I’ve been lucky enough to get a sneak peek at Lori Titus’ upcoming novelette, Hailey’s Shadow. Reminiscent of some of her earlier work, this 10,000 word story walks a line between horror and mystery. It showcases Titus’ talent for the latter in particular.
A brief prologue shows us a vignette from Hailey’s past, and introduces us to her shadows—mean, demanding, formless things that haunt her and drive her to the point of taking drastic action with a book of matches. It’s not the first time she’s played with fire, and as the story moves into Hailey’s present, we find out that it wasn’t the last. We know that horrible events crop up again and again as Hailey grows into a woman, but are they crimes, or are they accidents? If crimes, were they her work? And is she murderous, or is she insane?
It’s impossible to know the answers, both for the psychologist who has come to study her, and for the reader. I guessed—repeatedly—feeling compelled to do so. I almost had it the answers securely in hand, or I thought I did, but in the end all my guesses were close but off the mark, and I was left with conflicting emotions, delightfully surprised but horrified at the same time.
Titus opening lines threaten to be a little slow, lagging just a step behind my admittedly high expectations. Yet they did have the power to make me want to read on. Within a hundred or so words, the pace picks up, and readers are drawn into Hailey’s story and the mystery at the heart of Titus’ creation.
Hailey’s Shadow is set for publication early in 2011. Titus has fashioned a short, quick read that deliver’s a solid punch, and though the publisher can’t yet be disclosed, try to keep an eye out for it. It’ll be worth the wait.
