Title: The Siren of Groves Peak

Author: Glenn Rolfe

Release date: June 30th, 2026

*Huge thanks to Glenn Rolfe for a digital ARC of this one!*

I’m fast approaching a decade of reading Glenn’s signature brand of horror and throughout that time – including when he released a few books under a pseudonym – he’s created a phenomenal fictional grouping of towns in Maine, that he uses to set his novels within.

That’s very apparent within his newest, the murderous mermaid rampager known as ‘The Siren of Groves Peak.’ This is a treasure trove of Easter eggs when it comes to all of his books and I suspect should you give this one multiple reads, even more will pop their heads up, but as is, if you’ve been reading Rolfe for any length of time, expect to be smiling a bunch when you connect this one to his other books.

I’ve got a love/hate relationship with mermaid/siren horror. On one hand, it can be fascinatingly in depth. On the other, it can often times feel repetitious and same-old-same-old.

Going in, I was excited to see what Glenn did, knowing his penchant for character-driven stories and emotional narratives.

What I liked: The novel takes place in Groves Peak, a lobster town that for some time has had plentiful hauls. The men all know why, and some of their wives do to, but for the most part, the residents are unaware of the deal that’s been made. A siren is behind their success. She’s been there for decades and made a deal. She’ll seduce the men in the hopes of conceiving a baby – the thing she wants most in the world – and in return she’ll ensure the lobster fill their traps. This is all well and good until a murder takes place and everything is thrown for a loop.

The majority of the story follows Lizzy and Willow, young women who’re also the daughters of two of the towns more prominent fisherman, though Lizzy’s dad has fallen on hard times. He’s an alcoholic who’s never quite recovered from his wife packing up and leaving one night, years ago, and though he’s searched for her, she’s never been found.

Rolfe gives us tidbits of how lobster fishing fuels each life, and as that fishing dries up, stress mounts and more and more bodies are discovered. Rolfe paints a vivid picture of what the coastal town is like, and in doing so, does such a great job that you’ll feel drenched and freezing while reading.

The final quarter of the book is essentially a full-throttle series of revelations and discoveries. The towns secrets are revealed as is the individuals who played various parts in everything and Glenn does a superb job of packing this with a ton of action and a ton of emotion.

What I didn’t like: In this particular novel, I found there to be a few too many characters. In doing so, I just didn’t care about them to any degree. Sure, folks like Vernon and Lenora have a role to play, but I don’t think their storyline added much to it, considering similar characters were introduced to a degree as well. Though Glenn does this within each of his novels, in this case I found it just felt like every few chapters more and more characters were introduced, which distracted from the main ones I was wanting to follow.

Why you should buy this: If you’ve been a long-time reader of Glenn’s books, you’ll be all over this and love it. If you’ve never read any of his books, this is a great jumping in place. It features all of Glenn’s hallmarks in storytelling, as well as those aforementioned Easter eggs, which will make for great ‘a-ha’ moments when you read his other books.

The siren is done really well and thankfully, Glenn doesn’t spend much time humanizing it to any degree. We see how it reacts when things take a turn and we get to see it turn into a hideous, vengeance-filled monster, which was a lot of fun.

Overall, Rolfe’s delivered another fantastic novel, one that nestles really nicely into his ever-expanding bibliography.

Title: Drone

Author: Dan Howarth

Release date: April 24th, 2026

Throughout history, people have shared stories of hearing an almost imperceptible ‘hum’ or drone. A quick Google search will bring up numerous examples, as well searching for it on Youtube or Tik Tok. I remember in late 2025 following a few Tik Tok accounts based out of Whitehorse in the Yukon who were asking about people hearing a noise and sharing folks recollection of the noise. It’s an interesting phenomenon, one that seems to have no specific reason behind it happening, while also seemingly ‘easily’ explained by others.

Over the last number of years, I’ve read a few of Dan Howarth’s releases – and seriously if you’ve not read his novel ‘Last Night of Freedom’ yet, you absolutely need to get on that, freaking phenomenal – and really enjoyed them. When he announced this one, I was at first drawn in by the gorgeous cover art, but then reading the description, I was hooked. I was hoping to get this read as soon as possible after it was released, though that wasn’t the case. When I did jump into it, I was smiling from ear to ear. Howarth has a cadence to his writing that is both comforting but also anxiety-driven. It’s as though each word has an energy to them and as you flip the page, that energy is minutely increased, only becoming apparent to the reader after it’s too late to turn back.

What I liked: The story takes place on a remote island where the inhabitants live a fairly simple life. Saying that, there’s nothing simple about it. They farm. Farming is perhaps one of the most difficult and stressful professions/lives anybody could ever choose and in this case, our main character Gallagher didn’t choose. He was born into the life, his father a farmer. And after his father passed away, Gallagher inherited the farm and all its shortcomings. Money is tight, losing a single animal can be a death blow and as the outside world moves further away from buying from those on the island, Gallagher wonders what awaits his own future.

