You want scary vampires? Keith Rosson has scary vampires for you. Coffin Moon, like his Fever House duology, is a fantastic blend of horror with gritty, violent crime fiction. Unlike those other books, this novel has a smaller and more focused cast of characters, which, for me, really ramps up the intimacy and the heartbreak.

Coffin Moon is a blood-soaked, grief-fueled revenge tale of monsters, human and otherwise. And when I say blood-soaked, I mean it. This novel is unflinching in its violence and gore. There are some really shocking moments in this book. There is an omnipresent sense of danger on every page and he is able to keep the tension going while also allowing some breathing room for some very heartfelt character moments and heartbreaking realizations.

This is my new favorite Keith Rosson book. I’d recommend this book to anyone who loves horror. It’ll be in my top of the year contention.

Thanks so much to Random House for the eARC!

Coffin Moon follows Duane Minor and his niece, Julia, chasing vengeance for their family who were slaughtered by vampire, John Varley.

Broken into five parts, I found part one slow because it was only from Duane’s perspective. While it does set up the family dynamics, Duane is a hard character to root for. Even before the murders, he is haunted by his time in the Vietnam War and seems to be just going through the motions. Part Two picks up the pace because each chapter here on out switches perspectives between Minor, Julia and Varley.

Duane’s character and the book as a whole felt heavy and oppressive. There was a goal to seek vengeance and nothing more. The characters were so sad and listless. There was no fire in their quest. It felt like a chore they had to get done. It made the plot slow. Even Julia and Adeline aren’t fleshed out beyond an eternal sadness. While the chapters with Varley and Johan are more vivid because of their aggression and ruthlessness. I would have liked more vampire lore to be fleshed out, rather than being given little bits here and there. I’d also have liked Adeline’s character to have had a more vivid backstory like we were given with Varley. I even found the ending lackluster. The story had potential, it just never got beyond the grief of the characters.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every second of this novel felt like Christopher Buehlman, which is high praise. The writing was controlled and measured. The plot driven story was engaging and interesting and desperate. The characters had lives and personalities, joys and sorrows and regrets. This is Keith Rosson at his finest!

Viscerally brutal, gritty, unflinching and a study in grief and family: that's this book. It's a different kind of vampire novel, wherein two traumatized people - a young teenage girl whose mother killed her abusive stepfather and now is in jail for it and a veteran who could never leave the experiences of war fully behind him - go on a hunt for the vampire who just murdered the people they care about most. There's some interesting vampire lore, but mostly this book shines because of its characters and their relationships. Julia and Duane are both complex, driven, deeply grieving. I really liked that it's actually Julia who starts the hunt and does absolutely everything in her power to find the man who killed the last family she had left, and her decisions throughout the book are the most interesting ones.
Also, the villain in this is just phenomenal. Whenever we switch to John Varley's pov I get literal goosebumps, because he's such a vicious, brutal monster yet Rosson still shows us the humanity underneath. or really, the humanity inherent in his brutality, if you think about it.
I personally wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style but that doesn't mean it's not a very well-written book. It also had some pacing issues here and there but maybe I felt that way because I just couldn't wait for Julia and Duane to finally meet John Varley. And well, when they do - that's just perfection on page.
So yeah, if you're looking for an actually really scary vampire and a narrative haunted by the grief and trauma of its characters in a surprisingly profound way: This is the book for you.

Coffin Moon completely gripped me with its dark, eerie atmosphere and relentless tension. I loved how the horror elements felt raw and unsettling, keeping me on edge throughout. The characters were intriguing, and I appreciated how their choices added depth to the story rather than just serving the scares. It’s the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you finish, making it a thrilling and memorable read in my opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing!

Gotta love vampires! ❤️ 🧛‍♀️ The most written about monster in the horror subgenre.

There’s nothing simpler and cozier than a story about good old revenge, and Coffin Moon delivers just that.

This is a story about a family held together by love, life, and its uncertainty. Heidi and Duane were a young married couple, and despite any misgivings, had a love like none other. Heidi was the backbone during Duane’s time in Vietnam, falling off the wagon and the nightmares which would have sent anyone else running for the hills, and she did this while attending college.

Heidi was not without her family drama, having to adopt her niece Julia after Heidi’s sister (Julia’s mother) shot her husband (Julia’s father) after years of physical and mental abuse. They loved and supported one another, getting into a rhythm when one night changed everything.

