Atlas of Unknowable Things - by McCormick Templeman (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Modern Gothic in this smart and upmarket horror novel. Atlas of Unknowable Things begins when a young college professor writing on the occult joins an isolated research think-tank on a sprawling estate high in the Rocky Mountains. Her colleagues are a group of stand-offish fellows and the estate full of references to the occult. She slowly becomes plagued by nightmares and bouts of sleeping walking when she discovers a previous attendee had mysteriously disappeared - who seems to be leaving her clues on the true purpose for the research center. As she delves deeper into the mystery the more she becomes confused and questions reality. It's only after she discovers her personal connection to the facility, and the real reason why the former researcher left, that the true monstrous horror of the research center is unleashed...literally"-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Perfect for fans of The 71/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, with a modern gothic twist.

High in the Rocky Mountains on a secluded campus, sits Hildegard College, a celebrated institution known for its scientific innovation and its sprawling, botanical gardens. Historian Robin Quain has been awarded a residency to examine Hildegard's impressive collection of ancient manuscripts, but she has a secret. She's actually on the hunt for an artifact--one she must find before her former best friend turned professional rival gets his hands on it first.

But Hildegard has secrets of its own. Strange sounds echo across the alpine lake, lights flicker through the pines, and the faculty seem more like Jazz-age glitterati than academics. And then there's the professor who holds the key to Robin's research. She vanished suddenly last spring. What exactly did she do at the college, and why does no one want to talk about her?

As Robin searches for answers, an unknown source sends her a series of cryptic messages that makes her question whether she's the one doing the hunting, or whether someone is hunting her. Drawing on historical, botanical, and occult research, and steeped in the gothic tradition, Atlas of Unknowable Things considers what it means to search for meaning in the scientific, only to come face to face with the sublime.

Review Quotes

"Atlas of Unknowable Things is one of those rare novels with the power to adjust your grip on reality. Reading it feels like being in an escape room with a (not-racist) Lovecraft while sipping cocktails made of rare and marvelous herbs." -- Camille DeAngelis, Alex Award-winning author of Bones & All

"Atlas of Unknowable Things sent me down a dark, twisting rabbit hole while the author secretly reoriented my brain chemistry to only desire more of this book. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it--Wildly addictive, terrifying, and smart as hell." -- Sadie Hartmann, Bram Stoker Awards(R) winning author of 101 Horror Books to Read Before You're Murdered

About the Author

McCormick Templeman's writing has appeared in The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Dagon Collection, and the YA horror anthology, Slasher Girls and Monster Boys. She holds a Doctorate in the field of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as a PhD in English and Creative Writing from the University of Denver where she specialized in 19th Century horror.