Let me get this out of the way up front: I am, unabashedly, a Jonathan Janz hipster. I’ve been reading and reviewing his stuff for damn near a decade now, going back to his days as a new small-press horror author with Samhain Publishing, onto Sinister Grin Press, Flame Tress Press, and Cemetery Dance. I can count the number of his books I haven’t (yet) read on one hand, and they consist only of Marla — published as a limited edition by Earthling Publications with a print run of only 500 copies, plus 15 lettered, traycased hardcovers — and Tales From the Shadow Side, another limited release published by Thunderstorm Books, first as a hardcover limited to only 60 copies, and then as a limited, exclusive paperback edition. I have hardcover copies of both books, and of the stories collected in Tales From the Shadow Side I’ve read most of them elsewhere. I will get around to Marla one of these days, I promise.

Make no bones about it, I am a loud and proud Jonathan Janz fan. I tell you all of this so that you’ll know where I’m coming from when I tell you that Veil is immediately noticeable as a step-up in an already strong career of a gifted horror author. Children of the Dark still holds top-spot as my favorite of Janz’s works, but Veil is an immediate top-five contender at the very least.

I don’t know if it’s a culmination of Janz’s experiences as a writer, teacher, father, and husband, or possibly a boost in editorial and developmental support from his new team at Blackstone Publishing, but Veil has a definite next-level feel to it. There’s a pathos and empathy to it that, while certainly not absent from Janz’s previous works, feels more honed, not to mention a stronger sense of authorial confidence. Janz knew what he wanted this story to be, and if it wasn’t easy to write he certainly makes it look that way in the end.

Movie critic Roger Ebert once said, “It’s not what a movie is about, it’s how it is about it,” meaning that the execution of a story can be more important than the plot itself. It’s a sentiment I believe applies to books, as well. Janz’s execution in Veil is assured, presenting a story of an apocalyptic alien invasion through first-person narration of an everyman archetype. It’s easy to slip into John’s shoes and feel the chaos, the unknowing, the uncertainty of it all. At times it’s scarily familiar, echoing recent concerns from the covid pandemic, like grocery stores becoming hotbeds of both political and societal unrest, as nationwide lockdowns are instituted in an effort to keep people safe from an unseen killer while humanity engages in dick-waving contests to see who can be the bigger threat and/or the bigger moron, often at the same time.

Furthermore, Janz’s approach to the alien invasion itself is high-concept horror done right. Rather than going the route of the tried and true invading space force wreaking havoc with massive ships and laser beams, Janz finds a far more interesting way to truly personalize the effects these marauders have on society. The aliens themselves are an unseen threat, ripping holes in our dimension to abduct people seemingly at random. It starts off small and then escalates, pushing humanity to a breaking point, and is frighteningly effective the whole way through. They way John’s fellow Americans respond to this latest threat is not only spot-on accurate and realistic, but actually lived through, because we all saw these reactions first-hand as plenty of our fellow countrymen let their masks slip, metaphorically or otherwise. There’s plenty of large-scale disasters, like a chaotic evacuation from the city by panicked motorists on a highway turned abduction site, and plenty of room for more personal ones, such as John and his daughter coming under threat from a neighbor turned tyrant, like some homeowners association’s president from hell. But when John joins forces with a small band of survivors, the plan they come up with to be able to see the aliens is not only intriguing but flat-out dangerous. It’s also the one element I wish were mined a bit more deeply, particularly in terms of side-effects and unintended consequences, which never feel quite as significant or hair-raising as they potentially could be.

Veil functions well as a standalone, but by book’s end I found myself hungry for a sequel. Janz has opened up a unique world here that offers terrific series potential with plenty of room for growth, not to mention long-term repercussions from certain choices made. Maybe it’s just my love for films like Aliens and Jonathan Maberry’s Joe Ledger books, but I couldn’t help but wonder what a military horror book would look like in the world of Veil with Janz’s imagination and knack for crafting frenetic, action-packed set pieces leading the charge. We get a taste it on the civilian front, and I certainly wouldn’t mind getting more. Veil is great on its own, but the potential for more is even greater.

