And What Can We Offer You Tonight

May 24, 2021
Moody and atmospheric, this dystopian novella from Mohamed (A Broken Darkness) skillfully turns a murder mystery into a scathing examination of what life might be like in even later stage capitalism. Narrator Jewel and the other courtesans of the House of Bicchieri, an elite brothel, are holding a secret wake for one of their number, Winfield, in the abandoned church that is their place of worship, when Winfield suddenly comes back to life. The undead Winfield recalls being murdered—a fact the owners of the House covered up—and seeks revenge for her death and all the other injuries and injustices meted out to her fellow courtesans by the House’s über-wealthy clientele. Jewel hungers for revenge herself, but is kept in such purposeful and permanent precarity that she can’t act out. Then the owners profane the courtesans’ church, and Jewel must make a choice between protecting Winfield’s plans or her place in the House of Bicchieri. The lush prose, rife with classical allusions, captivates, echoing the brothel’s penchant for containing horrors but covering them up in a wealth of gilded detail. Mohamed’s fans won’t want to miss the mesmerizing lyricality of her latest. Agent: Michael Curry, DMLA.

March 1, 2024

In a disturbing future where rising waters threaten to swallow the lower classes, the wealthy tower over them and assert control. The poorest people are frequently bought and sold, and many even choose to sell themselves. Jewel is one of these, having traded her freedom for the protected lifestyle afforded a courtesan of the prestigious House of Bicchieri. When a murdered friend comes back to life, intent on seeking revenge, Jewel must choose between self-preservation and helping bring her friend's killer to justice. Mohamed's (A Broken Darkness) novella relies on familiar concepts like a stark class divide fueled by a wealth-focused hegemony, immersing readers through descriptive worldbuilding and a seductive noir aesthetic. The often overwritten prose dances perilously close to purple but is made palatable by Elana Dunkelman's brilliant audiobook narration. Through Dunkelman's performance, Jewel's investigation is conveyed with measured desperation and hopefulness, supporting the protagonist's conflicted desire to do the right thing while protecting her way of life. VERDICT Mohamed's haunting novella will check the boxes for fans seeking horror, fantasy, and dystopian worlds. Recommended for fans of Mia V. Moss's Mai Tais for the Lost and C.L. Polk's Even Though I Knew the End.--Andy Myers

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