And then one day he wakes with a noise in his head he can’t shake. He rubs his ears, tries covering them and even sees the local doctor whom he detests, but there’s nothing that seems to lower the never ending sound. It keeps him awake, makes him angry and begins to gnaw at his very psyche.

Then, when he finds his sheep in a mass of violence and throwing themselves against barbwire in an apparent attempt to take their own lives, he knows this is more than just a noise in his head.

Howarth does a wonderful job of making this novella feel gritty and unrelenting. The pacing of it is akin to how Gallagher must’ve felt as the days go by and the drone in his head doesn’t stop. At first, the chapters feel lush and pleasant. And then they begin to morph, the words becoming more caustic, more abrasive and the sections within the chapters harsher and dirtier. We see Gallagher become angrier, we see him interact with a neighbour whom he’s not spoken to in almost a decade and we see a follow up visit to the doctor, and all three aspects point him towards a single way, a single action to make the noise diminish and potentially even go away.

The novella also heavily deals with the realities we all face every day with prices going up, pay going down and how those not in the top 1% of the wealth have to find different ways to make ends meet, all while knowing we’re just one bad bounce away from total ruin. Gallagher runs these thoughts through his mind over and over, both to contemplate just how bad things have become, but also in an attempt to silence the sound. The drone won’t be silenced by thought.

The ending is a brutal look at where things go when left unchecked and Howarth has a cinematic penchant for delivering harsh moments through the lens of masterful prose.

What I didn’t like: There were two aspects that stuck out to me, but both are pretty much reader preference. The first was that not a lot of time is put into the likely cause of the drone or where it came from. Sure, Gallagher talks to others to see if they hear it, but there’s really no rumour’s or so-and-so said this etc. It’s just quietly accepted that the sound exists and Gallagher devotes his time to figuring out how to end it. Even when he goes to the doctor, she says she’ll contact colleagues and then we learn they don’t have any ideas.

The second thing was the POV shift at the end. I can’t go into it for spoiler territory, but I found it very jarring when it happened. It’ll either work for you or not.

Why you should buy this: Howarth manages to give us a novels worth of emotions in a novella page count and does it with blistering glee. ‘Drone’ teases the reader with the potential of a larger unknown at work, but focuses on a singular man. It’s essentially a master work in macro ideas with micro execution. It’s relatable on a number of levels; between the apocalyptic shifts that occur within the small town – first we see lines to shops lower and then we see first responder stations board up and nobody answers the phones, and then we see the shift in the people themselves. Howarth blends the familiar with the foreign, and it’s a unique look into what would happen to ourselves and to our neighbours should something like this ever occur.

A novella that is the true definition of a page-turner, ‘Drone’ is both eerily unsettling and absolutely captivating.

Title: The Summer Fun Massacre

Author: Craig DiLouie

Release date: June 16th, 2026

*Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital ARC of this one!*

Of all the subgenres of Horror and Dark Fiction, one of my least favorites is the slasher. I’m not sure why, it’s just never been one I’ve enjoyed, and that even extends to movies. A lot of the lauded slasher films of the 80s that are considered horror classics today didn’t grab my attention back then and even now, I’m kind of meh about them.

Saying that, there’s always been a few that have managed to break through my hardened exterior and though I typically stay away from reading slasher books, when one of your favorite authors has a slasher horror novel coming out, you take a chance with it, hoping their steady hand will break through that previously mentioned exterior.

DiLouie’s writing has always connected with me, and he’s written three of my all-time favorite books. ‘Suffer the Children’ and ‘One of US’ are masterpieces, but it’s the third book of those three that had me take a chance on this slasher. ‘Episode Thirteen’ was a revelation, and as a reader who dislikes most mixed media/epistolary stories, DiLouie managed to take those aspects and transform them into a book I absolutely loved. So, with that in mind, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to give this one a chance.

What I liked: The novel throws us into the deep end immediately. 1992. Summer Camp. And teen campers are being slaughtered. Tom, a local police officer, was just there, and found nothing from the initial call. When a second call is made, he thinks somethings up and returns, finding chaos, carnage and a sole survivor – Laura. Shades of a similar summer camp massacre in 1982 come racing back and when Laura tells him that a man wearing a rabbit head mask was behind it, he knows somethings up.

