Horror & Ghost Stories Books

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Center for Fiction Debut Novel prize, this fableistic, beautifully crafted, poetic debut novel about a sister trying to hold back her brother from the edge of the abyss is for readers of Jesmyn Ward and Tommy Orange (The New York Times Book Review).In the tourist town of Ciudad de Tres Hermanas, in the aftermath of their mother's passing, two siblings spend a final weekend together in their childhood home. Seeing her brother, Rafa, careening toward a place of no return, Rufina devises a bet: if they can make enough money performing for privileged tourists in the plaza over the course of the weekend to afford a plane ticket out, Rafa must commit to living. If not, Rufina will make her peace with Rafa's own plan for the future, however terrifying it may be.As the siblings reckon with generational and ancestral trauma, set against the indignities of present-day prejudice, other strange hauntings begin to stalk these pages: their mother's ghost kicks her heels against the walls; Rufina's vanished child creeps into her arms at night; and above all this, watching over the siblings, a genderless, flea-bitten angel remains hell-bent on saving what can be saved.

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Book SynopsisWolf Hall meets The Favourite in this beguiling debut novel that brilliantly brings to life the residents of a small English town in the grip of the seventeenth-century witch trials and the young woman tasked with saving them all from themselves. This is an intimate portrait of a clever if unworldly heroine who slides from amused observation of the 'moribund carnival atmosphere' in the household of a 'possessed' child to nervous uncertainty about the part in the proceedings played by her adored tutor to utter despair as a wagon carts her off to prison. —Alida Becker, The New York Times Book ReviewEngland, 1643. Puritanical fervor has gripped the nation. And in Manningtree, a town depleted of men since the wars began, the hot terror of damnation burns in the hearts of women left to their own devices.Rebecca West, fatherless and husbandless, chafes against the drudgery of her days, livened only occasionally by her infatuation with the handsome young clerk John Edes. But then a newcomer, who identifies himself as the Witchfinder General, arrives. A mysterious, pious figure dressed from head to toe in black, Matthew Hopkins takes over the Thorn Inn and begins to ask questions about what the women on the margins of this diminished community are up to. Dangerous rumors of covens, pacts, and bodily wants have begun to hang over women like Rebecca—and the future is as frightening as it is thrilling.Brimming with contemporary energy and resonance, The Manningtree Witches plunges its readers into the fever and menace of the English witch trials, where suspicion, mistrust, and betrayal run amok as a nation's arrogant male institutions start to realize that the very people they've suppressed for so long may be about to rise up and claim their freedom.

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Book SynopsisFans of HBO’s Succession and Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl will love this “clever thriller” (Publisher’s Weekly).“Dani Lamia explores the dark side of the human experiment in this fast-paced page-turner with an ending that I never saw coming. Worth reading!” —D.R. Rosentsteel, Amazon reviewer Winning the game could change your life. But losing the game could end it.Caitlin Nylo gave up everything to turn her father’s game company into a worldwide success. Along the way, she lost her mother, her marriage, and she barely sees her children. She’s rich, driven, and brilliant. But she’s also alone.After her eccentric father passes away, Caitlin is furious when she learns that instead of leaving the company and its fortunes to her, he has chosen to make his heirs compete in one last game: a scavenger hunt with a multi-billion dollar inheritance waiting at the end.But old secrets and sibling rivalry soon take a dark turn, as Caitlin and the others confront the demons of their past in their search for clues. And when a live video reveals the brutal murder of her greedy brother, the surviving heirs discover the terrifying truth.Someone else is playing the game with them. Someone who will do anything to protect one final secret. What began as a scavenger hunt has been twisted into a maniacal deathtrap, from which there is no escape.And when the game is over, only one of them will remain alive.“A very contemporary twist on Agatha Christie’s ‘And Then There Were None.’” —Pradapoet, Amazon reviewer“This punchy and often witty novel will appeal to the game-player in everyone.” —Publishers Weekly“And the end game contains twist after twist that will leave you reeling – and so happy not to be a Nylo!” —Shari Held, Amazon reviewerFor more from Dani Lamia, check out 666 Gable Way.

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Book SynopsisThe story of a lazy male idol, ready to quit (or get fired), and the peppy poltergeist who brings him back from the brink, and rocketing to the heights of stardom! This madcap musical comedy is perfect for fans of My Dress-Up Darling, Kiss Him, Not Me! and Horimiya.THIS PHANTOM''S A CUTIE!Yuya, one half of the boy pop duo ZINGS, may be the laziest performer in the Japanese music industry. His partner is out there giving 110% every night, but Yuya's sloppy dancing and his frankly hostile attitude toward the audience has the fans hating him and his agent looking for any excuse to cut him loose. The career of a pop idol just isn't the path of easy leisure Yuya expected... After a particularly lifeless concert appearance, Yuya meets a girl backstage. All she wants from life is to perform. There's just one problem: She's been dead for a year.

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Book SynopsisHIDDEN TRUTHS REVEALEDWhen Kaori learns that the young wife who lives next door will soon give birth, it should be a joyous occasion. But the mother-to-be leaves Kaori wondering about her own past. How in the world did she come to enter the spirit realm, all those years ago? And whatever became of her human parents? Little does she realize that the answer is far closer than she thinks. The kasha Nyaa, Kaori’s lifelong best friend, knows more than she’s ever let on, and she’s about to finally yield the secret of Kaori’s birth mother.

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Book SynopsisNational Excellence in Romance Fiction Award FCRW 2022 FinalistAs a firefighter, Hunter Evans risked his life until the night he died saving a child...only to be reborn as a vampire. Now the man who lived his life as a kind, gentle man must find a way to conquer the deadly urges that threaten to turn him feral. When his own actions put a beautiful woman in danger, he vows to protect hereven from himself.Alice Darlington has a secret: she sees ghosts. She thought she'd done a good job of keeping it under wrapsuntil a terrible threat from her past begins hunting her down, intending to use her power for dark purposes. Now she's on the run, with no one to trust and nowhere to go.With danger coming at them from all sides, Hunter and Alice have no choice but to battle the forces threatening them. Their only hope is to rely on each other. But Hunter doesn't know how long he can keep the beast inside him from the woman it cravesThe Vampire Motorcycle C

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Book SynopsisFrom author J. Todd Scott comes a haunting thriller about a young plane crash survivor and a mysterious hiker who venture into the wilderness to escape a dark and vengeful force. A small white plane hurtles from the sky, vanishing into the wilderness. Hiker Maggie Roby watches its final descent, certain that no one could have survived. But to her shock, a fifteen-year-old girl emerges from the wreckage, wounded but miraculously, impossibly alive. Maggie approaches with trepidation; she has secrets of her own, a past she can’t escape. Saving the girl means risking her future, but she can’t just abandon her, can she? With the young survivor, Maggie embarks on a dangerous trek through the remote Appalachian backcountry, joining up with two veterans from the local sheriff’s department who know the land better than anyone. But even as Maggie charts their course through the mountains, she can sense someone—or something—else watching and waiting. Their journey is about more than enduring the elements. It’s about escaping a sinister presence that makes a vast wilderness feel like it’s closing in.Trade Review“J. Todd Scott's Call the Dark is that rarest of things—a cross-genre thriller that is as original as it is entertaining. An equal mix of wilderness adventure, coming-of-age story, and supernatural chiller, this is a richly detailed, highly propulsive, and completely captivating book that will have you turning the pages late into the night. Don't miss this one!” —David Bell, New York Times bestselling author of Try Not to Breathe and She's Gone