What happens when people feel they have no other way out of difficult situations? Do you trust a wolf in sheep’s clothing? And can you trust a vampire? It seems unlikely, and that would be proven after Duane and Julia’s family are killed. This is where lines would be drawn, and vengeance clouds the judgment, and all rational thought retreats.

Overall, it’s a good story, but I wish there were more. We did get some context via a backstory on Julia, Duane, and Heidi. But we also learn about Varley, the vampire who set everything into motion. There is a little about a few other vampires that Julia and Duane encounter, but they don’t connect with the present story, all the while saying, “Stay away from Varley because he’s bad news”.

There is finality, but the story doesn’t end neatly, and I like that. We have this uncertainty about the characters and things being open-ended. Julia has a brother, but we don’t hear about what happens to him after Julia is taken away and adopted by her aunt. He's mentioned at the very end of the story, but that leaves another avenue open.

While I do believe there could have been more, I like that this story wasn’t bogged down or heavy. We're not talking about your Anne Rice vampires, but a different vampire story that uses some parts and dabbles into the origins of this monster.

Brutal, bloody, gritty. The makings of a fine vampire story.

Duane can’t seem to escape horrors of life and the afterlife once he returns from his time of war. Throw in sudden parenthood to a fierce and troubled child, and you’ve got a lot going on. Duane and Julia are the ones to finally stand up to John Varley, one of the most ruthless vamps around. At times, I was so nervous for the pair because it seemed they had gotten themselves in too deep. This was a raw story of revenge and grief and it did it well.

The aesthetics and time period were a nice change in my opinion as I find many vampire stories go the gothic route. Excellent read and I’m going to check out the authors other works!

I’ve wanted to read anything by Keith Rosson for a while now so thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

Coffin Moon is a fun, urban, grungy, emotional vampire story.

The story of Minor and his niece Julia takes place in 1970s Portland. Julia, at thirteen, has had a pretty traumatic life and is sent to live with Minor and Heidi after a life-changing event. Minor and Heidi work for Heidi’s parent’s bar. One night during his shift, Minor goes to check on Heidi and finds she and his in-laws have been brutally murdered. From there, Julia and Minor ban together to get revenge.

This was a fast-paced thriller and I enjoyed all the characters and the perspectives they brought to the situation. Julia is such a badass for being so young and Minor lent a lot of emotion to an otherwise gory, edgy story. The vampires weren’t over the top- just the right amount of creepy and evil for me!

Overall, this was a great time and I’m more ready than ever to read more from Rosson.

✨ Thank you so much to Penguin Random House and NetGalley for sending me this e-ARC of Coffin Moon! ✨
I rated this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars).

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Release date: September 9, 2025
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This book was vengeful, dark, and full of adventure. There were definitely some gory moments—but it is a vampire book, so that only made it better in my opinion. 🦇 I’m a huge fan of vampire stories, and this one delivered on the creepy, chilling vibes. Honestly, it scared me enough that I didn’t want to keep reading once it got dark outside. 👀
I loved the villain-hero dynamic running through the story, and it kept me hooked from start to finish—I ended up finishing the book in just one day. If you love a dark, atmospheric vampire read with bite, Coffin Moon is one to check out.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this and provide my feedback!

Coffin Moon starts innocuous enough at first. A Vietnam vet struggling with alcoholism but works in his in-laws' bar (a combination, sans war vet, I've personally experienced), tries to set a good example for his wife's troubled niece. But when a biker club tries setting up shop to run dope through the bar, it sets events in motion that will change his world forever.

What I Loved:
• The raw viciousness of John Varley. I love that Rosson forgoes the "sexy" vampire trope to give us a proper villain. To call John Varley a mean son of a bitch is like calling a king cobra a flexi-straw. He's impulsive, erratic and prone to extreme violence, yet he's also cunning enough to have lived for a century.
• Duane Minor. He's an extremely haunted and lost individual, and it only escalates as time passes in the novel. I appreciate that we don't get an action hero here. Duane is human, flawed, and completely out of his depth.
• Varley's confession about never turning anyone. It adds so much to his horrible nature.
• The final encounter. It was anticlimactic, but I love that Varley didn't get some huge showdown that dragged out. I felt that, with him being such a despicable creature, him whimpering in an alleyway monologuing, only for Julia to put him down, was about as much as he deserved. I'm betting there will be people that wanted more, but I felt it was perfect.

