This is a clockwork sort of horror. Every scene, every thought, every repetitive noise all play their role.

This is a novella that could be staged as a play. Almost every scene is in a small room with 1-3 people. The larger world of both the haunting and the characters' criminal associates are told in exposition: small rays of information impotently attempting to dispel the claustrophobic shadows of the present.

Initially there's a hint of the supernatural in a creepy yet otherwise mundane setting. Every clue fills in a puzzle that contradicts reality. An off stage mob boss won't accept "ghost" for an answer. Along the way consent, enablement, fear and stubbornness are examined both sexually and supernaturally. The story crescendos to a satisfying magical confrontation.

A near perfect use of the novella length and a delightful overlap of crime, horror and literary character study.