By: Peter Gooch
Publisher: Apprentice House Press
Publication Date: April 17, 2025
ISBN: 978-1627205641
Reviewed by: Tripti Kandari
Review Date: July 17, 2025
A novel filled with past memories, the rumor of a terrifying muse, and an artist fighting with himself, Seren, by Peter Gooch, presents the reader with a psychological labyrinth, a mystery, and the portrait of a slow-burning obsession that leads to a new and different truth at every turn.
The story is an atmospheric slow-burn and a psychological mystery which opens with Detroit in the grip of a once-in-a-century blizzard, leads to an isolated Michigan cottage, the bohemian studios of Paris, and to dream-like hallucinations. At the center of the story is Fairchild Moss, an emotionally drained art dealer who finds himself entangled in and obsessed by a mysterious painting. The painting, by a now-deceased visionary, Norris Bainbridge, bears the hint of a powerful female muse, Seren.
The allure of the muse becomes so strong that it leads Moss to forsake every matter at hand, in search of Seren, a force that turns out to be seductive, spiritual, and at times terrifying. The story depicts the artistic and emotional journey of Moss, and confronts him with his past failures, regrets, and a reminder of his forgotten passion—painting. The tale unfolds as a haunting mystery and ends with a spiritual awakening, where the canvas is not just about painting, but about Moss himself.
The narrative of the novel is like a noir film with snowstorms, abandoned studios, and flickering firelit scenes where the characters fight for their truths. The writing is lyrical but not over-stylized. Every page is rife with atmosphere, and vivid enough to impact the reader’s emotions. The weight of dialog is palpable with hidden tension and unspoken truth. The slow pace of the narrative is intentional, to allow space for emotional and psychological revelation. There is a dream-like rhythm in the pacing where the boundary between real and unreal blurs.
The work suggests that art is not merely paint on canvas, but a catalog of feelings memories and the tragedy of life. It demonstrates the power of an art that forces one to peer inside the soul. Moss’s journey isn’t merely the pursuit of a muse, but also a quest for lost feelings, dreams, and personal identity. In Seren, the muse becomes a symbol of inspiration which allows the artist to take flight, but also a reminder of the cost of ambition.
Quill says: Seren by Peter Gooch is a mystery and the tale of a deeply personal journey where art, memories, and emotions intertwine to illuminate the power of art as a reflection of man's grief, guilt, desire, and longing.
For more information about Seren, please visit the author's website at: petergoochauthor.com
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