From there, DiLouie showcases the struggle that Tom goes through internally and externally. On one hand, his former girlfriend, Mary, was the lone survivor of the ’82 murders. Since then, she’s lived on the periphery of society, angry that the police didn’t help her back then. That event was his kick in the pants to become a police officer. He doesn’t believe the rumors of ‘The Hungry Hare’ that surround the town. Suggesting that a huge rabbit lurks in the woods and kills those who sing his rhyme. Though that’s who both Mary and Laura claim was behind the murders. His boss – and fellow officers, a rag tag mix of members – all want to wrap things up in a neat bow, there’s an election coming after all, but Tom doesn’t see how the man they’ve targeted as the suspect was the one who did it. But looking deeper into the clues only gets him in trouble from all ends.

Tom’s battle between what feels right and what he should be doing as an officer becomes the major narrative for the majority of the novel. DiLouie uses it perfectly to force the reader to ask themselves what they’d do in a similar situation.

The final quarter of the novel is pure cinematic glee. We get twists, turns, reveals, acceptance and resolution. DiLouie even manages to pack in some unseen backstory twists that add a layer of craziness, while also pushing Tom further in one direction, before he needs to head back in the other. It makes the ending a very solid, complicated affair where we learn some truths while also coming to grips with the ‘why.’

What I didn’t like: I don’t think this is spoilery, but for me, I wished there was significantly more about The Hungry Hare. It felt like it was going to be a major part of the novel itself but felt minimal overall. That could be explained, or expanded upon in the sequel coming later this year, but as a singular novel, I just wanted much, much more.

Why you should buy this: If you love slasher novels/movies, this one will be right up your alley. If you enjoy police procedurals, this also ticks all those boxes. And if you love layered, twisty novels that make you second guess everything every few chapters, this one’s perfect for you. DiLouie has delivered another fantastic novel, one filled with fun, gore and difficult decisions, which has become a bit of his trademark it seems.

And once again, he’s managed to make this jaded reader enjoy a book he wasn’t so sure about. Well done, Craig.

Title: The Thirteenth Mark

Author: James Lincoln

Release date: November 13th, 2025

*Huge thanks to James for sending me a digital review copy of this one!*

Some time ago, I received a DM on Instagram from a reader who’d read my Father of Lies compendium and let me know they really enjoyed it. I thanked them and shared that ‘When I Look…’ is related to that, they let me know they were snagging it, and then, as two book fans often do, we went on our way, liking some posts by each other.

Recently, they DM’d me again (and I’m hoping you don’t mind me sharing this!) and they mentioned that their husband had released a novella and asked some questions about ways to increase visibility etc. etc. Now, if you’ve been following me for any length of time – and this goes all the way back to my time with the mighty Kendall Reviews and even my feature there, Books From the Crypt – I love reading and reviewing and promoting books that haven’t been plastered everywhere. You know the ones I mean. Books From the Crypt was focused on sharing books with less than 50 Goodreads ratings. There’s an entire world of books waiting for readers to discover that don’t have big press push and influencer posting. And by all means – read those books, post those books, love those books. Big books are as amazing as little books. But if I can share some of my online platform space by showcasing those other books, I will.

And ‘The Thirteenth Mark’ is one of those books that I hope I share, one of you buys it, loves it, recommends it and more and more people find it, because this is a book worthy of being on all of our horror shelves – digital and physical.

After receiving that DM, I mentioned a few different ways that they might increase visibility, but then also offered to review it. I wasn’t sure when I’d get to it, but wanted to try and get in read sooner. Then, the other night, I had a bit of insomnia and cracked it open on my Kindle. 50% later, I forced myself to go to sleep, knowing that if I didn’t close my Kindle cover, I’d have to finish it.

What I liked: Is Liminal Isolated Forest Horror a subgenre? I know I’ve kind of tried to write some stuff that borders on that description before, but I can’t think of anything that even came close to what I read in this one.

The book follows our unnamed main character, who awakens disoriented somewhere in a forest. He’s relatively unscathed, but doesn’t know his own name, where he is, why he’s there or even what he looks like. He starts walking. The forest around him is calm, quiet and unnerving. Is the forest even real? Is he?

Soon, he comes upon a cabin. The cabin seems familiar, but he’s not sure why. He thinks he’s been there before, but he can’t be positive. He enters and finds a place that’s walking the line between abandoned and lived in.

Lincoln does a great job of subtle sightline shifts. For a first release, his mastery of atmosphere is phenomenal and its that aspect that he slowly adjusts – to the readers frayed edges of anxiety’s detriment – as the novella goes on.

On its surface, the book is ‘simple.’ A sort of Ground Hog Day idea, where this character goes to sleep, wakes up, repeats. But there’s these unseen, but felt, volume adjustments to the tension with each passing page that really snap into you as you read.

We get the addition of a Polaroid camera and pictures left behind that seem to shift with each glance. We get a dense fog that arrive and noise within. We get shadows that suggest someone else is there. And we get a growing dread that when we finally get to the grand revelation, we won’t like what we discover.

I won’t share where this one goes – for me it was a fantastic ending, one that really does the idea the author was trying to accomplish justice – but I think even if you don’t like the ending, the story that leads up to it was absolutely captivating.