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Book SynopsisFrom the USA Today bestselling author of the international sensation Baby Teeth comes a claustrophobic psychological thriller about one woman’s nightmarish spiral while quarantined with her mother. Grace isn’t exactly thrilled when her newly widowed mother, Jackie, asks to move in with her. They’ve never had a great relationship, and Grace likes her space—especially now that she’s stuck at home during a pandemic. Then again, she needs help with the mortgage after losing her job. And maybe it’ll be a chance for them to bond—or at least give each other a hand. But living with Mother isn’t for everyone. Good intentions turn bad soon after Jackie moves in. Old wounds fester; new ones open. Grace starts having nightmares about her disabled twin sister, who died when they were kids. And Jackie discovers that Grace secretly catfishes people online—a hobby Jackie thinks is unforgivable. When Jackie makes an earth-shattering accusation against her, Grace sees it as an act of revenge, and it sends her spiraling into a sleep-deprived madness. As the walls close in, the ghosts of Grace’s past collide with a new but familiar threat: Mom.Trade Review“Compelling.…This disturbing yet addictive read will keep you wondering what is real and what is madness.” —Kirkus Reviews “Stage thrusts dread upon readers from her book’s first sentences and continues to escalate the tension with every page. A great choice for fans of intense psychological horror where nothing can be trusted and no one can look away from the emerging nightmare.” —Library Journal “Each of Stage’s books explores the dark side of family bonds, all in their own extraordinary way. This one lays bare the true horror inherent in fables and folklore, and what Pandora lets out of her box seems negligible compared to what Grace unleashes.” —Booklist (starred review) “Utterly harrowing…masterful.” —Criminal Element “Ms. Stage's narration is a superbly navigated exercise in the lives of those we meet...[her] storytelling is powerful enough to force you to shift around in your seat because of how she is able to shed light on her characters' deepest horrors: the truth.” —Pittsburgh Post-Gazette “Stage is a master at drafting suspenseful scenes…” —Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle “Mothered is disturbing in the best possible way. A dark and unsettling thriller that had me glued to the pages. This is Stage’s best work yet—horrifying and brilliant.” —Lucinda Berry, bestselling author of The Perfect Child and Under Her Care “Zoje Stage expertly explores the blurred lines between memory and nightmare in this deliciously twisty and riveting page-turner. An eerily crafted chiller set against the claustrophobic isolation of the pandemic, Mothered is a must-read for psychological thriller fans. No one chronicles the complicated, sometimes perilous intensity of mother-daughter relationships like Stage. Absorbing, unsettling, and magnetic—don’t miss this dark gem of a novel.” —Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of The Overnight Guest “Zoje Stage’s Mothered sent me on an intense, visceral ride. Stage’s straightforward writing easily paints the initial picture we all went through, life screeching to a halt during the quarantine. But while that initial familiarity and instant connection with the protagonist, Grace, hooked me, the story quickly veered in an unfamiliar direction. As Grace’s anxiety and instability rose, my own claustrophobic sensation grew, and I found myself flipping the pages, needing to know what happens next. The underlying mystery of Grace and Jackie’s history kept me captivated and unsettled until the book’s end.” —Mike Omer, New York Times bestselling author of A Killer’s Mind

