One of my all time favorite non-Gothic Gothics! Bove is a vastly under appreciated early 20th century French writer. His short story/ novella “Night Crime” comes rather close to achieving eerie perfection. It’s Gothic in the way of claustrophobia, anxiety, and the overwhelming desire to retreat from a looming unpleasantness that’s hard to name. Overall, Bove’s writing style is sharp and precise. He captures the atmospheric just as masterfully as Edgar Allen Poe though with a highly regimented word diet. His writing is something of a study in the power of selecting the RIGHT detail. Can’t recommend enough!

When it comes to writing my own fiction, Bove may actually be my biggest writing influence. He’s not necessarily my favorite author, though (funny how that works).