What I didn’t like: While this one grabbed me and never let me go, if you’re looking for a book packed with action and gore, you won’t find it here. Some readers will find this book doesn’t move along fast enough for them. This one is like a Skinamarink or The Backrooms style story set in the forest and if that doesn’t appeal to you, then this might not be a good fit.

Why you should read this: In his afterword, James doesn’t allude to any of his own personal influences in writing this, but the closest atmosphere I’ve come across to this one was in Adam Nevill’s ‘Last Days.’ A growing dread where each page feels heavier to read and every paragraph seems to stack another weight on your chest.

‘The Thirteenth Mark’ hits all the high-notes and for me it’s one that is easily a hidden gem. I’m hopeful more people discover this one because it was fantastic and I think it’s one that will grow and grow over the next few years as more readers find it.

Outstanding.

Title: Monsters: Unsettling Short Stories

Release date: October 6th, 2026

*Huge thanks to Rare Machines/Dundurn Press & Edelweiss for the digital ARC of this one!*

I think it’s safe to say that most people will know my interest in this anthology was purely based on the fact that this contains a new, previously unpublished Andrew Pyper story, ‘The Sanctuary.’ Prior to this release, the last time Andrew had a story in an anthology was way back in a 2012 Canadian Christmas anthology titled ‘Best Canadian Christmas Stories.’ I once asked Andrew about the lack of short story appearances over the last decade plus, and his reply was along the lines of he wasn’t overly interested in devoting time to short stories. Fair game.

When I saw the other contributors that Russell Smith wrangled up for this anthology, I knew this anthology was going to be a home run. And, after reading Russell’s introduction, the excitement ramped up even more.

I do want to note how engaging that introduction is. I often bypass mentioning forewords or introductions to books, simply because they’re all usually the same, but Russell took an education direction with this one, detailing the origins of the term ‘monster,’ the different ways it shows up and is used in literature and the various regional connotations of the word. He also did a splendid job of briefly sharing what to expect with each of the stories within while not falling into spoiler or platitude territory, which was nice.

What I liked: The anthology runs the gamut of what each writer themselves understood what a ‘monster’ is. We get some very straightforward entries, as well as some that defiantly fall into the speculative world. A number of the stories really stood out for me.

First up was Naben Ruthnum’s ‘The Lair.’ The story follows Mark, who fell in love with action figures and video games as a young kid. That love becomes his life and, after finding no direction and having no desire to achieve anything, his family holds an intervention. Instead of making progressive choices, Mark leaves, and moves into his grandparents place. There, he has a shed, which he transforms into his video game and online lair. Not long after, his grandma passes away and it’s from there that he discovers his grandpa’s newfound online habits. Naben does a wonderful job of making Mark both a character you want to sympathize with, while also making him one of the skeeziest characters you’ll come across. This one walks the line of ‘is he or isn’t he’ a monster so very well.

Next, was ‘Throne’ by Andrew F. Sullivan. A biting commentary on the ultra-rich’s quest for acceptance and finding one’s ‘tribe,’ the story follows 20something Murphy. She’s bounced from job to job, and after being let go of her most recent position, doesn’t know what comes next. Then her former coworker, Carrie, invites her to check out a hip new place called Yggdrasil, where a brother and sister having found a group of people willing to change their lives if they follow the groups instructions to prune and regrow. Murphy takes to it and soon becomes a class leader, holding sway over those who attend the classes and are willing to go the extra step for her. The socioeconomical examination within this one is fantastic, if not a little frustrating over its accuracy, and the subtle changes Murphy goes through really highlighted what a small dose of power can do to an individual. This was a cult story told with only the implications of it being so.

Pasha Malla’s ‘The Undreamed’ was perhaps the most speculative story of the anthology, which set it nicely aside from all the others. The only way I can really do any justice to this story without being a spoiler is this – Things appear in the bedroom. Sometimes they are only on the periphery of vision. Sometimes they seem to be tangible. But they infiltrate the lives of those within the story and good Lord is this one unsettling. Not to take away from the title of the story, but this was an excellent fever dream experienced through prose.

Next up, I loved Emily Weedon’s ‘The Golem Suit.’ And while the title does suggest what is going to happen in here, the delivery mechanism and story vehicle reinvents what I expected to read. Following Felix, a man with a predatory mindset, he becomes a working crew member in the film industry which gives him access to women who sometimes believe if they scratch his back, he’ll scratch theirs allowing for career advancement. But it’s in these moments of vulnerability where Felix’s darkest predatory mechanisms come to the surface and he does what he will, rougher and more violent with each passing year. That is, until he meets a traumatized woman who seems to be his match. Weedon masterfully makes you despise Felix while also forcing you to stay for the ride and see how it ends. Unflinchingly impactful.