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Book Synopsis“Amina Akhtar’s Almost Surely Dead is a witty, fresh psychological thriller that’s part stalker thriller, part ghost story. This book took turns I never saw coming. I was up all night, tearing through the pages as the mysterious pieces came together, leading to an explosive conclusion.” —Mindy Kaling A psychological thriller with a twist, Almost Surely Dead is a chilling account of how one woman’s life spins out of control after a terrifying—and seemingly random—attempt on her life. Dunia Ahmed lives an ordinary life—or she definitely used to. Now she’s the subject of a true crime podcast. She’s been missing for over a year, and no one knows if she’s dead or alive. But her story has listeners obsessed, and people everywhere are sporting merch that demands “Find Dunia!” In the days before her disappearance, Dunia is a successful pharmacist living in New York. The daughter of Pakistani immigrants, she’s coping with a broken engagement and the death of her mother. But then something happens that really shakes up her world: someone tries to murder her. When her would-be killer winds up dead, Dunia figures the worst is over. But then there’s another attempt on her life…and another. And police suspect someone close to her may be the culprit. Dunia struggles to make sense of what’s happening. And as childhood superstitions seep into her reality, she becomes convinced that someone—or something—is truly after her.Trade ReviewPraise for Amina Akhtar Almost Surely Dead “Akhtar’s novel has one foot set firmly in folklore and the other in fast-paced action as Dunia questions whom she can trust and what she will have to do to survive. Though the suspense is real, Akhtar deftly weaves in levity with the campiness of the podcast, and the earnestness of Dunia’s voice keeps the reader rooting for her to outrun her demons. A nimble and eerie thriller.” —Kirkus Reviews “Amina Akhtar delivers a surprising and suspenseful ride. This is a winner.” —Publishers Weekly “Twisty, chilling, and original, Almost Surely Dead is an absolutely addictive page-turner. I couldn’t put it down.” —Meg Gardiner, #1 New York Times bestselling author “A shocking act of violence opens the door to a terrifying mystery in this eerie, addictive thriller from Amina Akhtar.” —Chuck Wendig, bestselling author of The Book of Accidents “I didn’t think Amina Akhtar could get better, but she has—crafting a wholly unique and mesmerizing novel that is impossible to categorize or forget. Part thriller, part family saga, part supernatural horror, Almost Surely Dead will surprise you in the best way possible and leave you thinking about this magnificent book for a long time after you’re done. A powerhouse.” —Alex Segura, bestselling author of Secret Identity “Full of energy, suspense, and the frightening possibility of the supernatural, Almost Surely Dead is a spine-chilling thrill of a book that will grip you from the very first page and refuse to let go. A gripping gothic of the true crime podcasting era.” —S. C. Lalli, international bestselling author of Are You Sara? “What’s a girl to do when the universe seems to want you dead? The answer is nothing you’d expect—but everything you’d want from one of the most exciting thriller writers in the business. Almost Surely Dead is a sparkling, twisted gem of a book, a riotously funny and deeply unsettling examination of the ways in which we are—and in which we refuse to be—defined by our pasts. This is Akhtar’s best work yet, and I loved every word.” —Elizabeth Little, bestselling author of Dear Daughter “Amina Akhtar isn’t a writer; she’s a word magician, a wonderful comedian who juggles the darkest themes and the ugly things that make us human, the young, smart, fashion-savvy auntie who knows where the bodies are buried and reminds you to call your mom. And she keeps getting better with every book. Almost Surely Dead is a witty, wildly entertaining novel that dips its toes in the supernatural while delivering social commentary, highlighting the realities of the Pakistani diaspora, and dancing with the ghosts and superstitions we all carry in our blood. Don’t miss it.” —Gabino Iglesias, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of The Devil Takes You Home “Akhtar coils constant paranoia, flash-forward dread, and family tragedy into an electric threat of a novel. This book will have you glancing over your shoulder. A unique thriller.” —Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of No Gods for Drowning “Almost Surely Dead is such a masterful slow burn of a mystery it’ll singe your fingertips. Amina Akhtar creeps you out, keeps you guessing, and forces you to the edge of your seat, constructing a story that, in the end, is as surprising as it is deeply human.” —Rob Hart, author of Paradox Hotel Kismet “An amusing takedown of influencer culture.” —Kirkus Reviews “Akhtar turns her sharp wit on the wellness community and its dark secrets in a thriller [that is] equal parts vicious and funny.” —USA Today “Akhtar brings to her second novel…a gimlet-eyed view of Sedona, Arizona’s wellness pretensions and a wicked way with one-liners…the surprises Akhtar has in store upend assumptions about trauma, healing, and the motivations of those who helicopter into lands they claim to hold sacred.” —Los Angeles Times “Twisty, sardonic.” —Oprah Daily “The alluring world of wellness gets a fatal awakening in Amina Akhtar’s darkly humorous thriller Kismet.” —PopSugar “[Kismet] skewers the wellness industry of Sedona (Amina Akhtar is now based in Arizona) and also includes a light supernatural touch that’s perfectly integrated into the thriller arc as a whole.” —CrimeReads “Amina Akhtar weaves a wickedly smart tale.” —Desi News “With Kismet, Amina Akhtar invites us into the foxhole with Ronnie Khan, a New Yorker stationed in Sedona, just in time for Wellness World War. I loved this book—the claustrophobia of wide ‘open’ exclusive spaces. Amina teleports us to the passive-aggressive front lines in this dry landscape where caftans and corpses are equally foreboding. You want Ronnie to make a run for it, but she’s a real hero—she wants to make a go for it. Lucky for us, she stays. Kismet is wicked and smart, a fly-on-the-wall humdinger where a light social gathering spikes your blood pressure. Amina deftly intertwines the earthly with the otherworldly. Read it now so you can be the one telling your friends about Kismet.” —Caroline Kepnes, New York Times bestselling author of You “Amina Akhtar had me at ravens! Then she kept me turning the pages with her colorful cast of characters, keen insights, and layered, engaging heroine. Kismet is darkly funny, sharply observant, and full of surprises. Don’t miss this utterly original and wildly entertaining thriller.” —Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of Last Girl Ghosted “The twists just keep coming in Kismet, Amina Akhtar’s dark and delicious thriller. I can’t imagine a better companion around these nail-biting curves than the novel’s protagonist, Ronnie Khan, who is wide eyed yet smarter than she lets on, naive yet world weary. In a nutshell: she’s the perfect heroine. I’d follow her anywhere.” —Jess Lourey, Amazon Charts bestselling author of Unspeakable Things “Dead bodies are turning up in Sedona’s upscale wellness community? Sign me up! I loved everything about Kismet, Amina Akhtar’s sharply observant, funny thriller. Gleeful and gripping, Akhtar has knocked it out of the park with this wickedly entertaining, twisty novel.” —Jennifer Hillier, bestselling author of Little Secrets “A chilling tale that lures in the reader with a seductive blend of friendship and tranquility, then transforms it into something evil and deliciously twisted.” —A. R. Torre, New York Times bestselling author of Every Last Secret “Kismet is funny, sharp, twisty, and spot on. Whether she’s dealing with toxic relationships or everyday racism, Ronnie Khan is a character that you can’t help but root for. I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun reading a novel. Everyone, and I mean everyone, is going to be talking about those ravens.” —Kellye Garrett, Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award–winning author of Like a Sister “Wickedly smart and outrageously entertaining, Kismet grabs hold and doesn’t let go until a final twist that will have even the savviest readers gasping. Just like the clever, scene-stealing ravens, Akhtar skewers those who deserve it with her trademark wit while also layering in emotional nuance as compelling as the captivating mystery. At once atmospheric, chilling, and thought provoking, Kismet will surely be this summer’s must-read thriller.” —Brianna Labuskes, bestselling author of A Familiar Sight “Gaspingly original. Kismet is brilliant and twisty—a knockout page-turner about guilt, revenge, and the toxicity of family and friendships. The oh-so-talented Amina Akhtar unleashes her keen eye and mordant wit—and exquisite understanding of human emotions—to reveal the dark side of the wellness industry and the terrifying reality behind the glam exteriors. Wow! This gripping, heartbreaking, and constantly surprising thriller is not to be missed!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of Her Perfect Life “Amina Akhtar yet again brings her wickedly wicked style to this twisty thriller about a woman who’s finally taken charge of her life—only to find dead bodies piling up around her in the wellness community where she’s starting over. Kismet is a page-turner populated by eerie ravens and people who aren’t what they seem in a perfectly unsettling desert setting.” —Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of Under Lock and Skeleton Key “Kismet is the twistiest, most delicious take on wellness and self-care gone wrong. With a cast of unforgettable characters, a point of view you’ll never guess, and an ending that leaves you breathless, you’ll be busting down doors to join me as copresident of the Amina Akhtar fan club!” —Yasmin Angoe, author of Her Name Is Knight “Kismet is a gleeful (and at times literal) skewering of influencer culture and clout chasing, as well as a deeply relevant look at how easily and often the white wellness world intersects with racism and cultural appropriation—and how blind we can be to that and to the stain it leaves on the world around us. A bold and insightful whodunnit that ensures you’ll never look at ravens the same way again.” —Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan, bestselling authors of The Royal We and The Heir Affair “Unsettling from the very first page, Kismet takes its readers on a wild ride set in Sedona’s wellness community, featuring a serial killer, crystals, and kick-ass ravens. It’s strange and smart and spellbinding, with sharp social commentary and huge surprises. Another eerie gem from Amina Akhtar.” —Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot “A mystery thriller just the way I like them—full of secrets and karma. Amina Akhtar creeps us out and keeps us guessing all the way!” —Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Road of Bones and Ararat “Kismet is as atmospheric as it is dark and twisted. An unsettling read with wholly original protagonists, this is one thrilling story I won’t be forgetting soon.” —Hannah Mary McKinnon, international bestselling author of Never Coming Home “A remarkably original, terrifying read that seized me from the first line. Kismet is an astonishing, expertly structured thriller. Akhtar’s signature creepy tone, suffused with dread and laced with wicked humor, is riveting. Her characters make you blur the lines of morality and justice. With brilliantly shifting points of view, a touch of magic, and a jaw-dropping ending, this is a stand-out suspense.” —Samantha M. Bailey, international bestselling author of Woman on the Edge and Watch Out for Her “A desert setting, crystals to ward off evil, cunning ravens, and murder. Amina Akhtar has whipped up a creepy mystery that will have you second-guessing what you know about the wellness industry, not to mention what to think the next time you see ravens!” —Wanda Morris, Lefty-nominated author of All Her Little Secrets “One of the most original, chilling, and startlingly honest thrillers I’ve ever read, Amina Akhtar plunges readers into an altogether fresh flavor of hell in Kismet. Balancing nail-biting terror with razor-sharp wit, Akhtar interrogates the feral side of the human heart with a rare fearlessness that is certain to make Kismet one of the year’s hottest titles and an absolute must-read. Period.” —P. J. Vernon, acclaimed author of Bath Haus

