
In case you missed the news, we wanted to share the narrators for J.R. Dawson‘s highly-anticipated next novel, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD have been announced!
The novel will be read by Mara Wilson and Lindsey Dorcus!
The novel is due to be published by Macmillan Audio in the UK and North America; print and eBook editions will be published by Tor Books in both. Here’s the synopsis…
Love doesn’t die; people do…
At the edge of Chicago, nestled on the shores of Lake Michigan, is a waystation for the dead. Every night, the newly departed travel through the city to the Station, guided by its lighthouse. There, they reckon with their lives before stepping aboard a boat to go beyond.
Nera has spent decades watching her father – the ferryman of the dead – sail across the lake, every night just like the last.
But tonight something is wrong.
The Station’s lighthouse has started to flicker out. The terrifying, ghostly Haunts have multiplied in the city. And now a person – a living person – has found her way onto the boat.
Her name is Charlie. She followed a song. And she is searching for someone she lost.
A devastating story of magic, family and those who leave us – but who might not remain lost.

Here are a few early responses to the novel…
‘Greek myth, Jewish tradition, and slow-burning queer romance gracefully intertwine in this melancholy treasure from Dawson… the carefully crafted story doubles as an emotional love letter to Chicago and to life itself. The result is immersive, bittersweet, and wonderfully original.’ — Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
‘Moving and tense… A grim, authentic exploration of death for those who appreciate mythology-infused fantasy, such as Samantha Sotto Yambao’s Water Moon or Joanne M. Harris’s Orfeia.’ — Library Journal
‘An earnest, heartfelt read set in a moody, otherworldly Chicago steeped in loss and history.’ — Veronica Roth, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When Among Crows
‘Gorgeous, lyrical, heartfelt, and true in all the ways that matter! This is an achingly beautiful book that is as much about life as it is about death. Haunting and healing and highly recommended!’ — Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop
‘In the deft hands of J.R. Dawson, death is merely a transition point. THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a poignant story of love and grief, memory and myth, and what it truly means to be alive.’ — Rita Woods, award-winning author of The Edge of Yesterday
‘A poignant novel about seeing the dead, and the business of getting them to where they need to go. But more, it’s a novel for people who feel confused and lost, and who need to learn it isn’t their fault. That it takes more than light to face all kinds of darkness.’ — John Wiswell, Nebula Award-winning author of Someone You Can Build a Nest In
‘In turns heartbreaking, haunting, and hopeful, THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a powerful novel about the memories that can break a spirit and the love that can heal it again. It’s a moving reminder that after great loss, it’s still possible to find love, joy, and light when lost in grief’s darkness.’ — Heather Webber, USA Today bestselling author of Midnight at the Blackbird Café
‘THE LIGHTHOUSE AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD is a stunning story focused around grief, life, and death, and I couldn’t be more impressed with how these tough topics are handled. For a book about death, it’s so full of life and love! Nera and Charlie have fantastic chemistry, and the mysteries of this book pull you into a web of curiosity tempered only by the Big Questions: why are we here, and what happens to us next? This book made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. Absolutely one of my favorite reads this year!’ — Rebecca Thorne, USA Today bestselling author of Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea