Synopsis

This is a mystery novel divided into three short volumes. It follows Emit Hopper, a chronically independent musician turned artist and writer. His life becomes disrupted when new evidence about his wife’s disappearance on the Pacific Crest Trail is uncovered. Hopper sets out on a lone investigation across Europe, where he chases leads, documents his surroundings through art, and becomes enmeshed with some nefarious figures. What makes these books so special is the mixed-media format. Madonna weaves his original pen-and-ink illustrations within the narrative, creating a layered sensory experience for the reader.

Review

I found the atmosphere in this book to be more interesting than the mystery itself. Madonna is brilliant at crafting vivid, vast, and immersive settings. The most profound moments occur in Hopper’s movement between cultures, wherein he observes, sketches, and absorbs his surroundings. These scenes are slower but emotionally resonant, an aspect that was largely neglected by the central plot. While the series evokes classic noir detective conventions—the stoic, jack-of-all-trades male narrator, undertones of dry irony, and settings that seem to live and breathe with a life of their own—I think Madonna was more invested in tone and aesthetics rather than the narrative itself. Emit’s perspective is engaging, but the mystery that is so integral to his story lacks the same depth. I enjoyed reading this series, but it didn’t leave much of a lasting impression. The world-building is ornate and colorful, but the plot leaves something to be desired.