can't be right… can it?' It feels authentic to how strange things happen off-screen, unannounced. It's smart, but never academic. Plus, reading Julian Hawthorne is like having a smart, slightly unsettling friend tell you yarns late at night—he never jokes, but he never lectures, either. Great if you want proper literary chills with your coffee.

Final Verdict