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The Haunting of Modesto O'Brien
Violence and greed have intruded into a wild and remote land. It’s 1907, and silver fever has drawn thousands of men into a fledgling mining camp in the heart of the wilderness. Modesto O’Brien, fortune-teller and detective, is there too - but he isn’t looking for riches. He’s seeking revenge.
O’Brien soon finds himself entangled with the mysterious Nail sisters, Lucy and Lily. On the run from their past and headed for trouble, Lily turns to O’Brien when Lucy goes missing. But what should have been a straightforward case of kidnapping pulls O’Brien into a world of ancient myths, magic, and male violence.
As he searches for Lucy, O’Brien fears that dark forces are emerging from the ravaged landscape. Mesmerized by a nightmarish creature stalking the wilderness, and haunted by his past, O’Brien struggles to maintain his grip on reality as he faces hard choices about loyalty, sacrifice, and revenge.
O’Brien soon finds himself entangled with the mysterious Nail sisters, Lucy and Lily. On the run from their past and headed for trouble, Lily turns to O’Brien when Lucy goes missing. But what should have been a straightforward case of kidnapping pulls O’Brien into a world of ancient myths, magic, and male violence.
As he searches for Lucy, O’Brien fears that dark forces are emerging from the ravaged landscape. Mesmerized by a nightmarish creature stalking the wilderness, and haunted by his past, O’Brien struggles to maintain his grip on reality as he faces hard choices about loyalty, sacrifice, and revenge.
312 pages, Paperback
Published September 20, 2025
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Brit Griffin
6 books10 followersThe Haunting of Modesto O'Brien, out Fall 2025 - an eco-gothic tale that writer Lindsay Wong called a "propulsive and fast-paced historical thriller that glitters with a violent, nightmarish-tinged atmosphere".
Griffin is the author of the cli-fi Wintermen trilogy. The Wintermen (2014) was short-listed for the Northern Lit award for fiction. She worked for many years as a researcher for Timiskaming First Nation, an Algonquin community in northern Quebec.
Griffin is the author of the cli-fi Wintermen trilogy. The Wintermen (2014) was short-listed for the Northern Lit award for fiction. She worked for many years as a researcher for Timiskaming First Nation, an Algonquin community in northern Quebec.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 4, 2025
Full review on my website at thriftedpages.com.
First Impressions
You know that feeling when you find a book that looks promising, with a gorgeous cover and a great premise, and then you start reading and it’s somehow even weirder than you expected? That was my experience with The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien by Brit Griffin, a surprising read that ended up keeping me up way too late. It’s one of those stories that seeps into your brain like fog through an open window.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Latitude 46 Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Story
Set in 1907 in the mining town of Cobalt, Ontario, this one blends ghost story, detective noir, and myth in a way that feels gritty and otherworldly at the same time. Modesto O’Brien is a fortune teller and occasional detective who’s come to town not for riches but for revenge. He gets tangled up with Lucy and Lilly Nail, sisters whose family history is filled with secrets, curses, and unfinished business. When Lucy goes missing, Lily asks O’Brien for help, and what starts as a simple investigation turns into something much darker and much stranger.
The Setting Steals the Show
The setting absolutely steals the show. Griffin’s version of Cobalt is raw and alive. It is full of miners, greed, superstition, and a forest that seems to have opinions about it all. The wilderness feels like it’s watching the characters, waiting for them to make the next mistake. It’s classic gothic atmosphere done right – moody, messy, and alive with ghosts both literal and metaphorical.
Genre-Bending Goodness
What I really liked here is that Griffin doesn’t stick to one lane when it comes to genre. It’s mystery, horror, folklore, and historical fiction all tangled together. There’s this uneasy blend of realism and myth that makes you question what’s actually happening versus what’s being imagined or remembered. It’s the kind of story that feels haunted even when nothing supernatural is on the page.
The Writing (And My One Big Gripe)
I’m not sure if this is because I read an ARC, but the grammar and punctuation (especially the use of commas) were rough. Like, distractingly rough. I found myself rereading sentences to make sense of them, which is not what you want in the middle of a tense ghostly mystery. It could have used a solid round (or three) of editing.
However, while Griffin struggles with the technical aspects of her craft, her dialogue writing is superb. I recently played Red Dead Redemption 2 and this novel could have been a part of the writing for the game. It was seriously, seriously good. I felt as though I was a fly on the wall listening to these characters interact with each other.
In spite of the sloppy writing, I really, really enjoyed this story. The characters felt layered and flawed, the world felt tangible, and the central mystery had that perfect mix of dread and wonder. Although this book wasn’t polished to perfection it still completely pulled me in.
Final Thoughts
So here’s where I landed: 3 out of 5 stars for The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien, but that’s only because of the editing. With tighter grammar and a clean-up on sentence structure, this easily could have been a 4.5 for me. The story itself? Fantastic. Creepy, immersive, and emotionally grounded in a way that sticks with you.
If you like books that feel like ghost stories told by firelight, books that are part truth, part legend, and a little bit curse, you’ll probably love this one.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make tea and go sit by a window until the feeling that something’s watching me passes.
