4.5 stars. Keith Rosson is SUCH a good writer. He’s so good at setting the tone and his writing is atmospheric. I truly felt like I was there in the 1970s with Duane and Julia on the hunt for John Varley.

This reminds me so much of early Stephen King, especially ‘Salem’s Lot (for obvious reasons). Rosson’s characters have depth and you really get to know them as they are on their quest. It emphasizes that all of us are a little bit of a monster - and all monsters have a little bit of humanity in them.

Keith Rosson is the only author I want to read during spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley, Keith Rosson, and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️ Dark and terrifying Vampire tale! This is on par with Salem’s Lot it’s that good!

Set in the 1975, Duane Minor is a vet trying to deal with post war trauma, living with his wife Heidi and their niece Julia, above the bar owned by his in-laws.
Things seem to be going well til a strange man, John Varley and his biker cohorts show up at the bar making demands to sell drugs. Duane’s actions set into action a bloody massacre that changes his and Julia’s life forever!

Alternating chapters give the back stories of Duane, Julia, and John Varley. There is a lot of blood and gore in the telling of this story, but the prose is excellent.

Keith Rosson has written a frightening vampire story that I couldn’t put down. If you like horror, you don’t want to skip this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Random House publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

First of all - Thank you NetGalley and Random House! Coffin moon was a great read!

Duane Minor, a Vietnam vet, and his wife Heidi take in Heidi’s niece, Julia, after Julia’s mother gets sent to prison. This dynamic is working well until Heidi’s parents get caught up with some unsavory people and everyone’s lives are completely upended. What follows is a twisted game of cat & mouse with vampires! There’s also a bit of a deranged love story that I was weirdly into?

This story was really good! The descriptive scenes of gore and grief, I really felt like I was watching a movie and feeling the emotion of these characters. I loved learning the back stories of our main characters and I particularly enjoyed reading about our antagonist’s origins.

I thought Coffin Moon was really well done, although I won’t give it 5/5 stars only because I normally reserve that for books that really move me. I will say, I felt like it took a while to get to the ending and the ending felt fast to me - but that might be because I was excited to finally get to the pinnacle of the story? Either way, this was greatly entertaining and for that, I give it a 3.75/5. Can’t wait to recommend this to my friends!

Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson completely pulled me in. The story follows Duane, a Vietnam vet haunted by his past, and Julia, a young girl determined to face the vampire who destroyed their family. It’s gritty, emotional, and drenched in 1970s atmosphere, with every scene carrying real weight. If you like dark vampire tales that balance heartbreak with revenge, this one is absolutely worth the read.

Coffin Moon is a gory vampire horror that unfortunately didn't work for me. It started well, but it had a few of my pet hates that made it feel pretty lackluster by the end. This book doesn't shy away from the gore, but multiple major plot points are fade to black time skips. The scenes are often described immediately after the fact in a way that just makes the pacing feel clunky. My other issue is with Julia. Her character arc felt lazy. She magically becomes hyper competent when needed and instead of this occurring during the 18 month time skip it is implied that she has learned these skills in her childhood. This is completely incongruent from the few short sections we get from her perspective in the first section.

There has been some comparison of Rosson's work with King, of course that is unfair to Rosson. I can tell you I enjoy Rosson novels, and they have strong characters with heart, and there are large arcing themes of good and evil and the grey in-between, which of course King is a master of. I really liked Coffin Moon, has a gritty 70's anti-hero theme. A protagonist dealing with grief in very real ways that the reader can relate to. I felt connected to the characters and felt grief when they felt grief, that is how strong the character development is. It is a thriller, and a mystery, but there is some dark humor also. Like King, I hope his work is also developed for tv and film, can definitely see all his novels as a series or film. thanks, and enjoy the read!

⚰️Coffin Moon - @rossonkeith

Buckle up, this one is a wild ride.

It should come as no surprise that this was one of my most anticipated reads of 2025. Fever House and Devil by Name were such an incredible duology that the bar was sitting pretty damn high for Rosson’s following book.

I don’t know enough about any sport or show categories that have bars to make a metaphor here, but that high bar was not a concern.

