Set in the rain-soaked shadows of 1970s Portland, this novel blends gritty noir with supernatural horror in a tale that starts slow but eventually finds its momentum. Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet battling inner demons, is forced into an even darker world when his wife is murdered by a man—or creature—who is anything but human. With his teenage niece Julia at his side, Duane is pulled into a grim journey of revenge that becomes increasingly surreal.

The novel’s strength lies in its atmosphere: the cold, post-war streets, the quiet grief that simmers beneath the surface, and the eerie calm before each monstrous storm. The pace can lag in places, and some secondary characters feel more like sketches than fully realized people, but the central relationship between Duane and Julia holds emotional weight. As they descend into a bizarre underworld of undead children and werewolf-like horrors, the story asks big questions about violence, trauma, and what it means to live with—or be consumed by—rage.

While the horror elements sometimes overshadow the more grounded emotional core, Coffin Moon is a solid, if uneven, genre hybrid. Fans of supernatural revenge tales with a gritty, nostalgic edge will likely find enough here to sink their teeth into. Not my particularly favorite genre, but a fun read nonetheless.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Keith Rosson's Coffin Moon sinks its teeth into you from the very first page, delivering a raw and visceral tale of grief, vengeance, and the monstrous lurking just beneath the surface of the everyday. Following Vietnam vet Duane Minor and his fiercely protective niece, Julia, as they hunt the inhuman John Varley who brutally shattered their newfound family, the novel is a relentless journey through the gritty underbelly of the 1970s and the desolate landscapes of the American Northwest.

Rosson masterfully blends the visceral realities of post-war trauma with the chilling elements of classic vampire lore. Duane's struggles with his past and his burgeoning connection with Julia, beautifully rendered through Heidi's gentle influence, create a poignant foundation that makes their subsequent loss all the more devastating. The author doesn't shy away from the brutal consequences of violence, both human and supernatural, painting a stark and unforgiving world.

John Varley is a truly terrifying antagonist, a creature of pure malice who embodies the darkest aspects of human cruelty amplified by his supernatural nature. He's not a romanticized vampire; he's a predator, and the author makes sure you feel the weight of his savagery. The supporting cast, from the unsettling undead children to the desperate individuals caught in Varley's orbit, adds layers of complexity and dread to the narrative.

The novel's pacing is expertly controlled. Rosson allows moments of quiet reflection and character development to breathe before unleashing bursts of intense action and suspense. The 1970s setting is richly evoked, from the smoky bars of Portland to the windswept plains of North Dakota, adding a layer of atmosphere and authenticity to the hunt.

While the quest for vengeance drives the plot forward with a relentless energy, Rosson delves deeper into the human cost of such a pursuit. The question of what remains of one's humanity when consumed by rage and the desire for retribution hangs heavy in the air, adding a compelling thematic layer to the blood-soaked narrative.

Coffin Moon is not for the faint of heart. It's a dark and often brutal story, but it's also a compelling and unforgettable one. Keith Rosson has crafted a thrilling and emotionally resonant novel that will leave you looking over your shoulder long after you've turned the final page. If you enjoy horror that blends genuine human drama with terrifying supernatural elements, then sink your teeth into Coffin Moon. You won't be disappointed.

I haven’t been let down by one of Keith Rosson’s books yet, and Coffin Moon is yet another great read to add to the list. I’ve never been into vampires as a trope, but this one equally surprised and entertained the hell out of me.

Duane Minor, a Vietnam veteran, is back from the war and trying to get his life back together - without drinking his feelings away. He’s working shifts at his in-law’s tavern, sober, and living in the apartment upstairs with his wife, Heidi, and they come into the care of Duane’s niece, Julia, and begin to form their own family unit. Each of them lives with their own anger and fear, but they are working together to cement a life for themselves and it’s all going well.

Until a group of bikers come into the bar and it all goes wrong. After Minor, attempting to do the right thing, throws the bikers out of the bar when he catches them selling drugs. He meets John Varley, somehow intertwined with the bikers but he isn’t sure how.

