Portrait of a Haunting

Praise for Portrait of a Haunting

“Portrait of a Haunting cuts deep and chills to the bone– a thrilling introduction to a powerful and stirring new voice in fiction.”
—Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of The Unmaking of June Farrow

“Fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House will adore this intensely emotional and unflinchingly dark ghost story, which blends coming-of-age, family drama, and romance into a gripping tale of a city and young woman haunted by angry spirits. Portrait of a Haunting is horromance at its lyrical finest.”
—Ashley Winstead, USA Today bestselling author of This Book Will Bury Me

“Part gritty murder mystery and part ghost story, with a smattering of art at its darkest, Portrait of a Haunting is a searingly beautiful page-turner about rage and love, the depths of friendship, and how far one will go for family.”
—Ande Pliego, author of You Are Fatally Invited

“Nelson skillfully blends eerie thrills and spooky chills into a captivating tale that also thoughtfully explores the immense value of being seen, the impact of grief, the power of art, and the importance of friends and families (found and otherwise) in our lives. Nelson’s bewitching debut is an extraordinary treat for readers who enjoy horror, suspense, and romance.”
—Booklist

“A breathless and heart-wrenching triumph of a debut. With sharp prose, an immersive world, and characters that crack open your heart, Portrait of a Haunting reaches into the very core of what it means to be human, to grieve, and to paint a life worth living after loss. This stunning tale will linger like a ghost long after you close its pages.”
—Ruth McKell, author of Honey in Her Veins

“Portrait of a Haunting is both wonderfully exciting and a bit terrifying. A beautiful exploration of identity and empowerment, a tender portrayal of found family, and one young woman’s dangerous quest for truth, all culminating in a nail-biting twist readers will not see coming. Lovers of ghost stories with plenty of heart will adore this!”
—Amanda Linsmeier, author of A Dance with Death

“Both fraught and tender, Portrait of a Haunting is a triumph of found family, self-trust, and triumph over generational trauma. Readers will love this book’s eerie, witchy vibes and gritty New York setting. Nelson crafted a story with real heart—I could not put it down!”
—Taylor Grothe, author of Lethal Kiss

“Much like its real and figurative ghosts, Portrait of a Haunting is an eerie tale that glides seamlessly between worlds, combining the puzzle-box thrills of a murder mystery with the gripping dread of a modern gothic. With an unforgettable ensemble and an earnest heroine at its heart, Nelson delivers a ghost story about loss, self-acceptance, and the complexity of family—both the ones we are born into and the ones we find for ourselves.”
—Victor Manibo, author of The Villa, Once Beloved

“A grief-soaked ghost story and murder mystery that turns its heroine’s worst habits into its sharpest insight, from a debut author with real nerve.”
—Ginger Nuts of Horror

“A beautifully interwoven tale about family, both found and blood, and the lengths they will go to for one another….Madison Tyler Nelson leads the reader right where she wants to and then pulls a perfect switch at the end.”
—Game Vortex