Pete Morrow is a misanthropic FBI agent whose only escape from the
colleagues and society he despises is through reading literary classics. When
his boss sends him to warn away a drug dealer on an obscure army base, he
discovers a murder and becomes obsessed with Jade McClellan, a mysterious man
whose rock band just performed at the crime scene. Tough-guy Morrow has never
been in love before—but Jade is almost magical, an embodiment of myth and
literature who creates living fantasies that rapidly become the only thing
Morrow values in his otherwise miserable life. But there's a problem. Morrow is
investigating a mafia family that is investing in Jade's musical career. Being
open about their relationship could get both of them killed. Morrow's
investigation annihilates his hard-boiled understanding of reality when he
learns that Jade is an abandoned, mortal son of Dionysus, the god whose energy
informs hard rock. Jade's mafia support is being arranged by Dirty Penny
Starmaker, a witch who started life in 5th century BCE Athens, where she
received a divine mandate to promote brilliant musicians throughout history.
Penny is warring with Hugh McCrae, a primeval, human-like "monster"
who has currently incarnated himself as a congressional aide with an unhealthy
interest in Morrow's work. McCrae (rhymes with "decay") carries his
own divine mandate to promote cultural decline by eradicating creativity and
art. This includes Jade, his music, and Morrow's newfound happiness. A
seamless blend of psychological thriller, dark satire, magical realism, LGBTQ
romantic suspense, and myth, The Maenad's God is the story of a spiritual war
that's been fought for thousands of years; the war between the ancient arts of
music, poetry, and love; and the equally ancient forces of artistic envy,
oppressive law, and authoritarian religion.
