jamesdanielhorn 's review for:

Nightmare Alley by William Lindsay Gresham

5.0

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A stunningly vivid and essential piece of pulp noir, Nightmare Alley is both very much of its era while telling a timeless tale of greed and misfortune. There is a careful balance of negativity and hope here that feels both inviting and intentional, really drawing the reader into the darkness of the the book. The novel also cleverly organizes chapters by using tarot cards which play into/off of the chapters’ themes, which was fascinating and further drew me into the setting, Gresham clearly knows both the carnival/swindle racket and the mind of an alcoholic well. This knowledge evokes a woozy bacchanal of desperation while masterfully telling a modern tale of morality.

This had been on my list for a long time, but when I read of the upcoming Guillermo Del Toro film I decided to read this before someone else’s vision supersedes my own. I’m glad I did because the imagery I conjured from the text here feel indelible. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a memorable bit of pulpy fiction.