A work of speculative historical fiction that depicts the lives of Thelonious Monk, his wife Nellie, and his confidant and patron the Baroness Pannonica de Koenigswarter, Joe Milazzo’s Crepuscule W/ Nellie does not aim for documentary authenticity. Neither is it an ekphrastic experiment meant to mimic Monk’s unclassifiable brilliance, with his signature dissonant harmonies and angular melodic twists. Instead, Crepuscule W/ Nellie erects its narrative architecture at that impossible intersection where fandom (and its obsessions) begins and love — with all its complications — ends.

“The challenge in writing on behalf of Joe Milazzo’s fiction is finding the language to convey how special it is, but let us begin with audacious and fearless, lyrical and brilliant, superbly imaginative and assuredly accomplished — one of tomorrow’s great novelists on the cusp of his moment.” — Steve Erickson (Zeroville, Our Ecstatic Days)

“Crepuscule With Nellie is a heartfelt and cunning fictional glimpse into the genius of Thelonius Monk, his music, and those closest to him. It is experimental and challenging yet deeply human, a book I keep close and find inspiration in. Joe Milazzo’s talent is evident in how he masterfully handles language and structure. I absolutely love this book.” — Brandon Hobson (Where the Dead Sit Talking)