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Book SynopsisA collection of short stories moving through time and place, exploring the spaces where we haunt each other and ourselves through our choices, our institutions, and our dreams. Adam Soto, author of the debut novel This Weightless World, which Robin Sloan called “The social novel for the 21st century,” returns with Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep. In the title story, a one-armed Harlem Hellfighter goes in search of his specially altered military uniform while Influenza ravages Philadelphia. In “Sleepy Things,” a man is bound to the bedside of his comatose girlfriend who haunts his mother’s dreams. In “Wren & Riley,” a couple travels to Wyoming to visit a childhood friend who killed her abusive husband. And in “The Vegetable Church,” a pair of Syrian sisters, refugees of the civil war, find themselves at a crossroads in the home of their European hosts while their dead father whispers to them words of comfort and guidance. The stories in Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep, strange and unsettling, explore the quiet spaces where the living and the dead alike haunt one another through their choices, dreams, and institutions.Trade Review"The stories in Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep are meant to sit with the reader and digest slowly. Throughout the collection Soto draws the reader into the often overlooked transitional spaces of a character’s life, and while each story is full and complete, the reader will be left hungry for more as Soto leaves his endings open to the possibility of an unending expansive future." —Corrine Watson, West Trade Review"[Soto's] well-drawn characters with their nuanced battles with grief and hope shine brighter. Haunting and complex."—Kirkus Reviews"An imaginative and otherworldly collection . . . In these well-crafted stories, Soto evocatively shows how the characters are at turns mystified by inexplicable experiences or haunted by burdensome pasts . . . Readers will be enriched by the way this work thoroughly investigates the human heart."—Publishers Weekly"Adam Soto has talent to burn and then some. The stories in Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep are intense, beautifully dense, wonderfully detailed, funny, scary—all this. That rare thing, a thrilling book of stories."—Peter Orner, author of Maggie Brown & Others and Love and Shame and Love"Adam Soto is the metaphysical detective for our dissonant era, and every one of these stories is a new type of ghost he shines a light on, in this portable haunted house of a short story collection. An exhilarating ride, to be read throwback-style: chain-smoking under a pale moon, in black and white." —Fernando A. Flores, author of Tears of the Trufflepig and Valleyesque"Adam Soto's ghost stories are mostly not literal—but they are haunting. There are so many tricks and feints here that you'll be working through Soto's cleverness days later. In this collection of tightly wound but diversely approached stories, Adam Soto unravels the sloppy, conflicted lives of his characters with precision and polish. Each work—some short, others longer—all find a way to compact the breadth of a novel within constraints of the short story. Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep is less an anthology of stories, but an impressive and thrilling accumulation of small universes."—Kevin Nguyen, author of New Waves"Concerning Those Who Have Fallen Asleep is weird in all the best ways possible. These stories show fragments of much larger universes, enticing you with what they give as well as with what they suggest. These tales are plucked from bizarre worlds, from the blood of shadow creatures, from the tears of angels. Let them haunt you.”—Gabino Iglesias, author of The Devil Takes You Home

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Book Synopsis"Delicately weaves generations of women to the lasting wounds of nuclear destruction and the hubris of war. A unique and unforgettable novel." �Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Woman of Light. A literary thriller about the effects of nuclear power on the mind, body, and recorded history of three generations of Japanese women. Nine years after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster, Japan is preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. An unnamed narrator wakes up in a cold, sterile room, unable to recall her past. Across the country, the elderly begin to hear voices emanating from black stones, compelling them to behave in strange and unpredictable ways. The voices are a symptom of a disease called Trinity. As details about the disease come to light, we encounter a thread of linked histories�Prometheus stealing fire from the gods, the discovery of radiation, the nuclear arms race, the subsequent birth of nuclear energy, and the disaster in Fukushima. The thread linking these events begins to unravel in the lead-up to a terrorist attack at the Japan National Olympic Stadium.� � A work of speculative fiction reckoning with the consequences of the past and continued effects of nuclear power, Trinity, Trinity, Trinity follows the lives of three generations of women as they grapple with the legacy of mankind's quest for light and power.Trade Review“Trinity, Trinity, Trinity is something like a next-step in Japanese atomic literature.”—Asian Review Of Books"I loved Erika Kobayashi’s Trinity Trinity Trinity, so I am lining up for her collection of strange and reflective connected stories about nuclear power and its effect on Japanese people and society, especially its women."—Karla J. Strand, Ms. Magazine"It’s this layering that makes Kobayashi’s otherwise subtle, light-footed writing intriguing. She stacks and Tetrises themes in such a way that their meanings only become clear when seen in relation to one another — the Olympics, Nazis, Hiroshima."—Paula Aceves, Vulture"This compelling novel weaves together the past, the present, and a possible future in a panoply of memory, experience, and social unrest . . . examines the shifting sands of memory and interconnected identity in a fluid landscape shaped by nuclear radiation, social media, and social connection. Highly recommended."—Henry Bankhead, Library Journal, Starred Review"Like its title suggests, this book is an intricate braid that contains so much: eco-terror, memory and history and mythology, generations of women, nuclear trauma — the list goes on. This is Kobayashi’s first translation into English and it bodes well for what’s to come. A deeply cool, deeply good book. Radioactive, indeed."—Kelsey F., bookseller, Powell's "Erika Kobayashi gathers world-historical, feminist, and ecological yarns to crochet a web of 'terrorist' intrigue that tugs the Tokyo Olympics completely off-course. Fast-paced, funny, and thrillingly conceptual, Trinity, Trinity, Trinity is a masterpiece from one of Japan’s most original new voices." —Margherita Long, author of Care, Kin, Crackup: Fukushima and the Intrusion of Gaia "Erika Kobayashi forms an intricate lacework of a narrative in Trinity, Trinity, Trinity, unflinchingly revealing patterns and symmetries in the history of nuclear warfare, radioactivity, and the unspoken emotional legacies inherited by generations of mothers and daughters. Possessing its own glowing dream-logic, this novel is dark and radiant all at once."—Lee Conell, author of The Party Upstairs "Erika Kobayashi’s compelling new novel explores the nuclear trauma of the 20th and 21st centuries through the code name Trinity: the site of the detonation of the first atomic bomb, an allusion to a poem by John Donne, and the appearance of a strange disease, also called Trinity. Interweaving the lives of three generations of women, Kobayashi effectively combines history, memory, and forgetfulness in a gripping narrative that this reader could not put down. A major contribution to contemporary Japanese fiction by an important new author."—Janice Carole Brown, author of Tarnished Words: The Poetry of Ōba Minako"Erika Kobayashi’s brilliant novel Trinity, Trinity, Trinity traces the everyday, yet ghostly, technologies, and the invisible forces, that shape our lives, acts, and epoch. A luminous and penetrating history of our shared present—a history felt on the body, across generations and around the world. Incandescent and indispensable, this is a stunning work by a visionary artist and writer."—Mark Seltzer, author of The Official World"Trinity, Trinity, Trinity is a heartfelt and poignant novel about the aftermath of disaster. Erika Kobayashi brilliantly layers memory and oblivion, fear and doubt, destruction and recovery via the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and the Fukushima nuclear accident in a story that is hauntingly reminiscent of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Stunning and unforgettable."—J.M. Lee, author of Broken Summer "Reading Trinity, Trinity, Trinity by Erika Kobayashi is like entering a universe beating with a deeply intelligent light. Kobayashi delicately weaves generations of women to the lasting wounds of nuclear destruction and the hubris of war. A unique and unforgettable novel."—Kali Fajardo-Anstine, author of Woman of Light "Trinity, Trinity, Trinity encloses the reader in a terrifying world undreamed of by the irrational. Humans reduced to themselves, their solitude and incompleteness, make their way cautiously through a world of ordered disequilibrium. Kobayashi writes with an ironic potency that illuminates the actual at every mysterious point."—Susanna Moore, author of In the CutTable of ContentsCONTENTS Prologue SUNRISE 8:009:009:3010:00 DAYTIME 12:0012:3013:00 SUNSET 14:0015:0016:3017:30 Three-Person’d God REFERENCESACKNOWLEDGMENTSABOUT THE AUTHORABOUT THE TRANSLATOR