What a truly incredible story. The details and characters in this story were so vivid and well thought out. I really felt like I was living within this story as I was reading it, Janz was able to create so much raw emotion for the reader, especially the ending. This is one of the best sci-fi horror books I’ve read to date and I would absolutely love to see this made into a movie! It’s like Signs meets I Am Legend.

In the latest from genre favorite Janz, people begin vanishing into thin air one seemingly ordinary night. But as dawn arrives, it appears those being snatched are abducted by some type of invisible force, their faces full of terror. This is the complete opposite of a heavenly rapture many hope for.

The novel follows a high school teacher named John who loses his wife and son, and after a couple months of struggling to survive, his teenaged daughter is ripped right from their allegedly safe hiding space. John meets up with a radical group of survivors who have discovered, by a (literal) accident, how they can see the invisible alien creatures who have figured out a strange way to invade our world.

After undergoing risky surgery to gain this new vision, John and co. are on a mission to rescue their loved ones on the aliens’ turf, and what follows is an action-packed sci-fi creature feature that’s full of heart and stand-up-and-cheer moments, not to mention a wickedly heartbreaking scene when John finally manages to locate his abducted son.

You’ve heard the term “popcorn movie.” This is an exciting “popcorn novel” that can be enjoyed even by those who don’t regularly read horror or sci-fi. With a super fast pace and a cast the reader cares for, this VEIL is nearly impossible to put down until you’ve completely looked behind it.

Review pending in Scream Horror.
Amazing I'd give it five billion stars if I could, a fantastic sci fi horror with a lot of heart.

Phenomenal. I'm talking relentless pacing from start to finish. Janz dips into some heart-wrenching fears and the horror is exquisite.
I honestly can't say enough about the pacing in this novel--it is just breath-taking. Here's a personal aside: I laid down in bed, took an Ambien, and opened the book. About half an hour later, the Ambien kicked in, I went downstairs, got a cup of coffee, and absolutely REFUSED to go to sleep until I hit the 50% mark--and even then, I wanted to stay up and finish it.
The horror aspect was as good as I've encountered in a few years and when the revelation of "the monsters" came about, it floored me. I was thinking "supernatural" and then "sci-fi" came out of nowhere.
But the emotional aspect of the thing really did a number on me. Janz did a masterful job relaying that part of the book and it really intensified the entire story for me.
Normally, I think these reviews through and write them in a semi-literary fashion, but I'm not doing that with this book. It was way too gut-wrenching, scary, and engrossing for that.
Don't miss it.

I have a habit of picking books without reading the blurb first so they’re always a surprise. Veil by Jonathan Janz caught my eye not only because of the absolutely gorgeous cover, but because of all the hype I’ve seen from other readers online. Sci-fi horror will always have a special place in my heart so you can imagine how much I loved this book.

When John loses his son, it’s a family’s worst nightmare. Then other people start to disappear first by the hundreds then the thousands. At first, it only happens outside but then people start to disappear from their homes too. Nowhere seems to be safe. In a desperate act to put a stop to the attacks, John teams up with a band of survivors to break the veil and get his family back.

There are so many things I loved about this book. The characters were witty and well-written. They felt real and relatable and that made the last third of the book so hard to read because I had the feeling not all of the characters would make it out alive. That was the only thing I guessed correctly.

Everything else was a mystery. The plot went ways I never imagined, and it made it so hard to put it down. Several times while reading, I had to fight myself to set it down so I could get other things done.

I loved the eerie sense of dread woven through the story. It’s not an easy thing to maintain such a suspenseful atmosphere, and I applaude Janz for pulling it off. When the suspense finally starts to ease, that’s when the tears come in for the last few chapters.

If I had to choose a theme, I’d say family. How much would you do to save them? Without giving away any spoilers, I want to say that’s what made the end of the book both satisfying and difficult.

All in all, this was a wildly-imaginative tale. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves strong characters, scary creatures, apocalyptic vibes, and emotional rollercoasters.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

4.5 Stars rounded up

I went into this book largely blind, and wow did it surprise me! In a way, it felt like two different novels, the first two thirds a quieter story of survival, dissecting the best and worst of humanity, reminescent of The Mist. Then in the final third we ramp up into a hardcore action movie.