Shortly after the altercation, Heidi and her parents are murdered, leaving Minor and Julia to fend for themselves and get revenge for what’s been taken from them. For Minor, his wife and family, and for Julia, the only good family she’s ever known.

Traversing time to tell the stories of both Minor in the war and Varley through the decades, Coffin Moon has everything. Horror, heartbreak, and a hell of a story. This book reads like a horror movie, and I found myself wishing it was about 100 pages longer.

This book was so much fun. It has grit and nostalgia (without beating you over the head with it), great characters, and an emotional ride down a dark road. It reminds me a bit of FIRESTARTER with vampires. This is not to suggest it hits like King's own fanged classic; this is very different. At times, these are the self-aware Near Dark or Martin variety of the undead. It's a road book, not residential and not set in Transylvania. So thankful to sink my teeth into this one. It's not comparable to his last two; it's a true standalone.

I loved this book! It felt very 70s Stephen King. It had me immersed in the story and dying to continue reading to find out what happened next

Vampires done right. I loved the concept of this. And the execution was perfect. An absolute masterpiece of writing

I have never read anything from Keith Rosson before despite seeing Fever House duology everywhere, and I am really glad I got the oppertunity to read an ARC of Coffin Moon because boy it was a RIDE!

Rosson brought everything I wanted to this book that I've wanted in true vampire novels, and I really liked reading this book because it felt so real with the emotional reactions of the characters and the emotional journeys that both Minor and Julia go through in the duration of this book.

I do wish that there was more historical concepts/information during the novel because it's being billed as a 'historical horror' so I wanted just a bit more of the 1970s aesthetic throughout the novel.

I will forever recommend this over any other true vamp horror novel, and Rosson is definitely one of my top authors to keep an eye on now.

(3.5 rounded up) This book felt very Stephen King-coded to me and then I saw that King blurbed one of Keith Rosson’s earlier books. Makes sense! This is a horror book about vengeful vampires, filled with a lot of family drama and sadness. I really liked the villain in this, John Varley, a vampire with no compassion, who commits atrocity after atrocity. This is a dark book, with the protagonists Duane and his wife’s niece Julia, on the hunt for Varley after he brutally murders Duane’s wife and Julia’s aunt. Even though this is horror, it is very heavy on the character development which does not do a disservice to this plot. The building of the characters really adds to the emotionality and the tone of this. The slowness feels necessary to fully build this story. And that’s not to say this doesn’t have gore and violence because this absolutely has gore and violence. I liked this! Even though vampire stories are reaching an over saturation point (imo), this puts an interesting spin on the traditional story.

I’m a relatively new but fervent fan of Keith Rosson. I loved the Fever House duology, especially the first book. I have a tendency to set high expectations for writers after reading a book of theirs that I love, and I’m frequently disappointed by a followup. Not this time. Coffin Moon has wildly exceeded what I hoped this book would be.

Duane Minor is a Vietnam vet, recently home from war. He’s also newly sober, fighting both his addiction and his unrelenting rage. He and his wife Heidi are raising their niece Julia in their apartment over the bar where he works for his in-laws. Just when his life has finally settled into a more normal rhythm, two men walk into Duane’s bar bringing violence and a “man” named John Varley who literally rips Duane’s life apart, sending him a mission of vengeance no matter the cost. His young niece, Julia, is also set in revenge and she’s willing to pay any price to bring down Varley.

I loved this book. It was very atmospheric, immersing you in mid-1970’s Portland, Oregon (and other areas traveled). Each character was flawed and complicated, and the story zigs just when you think it’s going to zag. It was filled with so many horrors yet was beautifully written. Rosson is a visual writer and you easily fall into the story. I can’t recommend this book enough.

This is definitely one of my favorite horror books of the year and likely the best vampire novel I've read (Sorry, Salem's Lot). Because this book isn't just about blood suckers. It's heart and humanity oozes through the narrative even as the terrifying and gory story unfolds.