First Impressions
You know that feeling when you find a book that looks promising, with a gorgeous cover and a great premise, and then you start reading and it’s somehow even weirder than you expected? That was my experience with The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien by Brit Griffin, a surprising read that ended up keeping me up way too late. It’s one of those stories that seeps into your brain like fog through an open window.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Latitude 46 Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
The Story
Set in 1907 in the mining town of Cobalt, Ontario, this one blends ghost story, detective noir, and myth in a way that feels gritty and otherworldly at the same time. Modesto O’Brien is a fortune teller and occasional detective who’s come to town not for riches but for revenge. He gets tangled up with Lucy and Lilly Nail, sisters whose family history is filled with secrets, curses, and unfinished business. When Lucy goes missing, Lily asks O’Brien for help, and what starts as a simple investigation turns into something much darker and much stranger.
The Setting Steals the Show
The setting absolutely steals the show. Griffin’s version of Cobalt is raw and alive. It is full of miners, greed, superstition, and a forest that seems to have opinions about it all. The wilderness feels like it’s watching the characters, waiting for them to make the next mistake. It’s classic gothic atmosphere done right – moody, messy, and alive with ghosts both literal and metaphorical.
Genre-Bending Goodness
What I really liked here is that Griffin doesn’t stick to one lane when it comes to genre. It’s mystery, horror, folklore, and historical fiction all tangled together. There’s this uneasy blend of realism and myth that makes you question what’s actually happening versus what’s being imagined or remembered. It’s the kind of story that feels haunted even when nothing supernatural is on the page.
The Writing (And My One Big Gripe)
I’m not sure if this is because I read an ARC, but the grammar and punctuation (especially the use of commas) were rough. Like, distractingly rough. I found myself rereading sentences to make sense of them, which is not what you want in the middle of a tense ghostly mystery. It could have used a solid round (or three) of editing.
However, while Griffin struggles with the technical aspects of her craft, her dialogue writing is superb. I recently played Red Dead Redemption 2 and this novel could have been a part of the writing for the game. It was seriously, seriously good. I felt as though I was a fly on the wall listening to these characters interact with each other.
In spite of the sloppy writing, I really, really enjoyed this story. The characters felt layered and flawed, the world felt tangible, and the central mystery had that perfect mix of dread and wonder. Although this book wasn’t polished to perfection it still completely pulled me in.
Final Thoughts
So here’s where I landed: 3 out of 5 stars for The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien, but that’s only because of the editing. With tighter grammar and a clean-up on sentence structure, this easily could have been a 4.5 for me. The story itself? Fantastic. Creepy, immersive, and emotionally grounded in a way that sticks with you.
If you like books that feel like ghost stories told by firelight, books that are part truth, part legend, and a little bit curse, you’ll probably love this one.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to make tea and go sit by a window until the feeling that something’s watching me passes.
November 26, 2025
The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien by Brit Griffin
A genre bending novel that blends historical fiction, supernatural horror and mystery into a single compelling story. Set amid the lawlessness of a mining town swept up in the frenzy of silver fever in 1907, the fates of Modesto (detective & fortune teller), the Nail sisters and the three men they are pursuing or being pursued by all converge in Cobalt. The narrative’s trajectory isn’t immediately clear, but the early chapters effectively introduce a fascinating cast of characters and immerse you in the brutal, chaotic world of a boomtown on the edge.
This is an absorbing story that shines a light on the violence, greed and mania that consumed people and the towns that sprang up during the mineral rush. Each character is shrouded in mystery, and the slow unraveling of their backstories gradually reveals their points of intersection. Griffin steadily builds tension and dread by weaving together supernatural elements and manmade horror, leaving the reader to constantly question whether a “monster” exists or is it entirely of this world. The story is steeped in darkness, shaped by the nature of the men drawn to Cobalt, by Irish mythology, and by the spectral forces at play; resulting in an atmospheric and riveting tale of mystery and greed.
A genre bending novel that blends historical fiction, supernatural horror and mystery into a single compelling story. Set amid the lawlessness of a mining town swept up in the frenzy of silver fever in 1907, the fates of Modesto (detective & fortune teller), the Nail sisters and the three men they are pursuing or being pursued by all converge in Cobalt. The narrative’s trajectory isn’t immediately clear, but the early chapters effectively introduce a fascinating cast of characters and immerse you in the brutal, chaotic world of a boomtown on the edge.
This is an absorbing story that shines a light on the violence, greed and mania that consumed people and the towns that sprang up during the mineral rush. Each character is shrouded in mystery, and the slow unraveling of their backstories gradually reveals their points of intersection. Griffin steadily builds tension and dread by weaving together supernatural elements and manmade horror, leaving the reader to constantly question whether a “monster” exists or is it entirely of this world. The story is steeped in darkness, shaped by the nature of the men drawn to Cobalt, by Irish mythology, and by the spectral forces at play; resulting in an atmospheric and riveting tale of mystery and greed.
October 7, 2025
What a palpable sense of dread, fear and excitement in these pages. I’m a sucker for a good Western, and a good ghost story. This book was recommended to me by my sister and I can’t recommend it enough. The cinematic tale of The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien leaps off the page and grabs you by the neck. Bravo!
October 7, 2025
Loved this. Spooky, well-written, and intriguing. A great autumnal read!
October 7, 2025
Great read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews