“One of the most haunting, and haunted, books I’ve ever read … One of the unique powers of the book is that it can’t be categorized. The word that comes closest is haunting. The title page lists seven other Tessier novels. I plan to track down all of them.”
—Richard Fuller, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Easily Tessier’s best novel yet, a restrained account of a girl/woman with a wild talent for seeing into the beyond.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Tessier delivers what may be the scariest read of the year. Relying on atmosphere and emphasizing the emotional hauntings of one person by another, this is an elegant, deeply disquieting tale of the dead’s hold upon the living.”
—Publishers Weekly
“The most unusual occult novel I have ever read.”
—Peter Straub, author of Mr. X
“Fog Heart is compelling reading, and it’s frightening. It’s also graphic, nasty, and deeply disturbing. After reading hundreds of supernatural horror novels, I have found that Tessier is the only author who can consistently disturb me.… This is the scariest book I’ve read this year.”
—Mark Graham, Rocky Mountain News
“Apart from the sad and, eventually, terrifying events which form the plot, this is a novel about scepticism turning to belief and about very odd characters who are unable to love those who love them. It is a clever and subtle book, brilliant in parts.”
—Chris Morgan, Interzone
“A fiction that is disturbingly different and that, as we have come to expect from Tessier, pushes generic impulses in refreshing directions.”
—Douglas E. Winter, Fantasy & Science Fiction
“A brave and ambitious novel, well written, deeply felt, and full of a kind of intractable integrity.”
—Bill Sheehan, Cemetery Dance
“Fog Heart does something unusual for the genre—it takes a common horror trope and creates something fresh and beautiful through merely its writing.… Good show.”
—Ellen Datlow, The Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror
“Thomas Tessier … knows exactly where to slide the blade so that it goes in quickly and straight to the heart.”
—Edward Bryant, Locus
“Novels like The Exorcist and Rosemary’s Baby had the power to captivate an entire generation and invigorate the horror genre. Fog Heart is such a book.… An extremely memorable read.”
—Joseph B. Mauceri, World of Fandom
“This is horror of the mind.”
—Diane McGinn, SFX magazine
“Tessier avoids the familiar path.… The result is a superb psychological suspense story with genuine supernatural content and an unexpected series of climaxes.”
—Don D’Ammassa, Science Fiction Chronicle
“First-rate work from a major talent. Tessier casts a dark spell through his gripping narrative—his characters live and breathe, the dialogue shines, and the atmosphere of dread he creates will unnerve even the most jaded reader. Fog Heart proves that horror is alive and well, demonstrating that a familiar premise can gain new life in the hands of a capable writer. If Tessier remains ‘horror fiction’s best-kept secret’ after this one, there is simply no justice.”
—Hank Wagner, Hellnotes
“Tessier, who writes in a succinct, clean style, lets characterization drive his plot forward. As more and more layers of his people are revealed, and their secrets come to light, events are set in motion that inevitably lead to tragedy and loss. It is the emotional hurt that Tessier inflicts on his characters … that is the most horrifying aspect of his story. Beyond that, however, there’s more than enough to satisfy fans of the supernatural.… With yet another powerful novel behind him, Tessier deserves some long overdue recognition.”
—Don Kaye, Fangoria
“Strongly atmospheric … This compelling novel overcomes any initial skepticism about psi powers and sucks the reader right in. Oona especially is a fascinating and complex character.”
—Marylaine Block, Library Journal (starred review)
“As in many great ghost stories, such as Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, the best effects are produced through implication and misdirection. The novel is frustratingly ambiguous, but there’s no denying the haunting power of Fog Heart.”
—Michael Berry, San Francisco Chronicle
“Tessier’s prose is both erudite and chilling.… The stuff nightmares are made of.”
—Eric Robbins, Booklist
“Tessier’s treatment of the paranormal is convincing because it is so matter-of-fact, describing bizarre events as if they were everyday occurrences. His handling of place and character is equally sophisticated, revealing his familiarity with the tradition of elegant horror writing as practised by Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Machen, and others, to which his book pays homage.”
—The Times (London)
“Well crafted and very readable … A fast-packed shocker of the old school, combining elements of the paranormal with a strong eye for character.”
—Pete Whittaker, Tribune (London)
“Though a decidedly non-prolific writer, Thomas Tessier has garnered an enviable reputation within horror circles for both his novels and short stories. The high esteem in which he is held is likely to rise even further with the publication of Fog Heart, a complex and beautifully written modern ghost story.”
—Jay Russell, Tangled Web