Duane Minor returns from Vietnam a different man. But with his wife, her parents, and a step niece, he's satisfied with his life even through his nightmare and other issues.

One night he kicks some drug dealers out of the bar his in laws own, against his mother in law's wishes, and this will be the catalyst for the absolutely brutal, bloody,heart wrenching, and unforgettable story which follows.

The antagonist is a bone chilling vampire who kills not only to eat but because he enjoys it. He was a bit of a violent psychopath before he turned and now with vampiric powers, even more so. He's a ruthless and efficient killing machine basically.

After Duane's wife and in laws are literally torn apart horrifically, Duane and his step niece sacrifice everything to track this creature down to exact revenge. And sacrifice they will. This road trip from hell takes place across the United States and packs a thrilling action packed narrative.

But it's the characters who seal the deal. They're all flawed. They've all suffered trauma and they're far from perfect. Even the antagonist has hints of humanity at times. They're imperfect, unprepared for what they want to do, and have no special abilities to deal with this. It makes the tension turn up significantly as the book goes on.

This is a brilliant vampire novel and I highly recommend it.

This is one of those books that pulls you in, scares you, sets the vibe, keeps you going, throws you around for a loop, gives you want you want, then delivers gore, sci fi and fantasy elements, that keeps you guessing and thinking. The second you begin to get frustrated with the lack of hand holding, an explanation is given, and you almost regret getting it.

From the writing style to the cover to the execution, this book is phenomenal. I went into this one completely blind as I received an invite via email to read this book. I am glad I picked it up!

Please know this book takes place in the 70’s so some of the languages and references are dated to that time point! Given the overall plot of the book and the contents, I really enjoyed this story and thought the author did a phenomenal job at balancing really dark, horrifying elements into a piece of art. Plus, the cover is so cool. I know I mentioned that earlier but this is a really cool cover and sometimes I buy a book based on the cover alone. Regarding the actual artistic style and execution of the plot, I have zero criticisms.

Thank you for allowing me to read this eARC for free. I received a free eARC and I am leaving honest feedback voluntarily.
I plan to update links soon!

Review of Advance Reader’s Copy

Duane Minor is struggling to find some peace after the horrors of his Vietnam tour of duty. Working at the Last Call Tavern, he knows he needs to keep both his anger and his drinking in check.

But right now, his problem is his thirteen-year-old niece, Julia. In trouble at school for fighting [again], she’s trying to deal with a mother in prison, a stepfather dead, and a separation from a stepbrother. Duane and his wife, Heidi, are doing their best to make the three of them into a family.

And then horror intrudes in the form of John Varley, leaving Duane and Julia bound by grief and seeking revenge.
Who will survive?

=========

Tragedy, grief, anger, and vengeance weave a tapestry of gritty horror in this vicious tale of vampires. Strong characters are a plus in the telling of this tale; readers are sure to find themselves rooting for Duane and Julia as the unfolding narrative reveals the dark horror that has been unleashed.

The writing is atmospheric; often mesmerizing, but the overuse of a particularly objectionable expletive is off-putting and lowers the rating for the book.

Recommended for fans of the horror and vampire genres.

I received a free copy of this eBook from Random House Publishing Group – Random House / Random House and NetGalley
#CoffinMoon #NetGalley

Desperate, hollowed out by grief, and driven by revenge, Duane and his niece Julia pursue the vampire that slaughtered their family in 1970s Portland, OR. Hard decisions are made as they follow and leave trails of the dead in this gritty, blood-soaked crime-horror hybrid.

Propulsive and gripping, I was entombed in this novel for two white-knuckle days. The characters and city of Portland are vivid and fully realized, the prose cinematic and lyrical. I highly recommend checking out Coffin Moon when it releases this September.

Many thanks to Random House for providing an early review copy.

The year is 1975, and our protagonist is a newly sober Vietnam vet with a deep love for his wife, a burgeoning paternal tenderness for the niece they've become guardians of, and a ribcage full of leftover rage. He spends his evenings working in his in-laws' bar and his nights fighting his personal demons in nightmares that make sleep a torment.