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Book Synopsis“SURE. THE MOMENT I FIND SOMETHING I WANT TO BE, I’LL BE SURE TO COME TO YOU.”Shinonome, a Tsukumogami, runs the spirit realm’s only bookstore with his daughter, Kaori, who happens to be a different species entirely. Now, the spirit and human father-daughter pair are faced with decisions that will change the course of their lives forever. Prepare to laugh, cry, and go through a rollercoaster of emotions with the conclusion of this heartwarming tale of the spirit realm!

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling horror author Darcy Coates comes Hunted, a story about the things that wait for you in the dark.Her disappearance wasn't an accident.Her rescue will be a mistake.A masterful blend of atmospheric horror and survivalist wilderness fiction, this book is:Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Tana FrenchFor lovers of supernatural thrillers and horror stories22-year-old Eileen goes missing while hiking in the remote Ashlough Forest. Five days later, her camera is discovered washed downriver, containing bizarre photos taken after her disappearance.Chris wants to believe Eileen is still alive. When the police search is abandoned, he and four of his friends create their own search party to scour the mountain range. As they stray further into the dark forest and the unsettling discoveries mount, they begin to believe they're not alone in the trees… and that Eileen's disappearance wasn't an accident.By that point, it's too late to escape.More bestselling horror books from Darcy Coates:Voices in the SnowSecrets in the DarkThe Carrow HauntCraven ManorThe Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseThe Haunting of Rookward HouseThe House Next DoorThe Folcroft GhostsHouse of ShadowsHouse of Secrets

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestseller and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates comes Book 1 in the Black Winter Series. No one escapes the stillness…This propulsive, suspenseful series is:Perfect for fans of V.C. Andrews and Peng ShepardFor lovers of horror and paranormal thrillersClare remembers the cold. She remembers abandoned cars and children's toys littered across the road. She remembers dark shapes in the snow and a terror she can't explain. And then... nothing. When she wakes, aching and afraid in a stranger's gothic home, he tells her she was in an accident, a crash in the snow. He claims he saved her. Clare wants to leave, but a vicious snowstorm has blanketed the world in white, trapping them together, and there's nothing she can do but wait.At least the stranger seems kind... but Clare doesn't know if she can trust him. He promised they were alone here, but she sees and hears things that convince her something else is creeping about the surrounding woods, watching. Waiting. Between the claustrophobic storm and the inescapable sense of being hunted, Clare is on edge... and increasingly certain of one thing:Her car crash wasn't an accident. Something is waiting for her to step outside the fragile safety of the house... something monstrous, something unfeeling.Something desperately hungry.More books in this haunting snow and winter series:Secrets in the Dark (Book 2)Whispers in the Mist (Book 3)Silence in the Shadows (Book 4)More scary novels by Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next DoorTrade Review"Unique blend of character-centered, intense, psychological suspense laced with supernatural elements and little gore...readers will cover their eyes in fear while still wanting, desperately, to turn the page to see what comes next. " - Library Journal

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Book SynopsisUSA Today bestselling author Darcy Coates proves herself a master of dystopian post-apocalyptic fiction with Book 2 in the haunting Black Winter Series. The stillness comes for everyone…This propulsive, suspenseful series is:Perfect for fans of V.C. Andrews and Peng ShepardFor lovers of horror and paranormal thrillersNowhere is safe. Clare and Dorran scramble to secure their temporary sanctuary from the hungry things outside. The hollow ones, ravenous beings unaffected by the violent winter storms, patiently lie in wait. It's not a matter of if Clare and Dorran are attacked, but when. And Clare knows she'll have to venture out into the night soon… Somewhere far away, Clare's sister Beth is trapped, with only hours to live. Hundreds of miles separate the sisters and the land between them is infested with monstrosities. There's a bitter deadline to this rescue mission, but Clare won't lose Beth without a fight.She knows she can't survive the trip by herself. But even with Dorran at her side, can she truly hope to face the ruthless predators and make it to her desperate sister before it's too late? They all may be lost to the dark winter.More Black Winter dystopian books:Voices in the Snow (Book 1)Secrets in the Dark (Book 2)Whispers in the Mist (Book 3)Silence in the Shadows (Book 4)Also by Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next Door

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Book SynopsisUSA Today bestseller and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates returns with the fourth book in her haunting winter horror series. There's no safety in the stillness…This riveting Black Winter series is:For fans of V.C. Andrews and Stephen KingFor lovers of horror and paranormal thrillersFull of heart-pounding horror mysteriesThe stark world continues to change. Each passing day twists it further, pushing the survivors closer to the brink of extinction. But, for the first time, there is hope.Clare and Dorran have set their sights on returning home to Winterbourne Hall. It's a daunting journey, but vital. Humanity needs more refuges—safe areas where food can be grown without attracting the attention of the hollow ones—and the old gothic manor is their best bet.But their home is no longer a sanctuary. It's become a trap: carefully crafted for them, lying in wait for their return. By the time they realize just how dangerous Winterbourne has become, it's already too late.The fight for survival is far from over.Black Winter Series:Voices in the Snow (Book 1)Secrets in the Dark (Book 2)Whispers in the Mist (Book 3)Silence in the Shadows (Book 4)More occult horror by Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next Door

