The Uncanny Case of Gilles/Jeannette — Jill Dearman

The Uncanny Case of Gilles/Jeannette is a gender-swapped take on Jekyll and Hyde. Set in Hudson, NY during the Great Depression, it follows the story of 20-year-old Jeannette, the daughter of John Darby, a widower, failed inventor, and proprietor of The Diamond Inn. Longing for her friend Dahlia, and traumatized by her father's sudden illness, Jeannette experiments in his basement laboratory with the purpose of transforming herself into a man. She unleashes Gilles, her male alter-ego, thinking he will successfully seduce Dahlia, but Gilles cannot be controlled, and has other plans-which include murder. The story is framed by the modern tale of a queer Brooklyn couple, who have inherited the property, one of whom has a dark ancestral tie to the Inn. This gothic thriller explores the complex issues of gender, homophobia, race, and the Pandora's box hidden within each of our natures, all while weaving in a disturbing episode of Depression-era history involving one of America's most beloved singers.