Some mysteries require more than a sharp eye and a magnifying glass.
In Terror by Night: The Supernatural Affairs of Madison Cavendish and Sue SunMountain, James Goodridge introduces readers to an unforgettable investigative duo: Madison Cavendish, a vampire detective, and Sue SunMountain, his Lycan partner and romantic interest. Together, they tackle strange cases that exist where the ordinary world collides with the supernatural.
Rather than telling one long story, the book presents seventeen interconnected tales spanning six decades. Each mystery stands on its own while gradually building the lives and relationship of its two remarkable protagonists.
One of the novel’s greatest strengths is the way it blends genres. Readers will recognize echoes of Edgar Allan Poe’s Gothic atmosphere, classic detective fiction in the tradition of The Thin Man, supernatural horror, and even touches of historical fiction. The result is something that feels both familiar and refreshingly original.
Goodridge also weaves lesser-known figures from Black history into many of the stories. These historical touches add depth and authenticity while creating a richer backdrop for the mysteries themselves.
If you enjoy supernatural detective stories, vampires with personality, eerie mysteries, memorable characters, and stories that balance suspense with heart, Terror by Night is well worth adding to your reading list.
Sometimes the only detectives capable of solving an impossible crime are the ones who already belong to the world of monsters.
One of the things that makes James Goodridge’s fiction especially compelling is the personal history behind it.
As a child growing up in the Bronx, James was introduced to a remarkable home library on Black history that opened a world largely absent from his school textbooks. Those books sparked a lifelong love of reading and a fascination with the lives of historical figures whose stories deserved to be remembered.
That passion continues to shape his fiction today, where real people and overlooked history are woven naturally into imaginative tales of mystery and the supernatural.
Have you read Terror by Night? We’d love to hear what you thought in the comments.