These vampires are GNARLY. Like, remember how you felt coming across your first vampire as a kid? Barlow in the Lot, or Dracula/Nosferatu in a film maybe? But when the vampire was a true monster that really frightened you?

Yeah, say hello to a new Vampiric Monster.

Not only is this a violently vicious book, it’s an emotional gut punch. This is a father/daughter story in a direction I was so not expecting but greatly appreciated. Being human is heartbreaking work. Loving is heartbreaking work.

But it’s worth it.

Coffin Moon is a lean mean horror machine with a bleeding central heart. Get ready to sink your fangs in on September 9. 🩸

Another banger from Keith Rosson. I really enjoyed the Fever House duology, so this one was already high on my expectations list for 2025. I got a bit hesitant when seeing it contained a vampire trope. Generally speaking, vampires just aren’t my vibe. But Coffin Moon is gritty, visceral and blood soaked. There’s plenty of supernatural action, but also human horrors mixed in to make for a bleak read.

Coffin Moon follows Duane Minor. He served a tour in Vietnam and is now married and living above the bar he runs with his in-laws. Recently Duane and his wife, Heidi have taken in Heidi’s niece, Julia, following a brutal act of violence committed in Julia’s home. When a worldwind of death destroys everything around Duane and Julia, they both head on a brutal path to revenge.

The characterization and world building are superb. Rosson doesn’t rely on cliches and truly develops his characters. The book is set in the mid 70s and Rosson manages to make the era come alive. Maybe it’s the sheer amount of cigarette smoking lingering on every page, but it’s easy to become immersed in the time. There is a *lot* of heavy gore. You’ll be smelling blood on your fingertips just from turning those pages. However, Rosson doesn’t lean in to the gruesomeness. It’s right there in your face but we don’t really linger on the gore. This was definitely one I couldn’t put down and it’s clear Rosson’s talent is going nowhere. He’s a welcome addition to the horror genre and I’d definitely recommend Coffin Moon.

Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 9/2/25. Review will be posted to Amazon on release date.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC. This review is my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.

Duane Minor is trying to hold it all together after getting back from the Vietnam War. He works in a bar his in-laws own, lives above it with his wife, and is now the guardian of a teenage girl whose mother is serving a life sentence. Everything seems to be moving towards a settled place until Duane stands up against some bikers selling dope out of the back of the bar. His nightmare begins when he finds his wife dead and learns that his in-laws are gone too. Finding himself at the heart of the investigation surrounding their deaths his quickly realizes that no man killed them and is on the hunt for revenge.

I really enjoyed the pacing of this novel. I initially was worried that we’d spend a lot of time setting up the premise but by the 20% mark we’re actively trying to figure out what has happened. This novel did a great job looking at love, memory, and how we’re connected. The action scenes were super fun to read and had my jaw dropping. I appreciated that our main characters all have to decide what path they have to take after tragedy. This was a fun quick read that will be perfect for spooky season.

This book was BRUTAL and I feel like I might never recover from this. I loved every second of it. #justiceforheidi

Very engaging and had me hooked from start to finish! Some parts were a little slow which hindered me from giving it 5 stars but overall I enjoyed. Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

The road trip novel meets a revenge driven creature feature, Keith Rosson's Coffin Moon is a pulpy horror trip through the effects of Vietnam and the inhumanity central to vampirism.

Duane Minor is the central character, recently sober after struggling to return to civilian life following his stint in country in Vietnam. His dreams are still haunted, but he can hold down a job at the family bar. His in-laws are gruff, but tolerant, though that tolerance seems to be wearing. Duane is married to Heidi and aspiring writer, finishing her college degree, known to visit protests and working to make a connection with their 13 year old niece Heidi. Heidi is a mess of teen emotions, traumatized by witnessing the murder of her abusive step father, frequently only able to express herself through anger.

Things are at least stable and the Minor's are working to become a family, but drug dealer bikers move in on the bar, and when at first rejected, they return with their leader, John Varley. He seems to be offering a wonderful deal, but the reply to the offer fuels the rest of the book.

