The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien
Set in northern Ontario in 1907 in the rough and violent silver mining town of Cobalt, as well as the forested wilderness surrounding it, The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien is a speculative blend of genres: gothic, horror, mystery, myth, folktale, and historical. Hints suggest that the miners’ abuse of the land has awakened angry forces out in the woods and lake.
Modesto is a newly arrived detective and fortune-teller—or gunman (his business sign changes according to who reads it and when). He also has a mystical ability to communicate with animals, but he doesn’t advertise that. Instead of silver, he’s come seeking revenge against two men he’s tracked to Cobalt.
Through scenes of these men’s abusive, brutal interactions with both women and other men, the reader is left with no ambiguity about their villainy and is wholeheartedly rooting for whatever form of revenge Modesto aims at, although the detective moves slowly. His goal is seemingly delayed further when a woman who has both an otherworldly aura and a criminal background asks him to find her kidnapped sister Lucy. This rescue sends him straight into the shady business dealings of the two men he’s been following—and into the forests where, people claim, a monster is responsible for the uncanny deaths of several miners.
Griffin writes in a terse noir style suitable for this material. However, her periodic avoidance of standard punctuation and sentence structure may confuse the reader. This atmospheric mix of human malevolence and supernatural terrors provides a layered read that fulfills the title’s promise of a haunting, especially for gothic horror fans. Some readers may find the ending abrupt, although it involves a suspenseful final battle with several elements falling into place simultaneously.
