by Emily B.

I first read Night Film earlier this year over the course of a long weekend. Though the temperature was hot and the humidity almost unbearable, author Marisha Pessl transported me to a chilly October night in New York City with ease. Night Film is a perfect November book and is best enjoyed as the temperatures cool and the nights grow longer.  

The book opens with the mysterious death of Ashley Cordova, piano prodigy and daughter of infamous horror director Stanislas Cordova. Stanislas, who has a huge cult following, hasn’t been seen outside of his huge upstate New York estate in 30 years. 

Investigative journalist Scott McGrath has long been obsessed with Cordova and the mystique surrounding him and his films. He teams up with two unlikely sidekicks – a drifter and a wannabe actress – to uncover the truth behind Ashley’s death. Along the way, the three encounter a fair share of kooky and offbeat characters who offer insight into the case. 

Pessl peppers newspaper clippings, online forum posts, and other documents throughout the book, making you feel immersed in the investigation. This immersion is taken a step further with the bonus content available on Pessl’s Night Film Decoder website, which includes even more mixed media sources, like video and audio recordings.  

On top of all this, it’s clear that Pessl took her time devising Stanislas Cordova’s filmography. The details included about some of the fictional films are so illustrative and specific – down to the blocking or costumes in his most iconic movies’ scenes. All the descriptiveness surrounding the fictional films culminates in a jaw-dropping sequence about two-thirds through the novel. A sequence that I still find myself thinking about, nearly five months after reading the book.

Night Film is an engrossing, unputdownable read perfect for fans of horror and mystery. It’s a book whose atmosphere and characters stay with you for a long time. 

You can request a physical copy here or check out the e-book and e-audiobook versions on Libby/Overdrive.  

Emily is an Instructor & Research Specialist at the Central Branch. She enjoys puzzling, reading, listening to music, and re-watching old seasons of Survivor.