As a fellow Biology teacher, like our protaganist John, I loved the scientific thought that went into this book. There were very creative aspects utlilized, and Janz included important concepts often largely ignored in similar works. I was left with a million questions, so I can only hope for a sequel!

The characters were solid, the story fantastic. My only complaint (minor) was with pacing. There were a few scenes, especially the first main action sequence, that went on for a very long time. I started to lose focus by the end of those few sections, but otherwise I was fully engaged.

Veil is perfect for fans of sci-fi horror, and big blockbuster type invasion movies in particular!

VEIL is the second book that I’ve read from Jonathan Janz, and it won’t be the last!

People are disappearing, and now John’s 15 year old son (Sam) has vanished from right under his nose. He’s got to figure out what’s happening and keep his 13 year old daughter (Emma) and estranged wife (Iris) safe as well.

Iris blames John for losing their son and leaves to be with her parents. Things get worse from there. The world descends into chaos and a busybody neighbor organizes the community and targets everyone who doesn’t comply with and obey his mandates.

Alien creatures are taking people and dragging them into thin air. Making things worse, the aliens are invisible. John is recruited into a small group that has found a man with a traumatic brain injury who can see the creatures. This group thinks they have discovered a procedure to help people see the creatures that are taking everyone and John volunteers. Saving his family is all that matters, but is it too late?

Jonathan Janz has created this thrilling Sci-Fi/Horror story that had me on edge, eager to see what comes next. What he has really done is created a set of characters, a family that I really care about, that I can associate with, and that I’ve got to see through this seemingly impossible set of circunstances. Add great storytelling, and Janz has given us a 5 Star novel and I wonder if there is more of this story to tell…

I finished this book a few days ago but just didn’t have the words and still don’t! This book was incredible. I loved absolutely everything about it. The concept and storyline. The characters. The eerie feeling and sense of dread throughout. I love the way Jonathan Janz writes and tells the story it’s very descriptive and like watching a movie. It’s going to be hard to beat this for my favorite read of the year I’m telling ya! If you’re into sci-fi horror and aliens, you’ll love this one!

Wow!!! This book was phenomenal!! I loved it, so lucky to have received early arc of this book! Thank you NetGalley and publisher!!!

I’m so glad that I received this ARC copy of Veil from NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Jonathan Janz. Veil took me on an emotional rollercoaster, from sadness to confusion, anger, and happiness, and back again.
He wrote one character that I found myself absolutely hating and wishing the aliens would find them.
If you’re a fan of sci-fi horror and/or alien horror, Veil by Jonathan Janz is the book to pick up.

Jonathan Janz never disappoints! This book was absolutely amazing from the very first page. Well fleshed-out characters, with fear so malevolent that it leaps off the pages right into your heart! I couldn't stop turning the pages. I will always anxiously be awaiting every single new Janz book!

I was lucky enough to be at AuthorCon V last month when Jonathan Janz revealed the cover for this book and I was absolutely blown away. The moment I saw it, I knew it was going to be something special, even before I realized it was from one of my favorite authors.

What a story. From the very first page, it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. go into this one blind. Don’t read too much about it, just take a look at that stunning cover and dive in.

Janz has crafted a world that’s both breathtaking and brutally dangerous. This is, without a doubt, his best work yet—and that’s saying something, because he’s already written some incredible books.

I was lucky enough to be at AuthorCon V last month when Jonathan Janz revealed the cover for this book and I was absolutely blown away. The moment I saw it, I knew it was going to be something special, even before I realized it was from one of my favorite authors.

What a story. From the very first page, it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. go into this one blind. Don’t read too much about it, just take a look at that stunning cover and dive in.

Janz has crafted a world that’s both breathtaking and brutally dangerous. This is, without a doubt, his best work yet—and that’s saying something, because he’s already written some incredible books.

This might be the most terrifying alien book you'll ever read. And there's not a UFO to be found anywhere because these bloodthirsty creatures have a very different, very brutal way of taking people.

