“Known for her evocative portrayals of northern life and the environment, Brit Griffin brings depth and atmosphere to every page. The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien is a tale of obsession, loss, and the haunting power of the land itself. With unforgettable characters and prose that burns with intensity, Griffin delivers a story that will stay with readers long after the final page, a testament to how the past can echo through both wilderness and soul.” - from Open Book, interview with the author.
My latest novel is set in a silver mining town in 1907. The silver rush brought thousands of men, driven by the desire for wealth, into the boreal forest of northern Ontario. It transformed the wilds into a site of social, cultural and ecological rupture.
An excerpt: “Mr. Cooley was suddenly serious, the watery eyes turning sharply to Modesto, “I don’t want any more trouble coming your way,” then leaning in, he said in a hushed voice, “This is a rough town, O’Brien. Sometimes I think that just a little bit of hell pushed up from below when they started that trenching and blasting.”
“I appreciate your concern Mr. Cooley, and I will consider the matter closed. But I think you might be mistaken about the hell here. I don’t think it slipped up from the trenches and shafts. I think it came in on the train.”
- from Chapter Thirty-Three, The Haunting of Modesto O’Brien
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