What I Thought was 'Meh':
• Julia's constant running away. I get it, I just didn't vibe with it.
• Adeline. Interesting premise for a character, especially the bit about her turning so many children so she'll have a playmate, but I just didn't care for her in execution.

Overall, this was such a great story. Keith Rosson really seems to understand his characters, and I can't wait to read what he dreams up next.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an eARC of Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson, which was a non stop thrill ride. I loved the gritty and noir-esque feel the novel evokes and the main character was completly believable. The journey he and his niece take on their quest for revenge is so engaging and the violence is used as exclamation points along the way. Coffin Moon is one of my favorites from 2025 so far and highly reccomended.

A dark night, a terrible crime - an uncle and niece looking for vengeance.

What a shocking and surprisingly touching story. Duane is not a main character I will soon forget. In mid-1970's Oregon, and Duane has a quiet life. He lives above a bar with his wife and niece. He runs the bar below for his in-laws. His is a writer working on her first story, she's going to school, she's taken in their 13 year old niece after a horrible start to her life. There's a feeling of peace, of love, of family here. Until it's all taken away.

Duane and Julia were amazing characters and I liked that we got both of their POV. Duane's love and tenderness, Julia's fierce loyalty and rage - they both evened each other out to be a force that chased a monster. But I did love that we also get John's POV, to know how it all began, learn some rules, and get to see another side to this life.

I didn't expect to find the story so touching - giving life to the idea of an easy living where you just love the ones you have, cherish the little moments. The way the author pulled us in and showed us both the ugly and amazing sides of people built me up and then broke my heart. I can't believe this is my first book by this author. I will definitely seek out more. And I'll find this one, again, on audio. I don't re-read, but I will to experience this one more time.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Set in 1970’s Pacific Northwest, this follows a Vietnam vet and his niece as they attempt to hunt down the vampire that killed their family. The vibes are immaculate. You cannot help but root for these characters, no matter how flawed they are. It’s both gruesome as hell and full of heart. I had such a good time reading this.

This book was really good. You think you know what you're in for and what it is about, but there's a bit of a change in direction and it was very engaging. Really enjoyed this book, highly recommended.

oh boy...I have thoughts
Did I just read the best book of 2025? I think perhaps I have.
This horror story centered around Duane and his family, gives me everything I love in a book. Fast paced action, deep characters to absolutely love (and love to hate!) and vampires with an agenda that just means death to everyone.
The first part of the story introduces us to Duane, his wife and niece along with his in-laws. While flawed, Duane is trying to be a good husband, navigate being a surrogate dad to a teenage Julia, and battle his past. I love them all and the writing is just so good, it made me love them.
One night, things go wrong in the bar they own and it sets them all on a path of incredible loss and destruction. Meeting John Varley will change their lives forever. Hate fueled actions and insanely brutal violence ensues.
The journey that Duane and Julia go on is fraught with danger, often of their own making. There are more characters that enter the story, some who help and some who hurt. The twists were just stunning!
I can't say enough about this book...I plan to read it again soon because I know I flew through it so fast I missed some. Easy 5 stars. Please let there be a book #2 coming (I feel like there is more to this story!)

I was honoured to receive this story as an ARC so thank you to #blackcrowpr, #RandomhousePublishing and #NetGalley for the opportunity!

Wheww ... .this was quite violent and gory but it was really good. A vampire thriller/Horror that I didn't know I needed. Taking place in the PNW in 1975, the writing was so good and it was so easy to picture it all. The main characters, Duane and Julia, had me on the edge of my seat. This was Duane, was very flawed and wasn't the most likeable character but I loved his drive….with Julia, they were quite the pair. They were out for revenge against John Varley, and it was twisted and intense. A quick, terrifying, and fast paced read.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

**4.5 STARS**

Content Warning: violence, murder, death, gore

+ What did I just read? By the way, I did not request this book. Someone from the publisher emailed me saying I might want to try out this book. It did not sound like something I wanted to read BUT I was looking for more thrillers and horror to showcase for fall. And so I downloaded this book – I’m glad I did.

+ This story is set in 1975 – and since I was born in 1978, I could already see it, how things looked back in the day. The clothes, the cars, the people, the music and even the political commentary about war – Vietnam. I did grow up watching Full Metal Jacket and Platoon – so Duane Minor was a character that was not hard to envision and picture at all. But what I love about this setting is that there are vampires in this story and it totally fits! I’ve been reading too many romantasy vampires – but these modern vampires in Coffin Moon – are killers.