When his path crosses with our villain, all the nightmares become a gory reality, one that leaves him grieving and slipping back into dark patterns. Ultimately, he and the 13-year old charge he's now solely responsible for set off on a quest of sorts, one that doesn't promise redemption, but rather, revenge.

This was a dark, bloody, depressing read at times. But it was also one that showed the lengths people will go to for the ones they love. Not hopeful, necessarily, but certainly hope-adjacent. The writing was contemplative and often beautiful, even if the subject matter was anything but.

So much speculative fiction sounds like a ridiculous patchwork of over-the-top scenarios, to the point where you can’t recruit readers new to the scene by telling them what happens in a book. The real test is what it’s about underneath and, arguably more important, the style and tine in which the story is told. Coffin Moon is no different. To those who read the genres, I can tell you this story involves a Vietnam veteran seeks revenge on the vampire that killed his wife.

To those who think this sounds cheesy (and so what if it is?): Rosson captures daily life and grief beautifully, with introspection that isn’t pure navel-gazing, and does it with prose so gritty and poetic, somewhere between hardboiled and Western, in a work that is unequivocally Americana.

Warning: never underestimate a teenage girl.

This book is really something special.

I don't want to say too much about the plot because I think it's best to skip the blurb and go in blind. All I would say is it is a bleak and brutal but also beautiful story about revenge and grief with vampires.

Rossen has a way of writing characters that are deeply flawed but you still understand them even if you don't agree with their decisions, and sometimes even truly evil characters that you hate but you still want to see what they'll do next. At the end it's the relationships between all the characters is what makes it really special. Even the characters we meet for a chapter or less made the world feel so vivid and made me want to know more (one of my favorites was an interaction with a cowboy vampire that I couldn't not picture as Sam Elliot).

Thank you to Netgalley and Black Crows Books for the ARC

I could not put this book down once I began, I was hooked from the beginning. The story begins by pulling you into a family dynamic that you immediately invest in, and then their (and by default, your world), is turned upside down. The story takes you on a journey that you don't expect, and the horror and suspense are at once gripping, terrifying and absorbing.

This was a brutal story, many points where I could not stop reading because I needed to see what happened next. Julia does the unthinkable and Duane takes steps he’d had never resulted to without her decisions. A fresh take on a vampire story with unique lore and relatable characters driving the story!

The characters have depth that give you a reason to care. I love the way the story builds up the characters with a bit of mystery that unravels as the story gets deeper. The quest of vengeance includes some of the most brutal acts as the story reaches its end.

I really like Keith’s writing so there is probably a bit of bias here but the only complaint I have is that it would’ve been nice to see more of what Julia and Duane went through went Julia first made the leap and perhaps more of their chase. The resolution is satisfying but I crave more. Feels like there could be more story here, but would be a good ending if there isn’t another book cooking.

Having pre ordered a copy and audiobook, I can’t wait to relive this story again when it releases!

Thanks to Netgalley and Black Crow books for the ARC

Simply incredible, Rosson has a grasp on making complex characters and knows when to lock them in the pressure cooker. My elevator pitch for this would be "No Country For Old Men" meets "Let The Right One In" and can stand toe to toe with both books.
The world and mythos were well crafted and did a great job of making the book so hard to put down. To me the hallmark of a truly special book is if I am not able to stop thinking about it when I'm not reading and this book definitely delivers

This was the first time I read a book by this author, so I cannot compare this book to his previous ones.
What I can say is that even though this is a 'classic' vampire horror story, the author brings something different to the lore.
It starts out very dramatic and slow, but it is necessary for character's development. And the 3 main characters are very well written, realistic and even relatable.
There is drama, romance, grief, revenge, action, gore and a conclusion that can feel bittersweet for most readers. I personally loved it.
If you like vampire stories and appreciate characters' development, you should consider picking this book up.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Random House, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.