The Lantern Man

Shortly after her brother Stormy is convicted of the brutal murder of a classmate seventeen-year-old Lizzy Greiner is found dead in an abandoned mountain shack the result of an apparent suicide by fire. Next to Lizzys charred body investigators find several of her journals safely stored inside a fireproof box. It soon becomes evident that these journals contain a narrative that Lizzy wanted the police read the truth that she wanted them to know. Detective Russ Buchanan is tasked with determining the veracity of her narrative including Lizzys belief and obsession that the mysterious and murderous Lantern Man is haunting the mountains near her familys house. He interviews family members teachers and classmates; he studies her psychologists extensive case notes. And he learns that Lizzy isnt the only one who believes in the Lantern Man. After generations of ghost stories is it possible that the Lantern Man actually does exist a real-life boogeyman? Did he have something to do with the murder? Or is he simply a figment of Lizzies deluded imagination an attempt to rationalize her brothers brutality? The further into the investigation he delves the more Buchanan questions everything he thought he knew about Lizzys death and the murder for which her brother was convicted. Praise for THE LANTERN MAN: The Lantern Man is an extraordinary novel that defies categorization. With shades of Stephen King Silence of the Lambs journalism and author Jon Bassoffs own groundbreaking vision of how to use the printed page to give readers the best story possible The Lantern Man is a landmark novel that will make you wonder marvel and remember. --James Grady author of Six Days of the Condor The Lantern Man is disorienting in the best sense of the word. Jon Bassoff masterfully blurs the lines between genres--no scratch that among genres--by creating a hellish hall of competing mirrors each holding its own twisted version of the truth. The Lantern Man is a true shape-shifter of a novel. Its one that will remain with readers long after the last page. --Lynn Kostoff author of A Choice of Nightmares and Words to Die For An engaging and immersive mashup of mystery and horror Jon Bassoffs The Lantern Man offers a dizzying world of clues interlacing the disappearances of several girls with the mythology of a local boogeyman. Bassoff weaves a tight and creepy tale through a series of mediums: a girls diary police transcripts a detectives notes newspaper articles letters photos and sketches. The result is an exceptionally creative compelling and dark whodunit that will leave its readers like the Lantern Man himself hungry for more. --Carter Wilson USA Today bestselling author The Lantern Man is a brilliant--and terrifying--puzzle-box narrative that dares you to keep reading. Its the kind of book that you better cancel any plans you might have before you start. --Rob Hart author of The Warehouse Ever been eyebrows deep in a horrifying investigation? Youre about to be... Part memoir part case file and completely absorbing The Lantern Man is a compelling pastiche on the verge of madness. --Craig Johnson author of the Walt Longmire mysteries the basis for the Netflix drama Longmire A genre-bending novel--an original captivating mystery that might pave the way we write crime fiction forever. --Jax Miller author of Freedoms Child