+ Duane Minor is a Vietnam vet with PTSD. He and his friends have seen and done horrible things and being back home in America, they have to deal with that the best they can. That means coping with rage by drowning it in alcohol or even taking out that anger out on people. But Duane isn’t a bad man, he’s taking care of his sister-in-law’s daughter, Julia because her mother is in jail for killing her abusive dad. He doesn’t know how to be a dad, but he and his wife Heidi have done their best. I liked Duane a lot and was horrified at what he had to go through. I didn’t expect to be emotional about his predicament but I was rooting for him and Julia so hard.

+ There are a lot of themes in this book like grief, rage, and revenge which I loved. It’s not only a vampire horror book, it’s got depth.

+ This book is a wild ride. It is so gory, gruesome, and John Varley is the most villainous character I’ve ever read this year and I wanted him dead by the end of this book. I was hooked onto this book just to see if it would happen. My face was in a grimace with all the gory scenes in this book. He is a psycho vampire, a sociopath, he relishes blood, bathes in it, heady and aroused by it. I was scared no one would be able to take him down.

~ This isn’t my usual kind of book to read – yes once upon a time in high school I was in a horror phase but I only pick it up once in awhile now and usually during fall because of the vibes. So the gore was almost too much for me! I was scared of John Varley, he seemed invincible.

Final Thoughts:

I’m rating this as someone who hardly reads this genre and I have to say I loved it. It gripped me from the first chapter, and wouldn’t let go! The gore might be just a tad bit too much for me, but it made me want John Varley eliminated as much as Duane and Julia wanted him gone. I was rooting so hard for Duane and Julia. Overall, if you like your modern vampires psychotic, but with a story about grief and revenge – you will enjoy this one!

I loved EVERY second—Coffin Moon is gruesome, gory, and gripping! Rosson’s writing style perfectly complements this tale of vampires and vengeance. The characters grabbed me by the throat and just wouldn’t let up—I really loved the different POVs, especially Varley’s. The pacing is PERFECT, the plot is action-packed, and I was hooked after the first chapter. Coffin Moon is an INCREDIBLE take on vampires that you won’t want to miss!

A no-holds barred horror/coming-of-age story, when 13-year-old Julia, and her Vietnam-vet uncle Duane go hunting for the vampire that killed their family.

When Julia makes a decision that changes her life forever, Duane must come to terms with the result, and help her fulfill her need for vengeance, in order to keep her safe, and alive.

Stepping into some interesting character development (for instance, John Varley, the antagonist of the story, turns out to be gay, and I'm here for it!), Rosson takes what I feel are familiar tropes and turns them on their heads, creating a fever-paced story, that feels both familiar and fresh in its telling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

#CoffinMoon #NetGalley

Special thank you to #NetGalley and Random House for this eARC.

Prepare yourself for a tough and rough, wild and fearless entry into 1970s road trip, vampire horror. COFFIN MOON has a hard as nails, yet daring and gutsy prose that challenges, yet rewards the reader with some of the craziest, and at times grotesque, imagery that just leaves your jaw on the floor. A revenge tale with multiple themes and delicious backstories, you would think that at one point author Keith Rosson would drift to the finish line with the superb writing. Instead, at 3/4ths through, he kicks the story into a higher gear, and prepare yourself for some of the most rough and rugged vengeance you’ve read in some time. Some of the imagery here, just incredible, incredible stuff. Vivid and grittingly vibrant (yes, I invented a word for this review).

After Vietnam vet Duane Minor and his adopted, 13 year old niece, Julia’s lives get upended by a vampire, they have nothing else to do but to chase the guy down and exact revenge. For said vampire John Varley, who recently finds love and a raison d’être, his efforts to keep running from his past only keep getting upended time and time again.

Early in the book, there seems to be some boneheaded moves between characters, that you would think was a flaw in the storytelling, you would shrug on, note and move forward, but there are no accidents here! COFFIN MOON has a very real and personal theme, each character kind of has their own, but the main point and star of the show, Julia, has a very real and hard story, and you root for her throughout the reading experience. Finally, the writing is pure top notch work. Normally prose in characterization and backstory are hard to flow and could potentially drag, but the moment you suspect that maybe the wheels are spinning, grit and hard action show up again a page or two away and you’re gripped by the protagonists, and dare I saw antagonists, who are all just trying to survive. Fantastic work.