Our main protagonist loses his son, then his wife, and finally his daughter. They simply disappear. Taken by invisible forces, snatched from thin air. But he's not alone. Millions of people worldwide are disappearing like this and it turns into an apocalyptic event..

He'll do anything to get his family back and will the help of a like minded group, they'll attempt what just might be a suicide mission to a world they don't belong and no guarantees of safety.

The characters in this novel are excellent. They provide the basis for the unrelenting terror which will test them physically, mentally, and emotionally. And as lock downs and stay at home orders go global, the threat isn't JUST these invisible monsters but humans themselves. This book brings back memories of certain people during the pandemic who put their needs above anyone else and just makes things worse. And in here, these will be taken to the extreme. Threats from within and threats from without.

The alien creatures are absolutely horrific. No compassion, no mercy. What we'll eventually find out about why they're taking millions of people violently will give you a body deep chill.

This book is horror/sci-fi at its finest. Extremely engaging and un-put-downable. I highly recommend it.

My heart is broken and its been stomped on.

VEIL by Jonathan Janz, my newest review book from Net Galley, is an intense sci-fi/horror thriller that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat and it’ll break your heart too.

So what’s it about?

John Calhoun has a wife, a son, and daughter and he ends up losing all three to mysterious invisible creatures that drag them away one by one. After they’re gone, he joins up with fellow survivors who want to get their families back and have a crazy plan to do so.

The book is told in the first person I, so you get to know John Calhoun very well along with his family. You feel for them and their struggle to survive and John’s struggle to get them back. And you get to know and love the survivors he meets and want them to succeed too. Miranda was my favorite of the survivors. Wait till you meet her!

VEIL is a pretty crazy book too. Its not as crazy as say WAKE UP AND OPEN YOUR EYES by Clay Mcleod Chapman but its pretty close. Oh my god its close. VEIL can be intense one moment and then slow things down a bit to let you get to know the characters better. Its a really great book.

I love how VEIL is written. Janz is so good at handling people and creatures, check out his Children of the Dark books too, and he handles characters and plot well. I had a very tough time putting the book down!

That all said, you should know that this book does not conclude the story and definitely sets things up for another book. That shouldn’t have surprised me. The same thing was done with Children of the Dark.

I highly recommend VEIL. I enjoyed it a ton. I can’t wait to read the next book!

VEIL by Jonathan Janz releases on September 16th, 2025. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an early digital copy of the book.

Oh my lord, this was such an amazingly written atmospheric emotional roller coaster that hits you again and again until you literally become of out of breathe reading it!!!

Some horror hits you emotionally from the first line. Some horror sneaks up on you, quietly twisting something inside until you realize you’re in way too deep. Veil does both perfectly.

The pacing of the book might seem a little bit slow at the start, but this is totally on purpose. Janz lets the dread simmer just long enough to get under your skin, and when things finally kick off, you are already on the edge.

What makes Veil hit so hard isn’t just the horror; it’s the characters. They feel raw, real, and messy in the best way. You care about them, which makes every twist hurt a little more.

The horror in Veil doesn’t just pop out at you; it creeps in, quiet and relentless, until it’s everywhere. It’s the kind that messes with your head as much as your heart.

Veil by Jonathan Janz is a character-driven sci-fi horror story that allows you to get up close and personal with not only the characters but the alien invasion and all of the horror elements it offers. It is a perfect book for anyone who enjoys horror books from the likes of Stephen King (who influenced Janz) and David Wellington.

Thanks so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I mentioned in the past I'm a big fan of sci-fi horror and this novel hits on all cylinders. Plenty of action, emotion and gore made my read a quick one.
The reader will go thru some very emotional scenes that had me on the verge of tears.

Highly recommended read!

I’ll admit, Sci-Fi isn’t my preferred genre and I haven’t read much of it, but dammit if Jonathan Janz didn’t just rip my heart into a million little pieces with this book.

He writes character so extremely well, and from the start I was so invested in John and his family. The story never once got slow or boring and was action packed until the very end. It felt a little like watching a movie.