Without spoiling this pivotal scene, I'll say simply it does not go well. After this first section narrated solely by Duane, the rest of the book shifts between Varley, Duane and Julia as the miles and next few years play out. They are all operating in the shady margins of an underworld of abandoned buildings, the drug trade and something much older and darker.

Beware the choices you make, their reach and results could linger a lifetime..... or more.

Recommended to readers of pulp horror, road trip novels with a twist or thriller style movies.

A 13 year old girl (Julia) and her uncle (Duane) are hunting a vampire who killed Duanes wife but while they hunt for the vampire known as John Varley, John is also hunting them. Set in the 1970’s with themes of trauma, grief, revenge and dealing with the after effects of war (Vietnam War). John Varley, himself is a compelling character who adds depth to the revenge idea that flows throughout the story. John is not a typical romanticized Vampire, he is brutal and vicious. This is not the typical romanticized vampire story and that was the best part. There is violence and gore which is appropriate and provide a more horror feel to the story. With so many vampire novels being turned into dark romance it was to be given a horror with all the darkness and macabre that one would expect from a bloody battle with a super nature being.

Overall this was a fast paced read that is well done and a welcome addition to the vampire must read list.

I think I live for tales of revenge. Especially when that revenge is hard won. Some might even argue that in the end it wasn’t won at all. Coffin Moon provides just such a tale. Duane is a troubled character. He’s got a lot going on. And to be frank, so does young Julia. They are very much imperfect protagonists (the best kind of protag, in my opinion).

I don’t want to tell you much about Coffin Moon, because the story is so good that it deserves to be experienced entirely on its own. Although the story, on its face, may sound similar to the T. Chris Martindale Paperback from Hell Nightblood, and they do share some similarities, Coffin Moon is very much a modern take on that basic type of story.

Although it is set in the 70s, and it is definitely gory and violent, it has a level of heart to the story that you just didn’t see much in that era of paperback horrors. There is a surprising amount of emotional depth throughout. This really makes for a story that feels both comfortingly familiar, and refreshingly nuanced for the type of story you probably expected.
Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.

Go in as blind as you can. But do read Coffin Moon. It’s so, so good.

Okayyyy loveeee!! Did not expect this to become a new favorite but I really really loved this one! A modern take on vampires, not cheesy in the slightest. Definitely doesn’t fall into the “camp” category.

The writing was super strong. Coupled with the year in which this takes place, I got Stephen King vibes. The set up was superb and I was immediately hooked with the setting and Duane’s character. Honestly just a really well done horror novel, from any angle you look at it.

I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Coffin Moon is a revenge story with vampires. Duane is recently back from Vietnam and is working in and living above his mother in law's bar. However there's a new crowd coming in, a motorcycle gang that Duane thinks is going to run heroin through the bar, upending his fragile life. The motorcycle gang is the least of his worries as the 'leader' of the gang isn't what he seems. After Duane's wife and in-laws are slaughtered he goes on a revenge tour with his adopted niece to hunt down the gang leader, John Varley. Throughout the story you learn more about Varley and his rampages as well as follow Duane and his niece as they hunt him down. Somewhat bloody & gory, but all around a good read.

I went into Coffin Moon not really knowing what to expect, but I came out completely blown away. This is one of those rare horror novels that feels both brutal and heartfelt at the same time.

From the very beginning, Rosson throws us into 1970s Portland—rain-soaked streets, sleazy bars, old muscle cars on backroads—and I absolutely loved it. Setting the story in that era gave it this nostalgic, gritty vibe that reminded me of an 80s action blockbuster, but with fangs. There are no smartphones or modern conveniences here to get in the way, and that made the tension and survival feel so much more raw and real.

The vampires themselves were fantastic. Bloody, feral, terrifying—and yet written in a way that felt new to me. There’s also a queer element woven into the story that I wasn’t expecting at all, and it gave the story another layer that really stood out.

What surprised me the most, though, was how emotional the book was. Underneath all the gore and carnage is a story about grief, family, and the ways love can both save and destroy us. Duane and Julia’s bond felt so genuine—messy, painful, but full of heart—and it anchored the whole book in something deeply human.