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Book SynopsisFrom bestselling gothic horror author Darcy Coates comes a chilling story of a quiet house on a forgotten suburban lane that hides a deadly secret...Leigh Harker's quiet suburban home was her sanctuary for more than a decade, until things abruptly changed. Curtains open by themselves. Radios turn off and on. And a dark figure looms in the shadows of her bedroom door at night, watching her, waiting for her to finally let down her guard enough to fall asleep.Pushed to her limits but unwilling to abandon her home, Leigh struggles to find answers. But each step forces her towards something more terrifying than she ever imagined.A poisonous shadow seeps from the locked door beneath the stairs. The handle rattles through the night and fingernails scratch at the wood. Her home harbours dangerous secrets, and now that Leigh is trapped within its walls, she fears she may never escape.Do you think you're safe?You're wrong.Also By Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next DoorVoices in the SnowThe Whispering DeadTrade Review"Memories of the house jolt the plot to life, turning both Leigh's and the reader's preconceptions on their head in a solid twist." - Publishers Weekly"The Haunting of Leigh Harker is a chilling horror story that will keep readers turning the pages well into the night. This gothic ghost story, which is also a murder mystery, is both beautifully written and sure to keep readers guessing." - Rebecca Taylor, author of The Secret Next Door"With The Haunting of Leigh Harker, Darcy Coates scores another victory " - New York Journal of Books"Atmospheric, powerful fall read." - HorrorBuzz"The sleuthing, false leads, and tragic reveals that follow make it impossible to put down...For fans of mysteries, Miss Marple, and any spirit with unfinished business." - Library Journal

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today bestseller and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates comes a story of darkness, family legacy, and ghosts and hauntings.Every family has its secrets.For readers who love haunted house fiction and scary novelsPerfect for fans of V.C. Andrews and Bill ThompsonIncludes three bonus gothic chilling horror short storiesWhen their mother is hospitalized, Tara and Kyle are sent to stay with their only remaining relatives. Their elderly grandparents seem friendly at first, and the rambling house is full of fun nooks and crannies to explore. But strange things keep happening. A bedroom remains locked at all times. Doors slam and curtains shift when no one is inside. And there are whispers of a sister who drowned in the lake long ago.Something is being hidden away, kept safely out of sight...and the children can't shake the feeling that it's watching them.When a violent storm cuts off their only contact with the outside world, stranding them in the haunted manor, Tara and Kyle must find a way to protect themselves from their increasingly erratic grandparents… and from the ghosts that haunt the Folcrofts' house. All at once, they're forced to confront the secrets of the manor. But can they ever hope to escape the unforgivable secret that has ensnared their family for generations?Includes three bonus stories that will leave readers haunted.Also By Darcy Coates:Voices in the SnowSecrets in the DarkThe Carrow HauntCraven ManorThe Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseThe Haunting of Rookward HouseThe House Next DoorHouse of ShadowsHouse of SecretsHuntedTrade Review"Relying on atmosphere and suggestion rather than grimdark, author Darcy Coates offers a display of suspense and encroaching terror in the Folcroft Ghosts." - New York Journal of Books

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Book SynopsisUSA Today bestseller and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates returns with the second gothic mystery in the Ghosts and Shadows Series.She'll never survive these secrets…For readers who love gothic horror novels and gothic romancePerfect for fans of V.C Andrews and M.C. WebbSophie and Joseph Argenton have survived the impossible this house of ghosts… for now. But their escape from Northwood is short-lived. The sinister shadow that haunted their ancestral home survived, and has attached itself to Joseph's young cousin. Desperate, they travel to meet her father at Kensington, a long-abandoned mansion overlooking a dead town. The house offers a small hope: its original owner had dedicated her life to researching the monster that now possesses Elise. There's a chance that here they will find a way to kill the creature without harming the girl.But Kensington has its own dangers, and once it has Sophie and Joseph within its grasp, it may never let them leave.Trapped inside the ancient building's collapsing walls, Sophie and Joseph are forced to confront the horrors that hide within. Shrouded figures stalk them from the shadows. Whispers echo through the night. Unmarked graves dot the property. And the dead are not as restful as they seem…Also By Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next DoorVoices in the Snow

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Book SynopsisLose yourself in fifty chilling tales of horror and suspense from USA Today bestselling author Darcy Coates.Push past the curtains of your rational, safe world and explore the un-nameable horrors living in the darkest corners of our consciousness. This is the realm of monsters and shifting shadows, where a single wrong step can plunge you into a terrifying fight for your life, where... Something mimics human voices as it lures you into the woods. A corpse had gone missing from its drawer in the morgue. A friend's eyes are unnaturally bright as they approach you in the dark.Whatever your choice, these fifty small bites of horror are sure to leave you haunted.Also By Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Leigh HarkerThe Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next DoorVoices in the Snow

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Book SynopsisFrom the USA Today bestselling author and rising queen of atmospheric horror Darcy Coates comes the haunting story of a sinister house full of ghosts and shadows.She'll never escape this shadow...For readers who love gothic horror novels and gothic romancePerfect for fans of V.C Andrews and M.C. WebbSophie's world is shattered when disaster bankrupts her family. She's still reeling when she's offered an unexpected solution: Mr. Argenton, a wealthy stranger, has asked for her hand in marriage. Marrying Mr. Argenton will save her family, but it condemns Sophie to a life in Northwood, a vast and unnaturally dark mansion situated hours from civilization.Still, she has no choice but accept the offer and hope the darkness won't swallow her whole.It's a struggle to adjust to her new position as mistress over the desolate house. Mr. Argenton's relatives are cold, and Mr. Argenton himself is keeping secrets. Even worse, the house is more than it seems. Doors slam. Inhuman figures slink through the surrounding forest. A piano plays itself in the middle of the night. Blood drips a macabre warning down the walls. Day by day, Sophie is inevitably pulled towards the terrifying truth at the heart of this gothic mystery: Northwood's ancient halls are haunted, and the man she married—the man she's coming to love—is hiding an unforgiveable truth about his ancestral home...and the spirits that now haunt them both.Also By Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next DoorVoices in the Snow

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Book SynopsisDiscover fifteen chilling tales of gothic horror and suspense from USA Today bestselling author Darcy Coates.Push past the curtains of the rational, safe world and explore the un-nameable horrors living in the darkest corners of our conscience. This is the realm of monsters and shifting shadows, where a single wrong step can plunge you into a terrifying, irreversible fight for your life. You discover a door behind your bedroom's wallpaper. It's probably just a small crawlspace. There's nothing unusual about it... except for the quiet tapping noise you hear late at night. A young child went missing while exploring a disused cemetery in 1965. More than fifty years later you face the gate to the abandoned graveyard, armed with a clue that could lead to answers about the boy's fate. A mannequin is stored in the back of your rented basement room. Sometimes its dust cloth falls off. Sometimes you feel it watching you. And sometimes it moves while you're asleep...Also By Darcy Coates:The Haunting of Leigh HarkerThe Haunting of Ashburn HouseThe Haunting of Blackwood HouseCraven ManorThe House Next DoorVoices in the Snow

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Book SynopsisFor fans of Jennifer McMahon and Silvia Moreno-Garcia comes a haunting and atmospheric new novel from debut author Katrina Monroe.If you can hear the call of the water,It's already far too late.They say Cape Disappointment is haunted. That's why tourists used to flock there in droves. They'd visit the rocky shoreline under the old lighthouse's watchful eye and fish shells from the water as they pretended to spot dark shapes in the surf. Now the tourists are long gone, and when Meredith Strand and her young daughter return to Meredith's childhood home after an acrimonious split from her wife, the Cape seems more haunted by regret than any malevolent force.But her mother, suffering from early stages of Alzheimer's, is convinced the ghost stories are real. Not only is there something in the water, but it's watching them. Waiting for them. Reaching out to Meredith's daughter the way it has to every woman in their line for generations-and if Meredith isn't careful, all three women, bound by blood and heartbreak, will be lost one by one to the ocean's mournful call.Part modern gothic, part ghost story, They Drown Our Daughters explores the depths of motherhood, identity, and the lengths a woman will go to hold on to both.