The last story that stood out for me was Andrew Pyper’s ‘The Sanctuary.’ Truth be told, I read this one first, then went back and reread all the stories, finishing with this one a second time. The story takes places in a remote wooded ‘campground,’ which continues Andrew’s examinations of such locations. In fact, Andrew first based a story in a summer camp back in 1994’s ‘Camp Sacred Heart,’ which was republished in his 1996 collection, ‘Kiss Me.’ His 1999 novel ‘Lost Girls’ mentions a summer camp, and we see a revisit to an area very similar to ‘Camp Sacred Heart’ in his 2019 novel ‘The Homecoming.’ And, an unpublished novel of Andrew’s also focuses on a similar style location. Throughout his literary career, remote wooded locations were settings Andrew utilized time and time again, and with ‘The Sanctuary’ he bolstered the oddness of where it takes place by having it occur in a sort of Canadian version of Bohemian Grove. If you’re unfamiliar with Bohemian Grove, it is a private campground in California where the elite of the elite congregate and take place in discussions and debauchery. The story follows a young man, who gets a summer job with his friend Ty, while at University. Once there, they learn their roles, and our main character is ‘befriended’ by The Secretary, a mysterious older man who seems to know everyone and everything that’s going on. Andrew warns us to not walk down the paths surrounding the campground at night, yet our character still does so, and it’s here where the monstrous revelation arrives. This one has all the classic hallmarks of a Pyper story, and told with the prose that only Andrew was capable of.

What I didn’t like: As always in an anthology some stories just didn’t connect with me. While I enjoyed every story, some were a bit on the nose and didn’t feel as impactful as they could’ve been. But as always, those might be the stories that you enjoy the most!

Why you should buy this: Filled to the brim with phenomenal stories, this anthology curated by Russell Smith will undoubtably have something for every reader. Taking the simply idea of ‘what is a monster,’ the authors of each story really out did themselves with the variety of subject matter we get. Fans of each of these writers will snag this to experience what they created, and will most likely find another new-to-them writer to check out more of their work.

This is a fantastic anthology collecting some of the most exciting Canadian writers creating dark fiction today, and throughout the stories tackle some very bleak subject matter really well. I for one am glad I read this, and as a Pyper super fan, this anthology will always hold a special place for giving me one more piece of his fiction to read and to cherish.

Title: Windigo Plague: Fort Saskatchewan Volume 1

Author: MJ Preston

Release date: April 29th, 2026

*Huge thanks to MJ for sending me a digital ARC of this one!*

I’m a huge sucker for historical horror that’s based on real events, especially when they took place near where I’m currently living. When MJ reached out about this book, I was swamped, but so very, very intrigued, I agreed to fit it in.

Based on the true story of a Plains Cree trapper named Ka ki si Kutchin who was the first person legally executed by hanging for cannibalism in Canada at Fort Saskatchewan, on December 20, 1879. The English translation of his name was Swift Runner. Preston uses that as the back drop for the story, and because of that, you know you’re in for a dark ride.

What I liked: The book begins in early 1879, when Swift Runner stumbles into town, claiming his family have all perished during the harsh winter prior. After a bit of prodding, it’s revealed that in order for him to survive, he consumed his family, shocking those who learn this truth. Saying that, they suspect Swift Runner maybe under the influence of a dark traveler, a Windigo who has taken up residence within the man and is giving him his lust for blood.

From there, Preston details the search for Swift Runner as he’s kicked out of town and what happens to those who come into contact with the man. It’s a really well laid out mix of historical fact and author fictionalization of events.

Because of that, we get some truly blood-curdling moments, where Preston is able to unnerve even the most stoic of readers. One particular moment early on, where Swift Runner is trying to lure some local kids away with him was pristine, and even near the end, when a man (I won’t name him to prevent spoilers) arrives to search for his friend, after receiving a letter from them, will stay with you after you finish. The description of what happens to him when he encounters two other figures was horrifically perfect.

One thing I really enjoyed was the attention to detail and research Preston did, which he lays out nicely after the book is done. It was great to see his own notes on how he used some of the details on the public record, which helped to highlight the disturbing nature of this case as well as the timeframe it took place in.

What I didn’t like: I’ve never been a reader who processes dates well, so when each chapter begins with a date, it’s often lost on my reading brain. And though that is necessary for the historical fact aspect of this book, it wasn’t something that heightened the tension of the events anymore than if it was simply ‘chapter one,’ ‘chapter two’ and so on.

Why you should buy this: MJ’s done a wonderful job of taking a horrific true story and turning it into a dark, bleak thriller that had me captivated. As we get new characters introduced and their part in the story takes place, they’re given depth and weight, making sure they have purpose and are not simply a Redshirt character.