And make no mistake: this book is brutal. The violence is bloody and relentless, but it’s never empty shock value—it feels earned, like the natural consequence of the world Rosson has built.

Overall, Coffin Moon hit all the right notes for me: nostalgic yet fresh, action-packed yet emotional, bloody yet tender in unexpected ways. It’s a vampire story that isn’t afraid to sink its teeth deep, and I loved every second of it.

“One thing you can be certain of, boy. Things change. Even for those such as us.”

In 2018, I read a book by a promising local author titled Smoke City. It was complex and kept me on my toes, and all told, it was a good novel. Since I enjoyed it, the small publisher he was working with sent me another of his books, The Mercy of the Tide. I liked it, too.

Fast forward. I received a galley this year by the same author, but he was no longer working with the itty-bitty press. No, he was published by Random House. This made me sit up and take notice! My thanks go to NetGalley and Random House for the invitation to read and review Coffin Moon, the scariest straight-up horror novel you’re likely to find on the shelves this year. It will be available to the public September 9, 2025.

The premise is this: our protagonist, Duane Minor, is back from Vietnam. The year is 1975; the place, Portland, Oregon. His wife Heidi is living in an apartment over the bar her parents own, and Duane goes to work for them. Heidi’s 13-year-old niece, Julia, comes to join them as well after her mother is sent to prison. Duane is a bit shaky, following his tour of duty, but he’s sober, has pulled himself together, and things are going pretty well. That is, until the vampire takes over the bar.

That’s all you need to know of the plot to get started. In fact, I don’t even recommend reading the promotional blurb, because it’s better if you come to it on your own. What I will say is that this is not just any horror novel. There is more depth to it than you typically see, philosophical questions inextricably wound into the decisions that Duane and his niece must make. There’s also far more character development than I generally see in this genre. Finally, the word smithery Rosson brings to it makes this book grittier, more heart-rending, and far more thought provoking than other books of its ilk. Mr. Rosson was a good author before, but the brilliance of his prose has surged since his early work.

As I get older, I find I only have enough fortitude to read one or two horror novels each year; the rest of the time, I reach for other genres. If you are also an infrequent reader of horror, I strongly urge you to make this story a priority. It’s the sort of novel that stays with you long after the last page is turned.

But the sun is coming up; I must leave you.

A vampire walked into a bar and turned lives inside out. Now. Duane and his niece Julia are raging with grief and they've set out to find John Varley, the vampire responsible for the death of Heidi and others. This is not a nice neat vampire story. Varley is cruel and awful. This is dark with the only bright spot the relationship between Duane and Julia. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Rosson's fans will be pleased.

2.5 Stars

Duane Minor is struggling to maintain his business, sobriety, marriage, and the newfound responsibility of caring for his niece, Julia. After a run-in with a drug-dealing biker, Minor’s wife is murdered and he attempts to care for Julia on his own, while also wishing to avenge his wife’s death. It is quickly discovered that the biker responsible for Minor’s wife’s death is no ordinary criminal, but a vampire.

I’m not gonna lie, I was super stoked given this book’s premise. I thought it was going to be the perfect introductory read to kick off the Halloween season, but I was having a difficult time getting into it. I felt it was a slog until after the first third of the book. I don’t mind a slice-of-life situation and “living” with the characters for a bit to learn some exposition, but it just wasn’t clicking for me and seemed to just drag. I almost DNFed (which is rare for me).

However, after that first third, it did pick up and had some interesting conflict brewing. But, it all lead up to a super anti-climatic ending. With the stakes getting more and more intense as time went on, I was expecting the final confrontation to be a huge set piece moment… It was not. Pacing was just very strange, I feel like the middle third of the book was the strongest point, yet somehow when I look back on it, I felt as if little was happening.

Maybe this was a wrong place at the wrong time book for me. It had so many killer elements: 70s time period with a central bar location, vampires, a lost kid and equally lost guardian navigating their relationship, high-stakes with the murder and avenging a death. Yet, somehow it felt so meh to me. It wasn’t a solid read for me, but it might be for you! It did remind me a bit of “True Blood” for those who are fans of that!

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.