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Book Synopsis"The best kind of story-one that will both break your heart and scare the hell out of you." -Jennifer McMahon, New York Times bestselling author for They Drown Our DaughtersONCE SHE HAS HER GRIP ON YOU, SHE'LL NEVER LET YOU GO.At four months old, Olivia Dahl was almost murdered. Driven by haunting visions, her mother became obsessed with the idea that Olivia was a changeling, and that the only way to get her real baby back was to make a trade with the "dead women" living at the bottom of the well. Now Olivia is ready to give birth to a daughter of her own...and for the first time, she hears the women whispering.Everyone tells Olivia she should be happy. She should be glowing, but the birth of her daughter only fills Olivia with dread. As Olivia's body starts giving out, slowly deteriorating as the baby eats and eats and eats, she begins to fear that the baby isn't her daughter at all and, despite her best efforts, history is repeating itself.Soon images of a black-haired woman plague Olivia's nightmares, drawing her back to the well that almost claimed her life-tying mother and daughter together in a desperate cycle of fear and violence that must be broken if Olivia has any hope of saving her child...or herself.Baby Teeth meets The Invited in a haunting story of the sometimes-fragile connection between a woman's sense of self and what it means to be a "good" mother.

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Book SynopsisIn the months since Pandora English left the small town of Gretchenville to live with her mysterious great aunt in a supernatural Manhattan suburb, her whole world has been turned upside down. Pandora has discovered she is the chosen one, the Seventh Daughter of a Seventh Daughter, and during the impending Revolution of the Dead, she alone will have the power to save all life as we know it. The Agitation is unfolding, building towards the Revolution, and Pandora can no longer deny the truth in these incredible prophecies. But what will she do when the moment comes? How can she stand against the army of the dead? Pandora's relationship to her spirit guide, Lieutenant Luke, is intensifying. She's had to grapple with ghosts, vampires and necromancers. Now, with the Blue Moon approaching and a new exhibition opening at The Met, which celebrates an ancient female pharaoh done wrong in antiquity, powerful forces threaten to upend the balance of life and death. Pandora is given the chance to find out what happened to her parents all those years ago, but first she must put her own supernatural gifts to the test. From the best-selling author of The Blood Countess, The Spider Goddess and The Skeleton Key.'[A] charming para-normal story...Pandora is an engaging character - polite, courteous, grieving for her parents who died eight years ago...She is likeable and unassuming - but beginning to understand the importance of her role in the protection of the living world.' - Queensland Reviewers Collective'A fabulously fun supernatural new adult romance oozing female empowerment and open-mindedness...The Cobra Queen is a highly entertaining and emotionally satisfying escape from the real world. Sign me up for the next one!' - Booklover Book Review

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Book SynopsisIt is 1888 and Queen Victoria has remarried, taking as her new consort Vlad Tepes, the Wallachian Prince infamously known as Count Dracula. Peppered with familiar characters from Victorian history and fiction, the novel follows vampire Geneviève Dieudonné and Charles Beauregard of the Diogenes Club as they strive to solve the mystery of the Ripper murders. Anno Dracula is a rich and panoramic tale, combining horror, politics, mystery and romance to create a unique and compelling alternate history. Acclaimed novelist Kim Newman explores the darkest depths of a reinvented Victorian London.

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Book SynopsisColdbrook is a secret laboratory located deep in Appalachian Mountains. Its scientists had achieved the impossible: a gateway to a new world. Theirs was to be the greatest discovery in the history of mankind, but they had no idea what they were about to unleash. With their breakthrough comes disease and now it is out and ravaging the human population. The only hope is a cure and the only cure is genetic resistance: an uninfected person amongst the billions dead. In the chaos of destruction there is only one person that can save the human race. But will they find her in time?Trade Review"Coldbrook is a good read with nicely developed characters and some really great action sequences...t’s a zombie apocalypse for sci-fi fans." - Bricks of the Dead"Tim Lebbon takes a fascinating science fiction approach to the zombie apocalypse that reinvigorates the genre with a sense of originality." - Drunken Zombie"Coldbrook is like Stargate meets The Walking Dead and I absolutely recommend this one to anybody who likes sci-fi and/or zombies and/or likes to have the crap scared out of them. There is absolutely no way that I could give Coldbrook any less than FIVE of FIVE zombie heads. I’d give it six if I had a graphic for it." - Zombie Book Blog "Great potential for a movie." - Paper Droids"If you’re looking for a unique sci-fi thriller take on the zombie apocalypse, you should definitely check out Coldbrook." - Fiction Addict "Tim Lebbon is an author I will follow gladly after his superb accomplishment in Coldbrook. I love zombie apocalypses and was pleasantly surprised at Lebbon’s twists and emotionally impacting story." - Adventures in SciFi Publishing"There is no debate that Tim Lebbon is a talented writer. His imagination paints the pages of Coldbrook like priceless art and his descriptive writing style delivers provocative characters, innovative settings and situational catastrophes in highly-detailed prose." - Examiner"Tim Lebbon, in COLDBROOK, has created a terrific zombie story with a fascinating twist, with very human characters, and he’s not afraid to slip very poignant moments among the copious action and nearly unrelenting terror.COLDBROOK is like an awesome lovechild of Stargate and Robert McCammon’s SWAN SONG, with maybe a little dash of 28 Days Later thrown in, but while it reminded me of those films (and book), it’s a distinct, unique, and absorbing work unto itself, one the author can be very, very proud of. Horror fans, thriller fans, and even those of you who love those terrifying books about hot zones and disease hunters will find much to love about this book." - SF Signal "An exciting, thought-provoking novel that will definitely appeal to zombie fans but should also do well with fans of hard SF and technothrillers, too." - Booklist Review “The mixture of mysteries and high tension action makes this a tough novel to put down all the way through to a dark but mostly satisfying conclusion. I highly recommend Coldbrook to anyone looking for a fast paced but intelligent disaster thriller with terrific zombie action. Coldbrook has real substance to chew on which should be just as satisfying to most readers as chewing on brains is to zombies.” – Rat Race Refuge “an incredibly cool, parallel-universe thriller zombie apocalypse novel. Trust me” - Barnes & Noble SFF blog