For fans of historical horror, this one hits all the high notes and you’ll be greatly rewarded. But beware, this one doesn’t hold back. Which makes it that much better.

Title: Carry Me to My Grave

Author: Christopher Golden

Release date: July 21st, 2026

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC!*

Though I’ve not read near enough of Golden’s books (I think this is my 6th?), every book I have read has been a lot of fun. When the publisher sent me an email asking if I’d like a digital ARC, I jumped at the chance. I was very intrigued by the synopsis and considering ‘Road of Bones’ had a snow-skull cover and this one has a smoke-skull cover, I figured I’d be in for a fun ride.

What I liked: The story takes place during the mid-century, in the US. Malcolm is a Korean war vet, living back at home with his sister-in-law, Violet and his mother Maggie. Maggie has a reputation and there was a childhood rhyme about her – ‘Maggie Wise will take your eyes.’ Townsfolk believe she’s a witch. Malcolm always scoffed at those words and that thought, but right before she dies, she gives him specific instructions – bring her body back to Maine where she was born and bury her before sunrise within a few days or the world as we know it will cease to exist.

Golden takes us on a rampaging ride once Maggie dies. Strange figures appear and attempt to thwart Malcolm and Violet’s journey. They manage to get on a train with Maggie’s coffin, but still the bad guys arrive. And within all this, Golden introduces us to Root, a nightmarish creature hellbent on retrieving Maggie’s body before she can be buried.

I loved the action within this one. Each scene was vibrant and cinematic, and thankfully Golden doesn’t shy away from carnage and brutality. Nothing is watered down here and nobody is safe. As the book progresses, things get darker and darker and as the truth about Maggie is revealed and more of Malcolm’s family appear, things grow complicated. It’s within those complications that the emotional weight of the book exists and its those emotional weights that lift this book up a notch from similar books.

The ending works really well considering the journey the characters go on. Thankfully, it wasn’t a case of 300 pages to get to the climactic moment, only to have things wrap up in two paragraphs. Golden took his time finishing this one and this reader greatly appreciated it.

What I didn’t like: For me, I found one moment of slowdown that I wasn’t sure worked for me. It took place right after a train crash, where Malcolm and another character end up incarcerated for a brief time. As I was reading it, it kind of sucked some of the momentum out of the story for a short few chapters. That very well might’ve been Golden’s decision, to have a pause there considering the pedal-to-the-metal nature up to those scenes, but for me, it felt jarring.

Why you should buy this: This novel takes a really fun premise – bury a body to save the world – and then escalates the stakes within a few short chapters. Golden’s writing is world class and the pacing throughout was fantastic, practically forcing me to read ‘just one more chapter’ every night. If you’ve never read a Golden book, this would be a really great spot to jump in. If you’re a long time fan of his, you’ll be very happy with the book he’s delivered.

Title: The Horrors of Rejection

Author: Radar DeBoard

Release date: June 9th, 2026

*Huge thanks to Radar for a digital ARC of this one!*

I connected with Radar a number of years back and have always enjoyed the content he’s been releasing on various social media platforms, as well as his support to many authors. A few years back, I had the pleasure of reading his book ‘Drowning in the Drink’ and really enjoyed it, but I haven’t managed to read anything else from him. Recently, I saw him post a Tik Tok looking for reviewers for his upcoming release ‘The Horrors of Rejection.’ A short story collection compiling all of the stories he’s submitted over the years that were rejected for one reason or another, I reached out to see about a review copy. Radar kindly emailed one over and while I was wrapping up ‘The Dorians,’ I dove into this between chapters, flying through it.

What I liked: Every author out there has tens, if not hundreds of short stories that they’ve submitted over the years that for some reason, were not accepted for publication. It’s the nature of the game and a cold reality you need to accept if you want to try your hand at having work accepted and published outside of the DIY/Indie route. Radar lays this out in the introduction before we dive into the stories that comprise the collection.

The stories ranged in length, from poetry, to a page, to novelette length, but each one was a lot of fun and though the stories were written with the purpose of submitting to various open calls, it was interesting to see a bit of a few themes emerge when all was said and done. We had a number of stories set in/around the water and similar with the woods.

The stand out stories for me were a trio that hit hard and were very snappy.

First was ‘Show Some Teeth.’ This story followed an employee, struggling to deal with a horrendous boss at work, while realizing the crows outside are acting strangely. The story was a lot of fun and went from brooding to dark very quickly. My favorite story within.

Next was ‘From a Bathtub to the Ocean.’ This story throws us into the middle of an extreme situation where a man has abandoned ship after a fire started and he’s coming to grips with what happened, his role in it and what that means for his life. Really engaging.

And the third was ‘Immurement.’ If not for ‘Show Some Teeth’ this would’ve been my favorite of the collection. This one picks up with Thomas, trapped in something and trying to fight his way out. The story begins as a very claustrophobic tale, before we learn the ‘why’ of his predicament and we realize just how awfully dark this story really is.

