Brat

More about the book

Full of dark, deadpan humor, this raucous story explores the messy business of living, dying, and family. Gabriel finds himself in a waiting room, then an examination room, grappling with his father’s death, a crumbling relationship, and a looming deadline for a novel. Tasked by his well-adjusted brother to clear out their family home, Gabriel's sanity unravels as he encounters shifting manuscripts, a bizarre home video hinting at buried secrets, and a hideous man in the garden. Disquieting yet hilarious, this taut and lyrical debut meditates on grief, art, and love, leaving readers breathless and eager for more. The novel crackles with gothic horror, deadpan humor, and a sense of alienation. Gabriel's perspective reveals a deeply gothic world filled with ghostly visions and uncertainties, presented in short, clipped chapters with uproarious dialogue. Readers who appreciate the morbidly funny will find much to love in this unique tale of loss and the anxiety of modern life, tinged with humor and deep insight. Gabriel Smith's distinctive style offers a sharp, eerie exploration of grief and memory, making this debut an unnerving yet seductive read that resonates long after the final page.