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Book SynopsisThis anthology comprises essays that study the form, aesthetics and representations of LGBTQ+ identities in an emerging sub-genre of film and television that we term 'New Queer Horror.' New Queer Horror designates horror that is crafted by directors/producers who identify as gay, bi, queer or transgendered, or works that feature homoerotic or explicitly homosexual narratives with 'out' LGBTQ+ characters. Unlike other studies, this anthology argues that New Queer Horror projects contemporary anxieties within LGBTQ+ subcultures onto its characters and into its narratives, building upon the previously figurative role of Queer monstrosity in the moving image. New Queer Horror thus highlights the limits of a metaphorical understanding of queerness in the horror film in an age where its presence has become more unambiguous. Ultimately, this anthology aims to show that 'New Queer Horror' has in recent years turned the focus of fear on itself, on its own communities and subcultures.Trade Review“This new collection of essays contributes to the ever-expanding field of queer horror scholarship. Vampires, witches, werewolves, serial killers, and more are examined within this relatively ‘out’ era of LGBTQ+ representation, once again demonstrating how this protean genre continues to speak in fascinating ways to issues of gender and sexuality.” -- Harry M. Benshoff, University of North Texas“As everyday life begins to resemble a horror movie for more and more people, so horror genres have had to shift and change to keep pace with the grotesqueries of the quotidian. In this exciting new volume edited and curated in imaginative ways, queer horror takes center stage. While LGBTQ+ people have long played the monster in the horror genre, we can now look at horror from the perspective of those relegated to the monstrous margins. Ranging between new queer readings of old texts and analyses of aesthetic ruptures, this anthology can claim to offer a definitive look at a genre that has neatly taken aim at normal life.” -- Jack Halberstam, Columbia UniversityTable of ContentsList of Illustrations Author Biographies Introduction Part 1: TRANSFORMING, RE-READING AND RE-MAKING QUEER HORROR 1: 'My Brother's Creeper': Towards a Queer (Re-)Reading of Victor Salva's Jeepers Creepers (2001) - John Edgar Browning 2: Queer Cult Performance: Recreating Rocky Horror in the Twenty-First Century - John Lynskey 3: Castrating the Queer Vampire in Let the Right One In (2009) and Let Me In (2010) - Darren Elliott-Smith 4: 'Becoming Hannibal': Identification and Transformation in Queer Horror Television - Ben Tyrer Part 2: QUEER PLAYGROUNDS AND ADOLESCENT HORRORS 5: 'What happened to my sweet girl?': Paranoid and Reparative readings of Queer Subjectivity in Black Swan (2010) and Jack and Diane (2012) - Robyn Ollett 6: 'A Dream Within a Dream': Children's 'Horror' Television and Lesbianism in the World of Marceline the Vampire Queen - Simon Bacon 7: Abjection, Queer Bodies and Grotesque Doppelgangers in Jack and Diane and The Nature of Nicholas - Fernando Gabriel Pagnoni Berns and Mariana Zarate 8: At the Edges of (queer) Time and Space: Atemporality, Adolescence, and Abjection in Final Destination - Christopher Clark Part 3: BADASS WITCHES AND QUEER WOLVES 9: 'If you look in the face of evil, evil's gonna look right back at you': Anthologising Supernatural Sexualities on American Horror Story: Coven - Andrew J. Owens. 10: Like and Lycanthropy: The New Pack Werewolf According to Tyler, Tyler and Taylor - Tim Stafford 11: 'Unspeakable Acts': Coming Out as Werewolf - Lisa Metherell. 12: 'Sisters United': Feminist Nostalgia, Queer Spectatorship, and the Radical Witch Politics of Rob Zombie's The Lords of Salem - Ben Raphael Sher Selected Bibliography

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, John W. Campbell Award, British Fantasy Awards and the Brave New Words Award.A gripping and strange story of shedding skins, love and moving on from the award-winning author of The Beauty. Includes an exclusive short story set in the world of The Loosening Skin.Rose Allington is a bodyguard for celebrities, and she suffers from a rare disease. Her moults come quickly, changing everything about her life, who she is, who she loves, who she trusts.In a world where people shed their skin, it's a fact of life that we move on and cast off the attachments of our old life. But those memories of love can be touched - and bought - if you know the right people.Rose's former client, superstar actor Max Black, is hooked on Suscutin, a new wonderdrug that prevents the moult. Max knows his skins are priceless, and moulting could cost him his career. When one of his skins is stolen, and the theft is an inside job, Max needs the best who ever worked for him - even if she's not the same person.Includes an exclusive short story set in the world of The Loosening Skin.Trade ReviewThe Loosening Skin is a sensuous, thought provoking meditation on love that deserves not only a second read, but a third as well. This book will cement Aliya Whiteley's reputation as one of the finest of a new generation of weird fiction writers. More, please.– Helen Marshall, author of The MigrationStrange, confounding and satisfyingly original, Whiteley’s new novel is an exploration of relationships and the corrosive effect of time. A speculative enquiry into the meaning of freedom itself, the loosening skin will surprise and delight Whiteley’s existing readership and new fans equally. Above all, this is a book that will excite intense discussion.– Nina Allan, author of The RiftAliya Whiteley’s fiction simultaneously scintillates with ideas, skips back and forth across genre boundaries with an ease and audacity that is glorious to behold, and retains such a sense of immediacy and emotional integrity that her readers are drawn into her worlds body and soul. She has the enviable ability to explore big ideas in the most intimate of settings, and to create wholly original realities that leap instantly from the page. for me, she is very much at the forefront of the new wave of UK genre writers.– Mark Morris"Its triumph lies in the way Whiteley uses the metaphor of shedding skin to examine the tortured process of love and attachment."– Guardian"Fascinating new work of fiction." – Library Journal"Beautiful, inventive, and moving. I couldn’t put it down."– British Fantasy Society"Aliya Whiteley’s work is bold, daring, unique and like nothing you’ve ever read before – if you read one book this year, let it be this! An enthralling story which redefines the science fiction genre and gives birth to a storyteller that will, I’m sure, define a generation!"– Storgy"The Loosening Skin is a brave and complicated novel."– Neon Books"This is a must read for all Aliya Whiteley fans, and a great place to start if you’re new to her work."– Books, Bones & Buffy"The Loosening Skin by Aliya Whiteley is such a hard hitting novel that reaches you on so many levels. I wholeheartedly encourage every reader to pick [it] up. It’s the perfect introduction to an amazing author whom I’m frankly quite upset is still indie and not adored by legions of readers."– Roadside Reader"Very occasionally, I’ll read a piece of writing that takes my breath away. It’s rare, but it does happen from time to time. The Loosening Skin by Aliya Whiteley has found a place on this very select list. Whiteley’s work picks apart the nature of love in all its forms."– The Eloquent Page"One of the most fascinating stories I’ve read this year."– Runalong the Shelves"She's a remarkable writer and this latest offering is a unique take on some of humanity's constant truths. It is beautiful, it is engrossing and it will remain with you for a long time. Read it!"– The Middle Shelf"The book totally blew my mind."– Book Geek Says‘[Whiteley is] no stranger to writing about the weird and frightening ways our bodies may betray us... a fantastic read’- Fangirl Nation"Impressive in the way it brings different aspects of this life-altering physiology — and extended metaphor for the lifespan of love — to the fore" – The Frumious Consortium

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