What I didn’t like: While it might’ve been an almost impossible task, I would’ve loved to have seen a brief note prior to each story mentioning what the open call was. Not so much to whom the story was being submitted, but what was the theme or submission requests. IE – 1,500 word limit for grief horror. Or, 3,000 word limit for nautical survival. I think that would’ve helped a few of the stories have a bit more context and work better as to why Radar did what he did in the chosen word count, otherwise some of the stories you’ll be wondering why things were rushed or felt unanswered. Often in submissions, you’ll have a specific constraint that will always make you decide on doing something (either limit characters or details etc.) and I think knowing some of that would’ve allowed some of the stories that didn’t hit as much with me make a bit more sense.

Why you should buy this: Radar’s a very talented writer and a number of these stories are superb. I’m actually a bit surprised a few of these haven’t been picked up somewhere, but that’s the frustrating reality of the anthology world. This was a short story collection that’ll have something for every reader and is a fantastic way to introduce yourself to his writing if you’ve not read anything of his yet.

Title: The Dorians

Author: Nick Cutter

Release date: May 19th, 2026

*Huge thank you to Edelweiss, the publisher and the author for a digital ARC of this one!*

Back in 2015, I discovered Nick’s massive novel ‘The Troop’ at the same time I found Andrew Pyper’s ‘The Demonologist.’ The two books are very far apart in terms of content, but both launched each author into another realm of popularity and in the following decade, until Andrew’s passing away, the two developed a great friendship.

Through Andrew, I connected with Nick (and for the few who still don’t know, his real name is Craig Davidson, and yes you should go read his books as Craig, but also his books as Patrick Lestewka if you can find those) and we’ve developed a burgeoning relationship.

When ‘The Dorians’ was announced, I was very excited. The synopsis alluded to a mix between ‘The Troop’ and a little bit like his book ‘The Preserve’ as Lestewka, which was released in 2004.

Knowing Nick’s penchant to start the journey in one direction only to pivot and go in a very different direction, I was keen to see just where this one went.

What I liked: The novel follows a group of senior citizens, all at the end of their lives, all choosing MAID to wrap things up. Only, each of the people are given a life-line at the last minute. A phone call from a young female doctor. One offering them the potential of immortality.

Each accept and each finds themselves heading to a remote compound in the Canadian north, where a research laboratory has been created with a seemingly blank cheque. Here, they meet Astrid, a hyper-driven woman who has figured out not only how to halt death in its tracks, but how to also de-age those who join her program and have something implanted into them.

What could go wrong, right?!

From here, Nick introduces us to two Indigenous jack-of-all-trades who are keeping the facility running smoothly, but also watching what’s happening with the wolves who’ve also been implanted.

As things progress, we see the toll that eternal youth takes on each of the elderly who’ve accepted the implant, but also the physical weight on those around them and those running the program.

Cutter does a wonderful job of asking a lot of very pointed hypothetical questions. Questions that we’ve all asked ourselves at some time and as somebody who is soon turning forty-five, they’re not questions that often stray far from my mind.

This novel felt like a mix between the literary beauty of the writing within the Davidson books and the brutally harsh Splatterpunk writing within the Lestewka and early Cutter novels.

The ending is bleak, harsh, definitive (to a degree) and though it is expected, it still is startling.

What I didn’t like: Oddly, I didn’t feel a single connection to any of the characters. With the setup and the descriptions and the way the book begins, it’s written with the expectation that each reader will connect and hold onto at least one, if not multiple, characters so that when the shit hits the fan, we get that emotional reaction, but in this case, I just didn’t have that. Not sure why, but because of that, I think I missed a lot of the emotional weight and depth Nick was trying to create.

Why you should buy this: While reading this, I got the sense it was a spiritual sequel to ‘The Troop’ and in the afterword, Nick even mentions that writing it, it felt like that. We have similar settings, similar groups with the various dynamics and we get a really gross, ever-evolving parasite wrecking havoc. The difference here is that ‘The Troop’ was teens and ‘The Dorians’ was elderly people. It felt like the time had passed and we were getting a look at how things would’ve played out in ‘The Troop’ in a different scenario.

Nick has really delivered a thoughtful look at aging and what it means to different people with different backgrounds while also giving us a novel that’s full of bleak, awful decisions and moments. Paired together it works perfectly to unnerve and unsettle the reader while also causing you to squirm all over again.

At least this time there’s no turtles.

Title: Monumental

Author: Adam L.G. Nevill

Release date: April 2nd, 2026

*Huge thank you to Adam for the digital ARC of this one!*

First, huge huge apology to Adam for not getting this one read and reviewed before release date! I thought my time management was totally on track, but alas I messed up! So, my apologies Adam!

