Cynthia Erivo’s “No Good Deed” is worth the price of admission alone!

You don’t start out as a writer by writing the Next Great American Novel. You start out by writing crappy Castlevania fanfiction when you’re nine years old that asks the question, what if Dracula had a redemption arc? And half of it is written in glittery gold gel ink because the black pen ran out.

To clarify, this book feels like it exists firmly in Tim Burton’s stylized Gotham, with the portrayals of these characters as presented in his films. I could almost hear Keaton and Nicholson’s voices at times while reading the dialogue! It’s such a specific vibe, and impressive to see pulled off.

I’d just like to add at the end of this year’s Spooktacular that I’ve noticed MANY of the books I’ve talked about have glowing blurbs from @claymcleod.bsky.social. Listen to this man’s horror recs. He’s got his finger to the pulse (also there shouldn’t be a pulse, oh god why is it still moving).

Two girls, one cup, both alike in dignity