As we turn the page on the calendar, we encounter a first day of the month that is positively packed with great new books to read. There are a ton of new releases to start the month of September, so let’s get right to it.
As the Snow Gathers by Mere Joyce
A small Canadian town built on the bones of a dead one is probably not the best idea, but that is where a man decides to move. He soon finds that the surrounding forest is not as desolate as first thought.
Assisted Living by Gianaclis Caldwell
This release is listed as the first book in the Old Grove Lake Trilogy. A routine residential inspection turns into a fight for survival against unpleasant forest spirits.
Bad Things Happened Here by Mark Morris
Six students arrive at university expecting the times of their lives, only to find that they are quickly fighting for their lives. The hardcover version of this one comes with sprayed edges, if you like collectible type books.
This one sound strange and equal parts cool, as the story focuses on a wolf losing his territory to man. The wolf, Blacktail, goes on the move and enters strange new places. Seems to be more of a dark fantasy than true horror.
The Eye of Goliath by Diego Muzzio
Set in Edinburgh, Scotland (which essentially makes it a must read for me), this one is described as an inventive twist on the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story, which sounds like a fun read.
Goodnight Monsters by Suzanne Junered
The premise of this book sounds fantastic. A young couple dream of having a child, but when the woman becomes pregnant, the reality does not fit the dream. She finds a job at a Body Farm to surround herself with death, all while keeping her pregnancy secret.
An Immaculate Deception by Isabela Livino
Let’s take a little trip back in time for a debut gothic horror novel set in Brazil in the 1870s. In this one, we have a pregnant woman trapped in the house of her lover.
Kiss Slay Replay by Rachel Harrison
A recently divorced woman attends the wedding of one of her friends and finds herself stuck in a horrific time loop that she needs to find a way to escape.
An international debut novel about the hunt for a serial killer that appears to be hunting men who are abusive to their girlfriends. Not all is as it seems, though, as the supernatural may be at play.
A man on the run lands in a motel, where he begins to relate the story of his life to the man at the desk. A psychological thriller that dips its toe into the horror pool.
The Patron Saint of White Menageries by Lauren T. Davila
A collection of short stories, all set in LA, that explore the magical and mystical side of the city. Again, this one is more in the realm of magical realism than true horror.
Precious Children by Mary G. Thompson
A wealthy family brings home their son after his second death. They have the ways and means to clone the boy, but does each iteration move him a little further away from the original?
Every time I put these together, there is always one book that jumps off the page to me. I hear the phrase Folk Horror and am immediately sold. Five timelines converge into one in this small mining town.
Tell the Ghost’s I’m Gone by Kalynn Bayron
A group of teens with special powers use them for good, as they offer paranormal services. When they arrive at a haunted mansion, they suddenly find that they are in mortal danger.
A doctor who treats an infection that causes thorns to erupt all over the body contracts the disease and is forced on a trip that has her encounter the best and worst that the world has to offer.
We Are for the Dark by Gretchen McNeil
A murder investigation ends up landing in a remote Newfoundland Island town where everything feels a little off. A routine investigation quickly turns into something even darker.
That is it for this week, and I am sure you will all find something in that bunch that tickles your fancy. Let me know which book is the most appealing to you.
Scratch Moss, Goodnight Monsters, An Immaculate Deception, Kiss Slay Replay and Precious Children sound fascinating to me. And I am always drawn to the visuals of book covers. The one that sensually grabs me in the collection is The Patron Saint of White Menageries, and other than that, The Nudge also has that crazy eyes look that I like 🤓