Second, I have a theory about this novel after having read it, which I’ll share later down below, but outside of that, going into this, ‘Monumental’ was ticking a lot of boxes off for me for things I love in books. Great cover? Check! Adam Nevill as the author? Well, duh, check! Remote, isolated location? Check! Folklore content? Check! I mean, at this point, Adam could essentially turn a fast food restaurants menu into a folklore novel and I’d be glued to my Kindle!

And while Adam’s last novel took a detour away from isolated folklore – ‘All the Fiends of Hell’ was PHENOMENAL FYI – it always felt like he’d return to writing something such as this, so it was no surprise that he did. Saying that, if you follow Adam on any social media platform, you’ll undoubtably see his love of all things kayaking. Much like when Tim Lebbon writes about running/marathon’s in his books, it absolutely elevates the ‘realness’ of the events and Adam bringing kayaking into this novel worked so very very well.

What I liked: The novel follows a group of kayaking pals as they make their way to a remote estuary. A place that is supposed to be a ‘no-go’ area, they foolishly believe that they can make their way up stream and camp on the outskirts, nobody wiser regarding their intrusion. Made up of a variety of skill levels and fitness levels, they’ve gone on a number of paddles together, but nothing like this before.

Once on land, Marcus starts to set up his tent while dealing with others egos, an older woman’s struggles and his growing feelings for Jane. He doesn’t notice Jane wander off – none of them do – until she screams in pain. Once found, she’s in rough shape and Marcus knows they must get her help.

This is the point of no return in this novel. Once Marcus and two others – Nigel, the husband and Sophie, the wife – head off to find help, leaving Jane with the older woman, Mary and the other male, Julien, in the group, things continue to get weirder. They find stuff hanging in the trees, they find rocks and ruins and they come upon finely manicured farm land. And then they encounter the man who owns the estuary – Clement Colman. A former tech bro billionaire, he’s crafted a cult from former addicts, and insists that they’ve found a God deep below the building in the middle of their farm land.

Nevill has a gift of making every branch eerie and every shadow creepy as hell. And when scales start scraping the rock walls and the air grows heavy and rancid, every reader understands that all hell is about to break loose and Nevill won’t be holding back.

And Christ-all-mighty he doesn’t hold back.

We get bone clubs, Little Priests, an arthritically, twisted old woman and the reality that the estuary sits equally between here and there, between this realm and the next and with each time Jane is mentioned and she rambles in the throes of crossing over, her comments only work to confirm that nothing good comes from over there. Or from up there.

And I can’t state enough that while the God within this book is never fully ‘described,’ that’s the perfection of what makes this thing so terrifying.

The final quarter of this book is a pure sprint – or rather paddle – of survival. We see some glimmer of hope and some slight lightness at the end of the tunnel, though even that is left more to the readers interpretation.

The ending of this is bleak and solidly horrifying, letting the taste that we develop in our mouths to remain putrefying on our tongues after the last page is turned.

What I didn’t like: There was two things that I noticed, but both were really my own issue than anything of note!

The first – well, I found there was a lot of internal discussion happening for each character. It seemed that every other chapter a character would spend a solid few pages just going over the situation again as well as where they found themselves. I got that it was Nevill showing their deterioration, but I found it slowed a bit of forward momentum in later chapters. How many times could Marcus go over his own personal decisions from the weeks and months prior to this trip?

Second thing – there’s a moment where Marcus is essentially home free and could leave and survive and he decides to turn back and try and find his friends. I wanted to reach through my Kindle and strangle the man. Leave. Get help. Return. Instead he returned to the belly of the beast. Good grief, haha!

Why you should buy this: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – I’ve never read an Adam Nevill story (no matter the length) that doesn’t make me feel dirty and stained. As though what I’ve read has bleed through my device and coated my skin and bones. It’s a perpetual trademark that his writing has and I think it’s a combination of his prose and story structure.

‘Monumental’ is just that, another amazing vessel where Adam showcases his prowess to throw a group of people into the middle of nowhere and then beat them down blow-by-blow.

And as for my theory I mentioned before? Well, I felt like I read Adam’s take on a Conan tale. A horror novel that was really a sword-and-sorcery fantasy novel. We have a warrior – Marcus, who battles a force of evil – Clement, who has called forth a dragon – the God. Marcus needs to save the damsel in distress – Jane, and in this book, Marcus literally uses a sword against the Little Priests. Throw in the fact that he has a faithful steed – his kayak, and needs to travel across an inhospitable landscape – the Wyrm valley, and I rest my case. I’m probably wrong, but throw on some Iron Maiden as a soundtrack and I feel like you’ll get where I’m going here!

Once again, Nevill delivers a dark and wicked novel, one that will keep many readers up late at night, as only he can.

Fantastic.