This insane and brutal journey John and the others go on to save their loved ones from the aliens took turns that I did not see coming.

The love that John feels for Iris, Sam and Emma was so strong that I could literally feel it seeping off of the pages. Knowing that Jonathan Janz is himself a father, made the parts of John reflecting and talking about his love for his children that much more heart wrenching and put tears in my eyes thinking of my own adult son.

There are no words, but there are also all the words to describe this book. Phenomenal, amazing, incredible, yes, but so much fucking heart. Parts of this felt so personal and like Janz tore out his own heart and bled it all over the page. It’s just insane how well written this is.

The Sci-Fi elements were so cool and epic and had my pulse racing. For someone who isn’t the biggest fan of the genre, I found this so easy to read and would a hundred percent recommend it to others.

I also love how it ended. It felt right, even though it destroyed me. I can’t imagine it ending any other way. I so look forward to the next adventure in the Veil Universe and can’t wait to visit it again soon.

This book is exactly what I was in the mood for. The sort of sci-fi horror of it all really kept me glued to the book. I don't think I've ever recommended a book so fast. I can't wait for it to release so I can have it on my shelf.

This book had me hooked from the start. Reading it even made me late to an appointment. Reading this also reminded me of my own anxieties during that time.

Beneath the horror and sci-fi elements is a story of love and family; of a man struggling to hold his family together during a time of total chaos and cruelty, and in the face of societal collapse. Of a man trying to regain what he’s lost.

This book gave me anxiety. At times it was gut-punching. I know it will stick with me, and for the feelings and emotions it sparked in me I give it 5 well-deserved stars.

I went into Veil not knowing much about it, other than it was an alien invasion horror book. But that was all I needed to get hyped for it. Coupled with the hype this book was getting online, and I knew I needed to dive in. Veil by Jonathan Janz is the story of a father who will do anything to save his family from an unknown and unseen terror that has come to our world. Alien horror is one of my favorite subgenres of horror due to its excellent blend of science fiction and horror, two genres that I enjoy quite a bit. Veil has become my favorite alien horror book I’ve read so far. Janz does a masterful job getting readers to buy into his characters and the story. The monsters themselves were utterly terrifying and merciless, making the book even more horrifying.

Veil starts off with a parent’s worst nightmare: a missing child. One day, John’s son, Sam, goes out at night and never returns. Soon, more people disappear in the middle of the night all across the globe. Desperate to save his family and put a stop to this nightmare, John teams up with other survivors to put a stop to the unexplained invasion and take the fight to their aggressors.

The book is a brilliant blend of sci-fi horror, mystery, and blockbuster action. It was such a fantastic ride! Veil is a beautiful, moving story about family and family loss, with relatable characters who act like real human beings. Veil is horror at its best and I simply couldn’t put it down. If you love sci-fi/horror, make sure you check out Veil by Jonathan Janz this fall!

I was very lucky to get to read an early copy of this one, I'm a big fan of the authors other books, and when I saw the cover reveal on it, I knew it was something special.

How can you live and even raise a family in a world where, you or anyone else can just vanish, broad daylight or no?

Do you try to build a shelter, do you pray, or do you just surrender to the horrors that cannot be kept out, that slide in and get their victims no matter the obstacles.

My heart broke for John, I kept holding out the hope, maybe it would be okay, he still has the rest of his family, until those too slowly vanished.

I have a real weird reading kink for survival stories ( but they HAVE to be good ) and this one, it fed that need in spades, it reminded me of the vibes from one of my favorite books, Darkness on The Edge of Town by Brian Keene, after the darkness settles on the town, the unknowing really has a way of driving characters and the story.

Between not knowing if you can trust those around you, plus this, supernatural force, be it a wall of darkness or scary dark figures that seem to know nothing of boundaries and doors and you can feel the characters panic, and tension.

So I began to wonder...

Is this really a world where some monsters can slither in and take anyone, at anytime?

or

In my darkest of hearts I wondered, is this a man who is making this up in his head, and created some storyline to cope with the guilt??

Suddenly he meets a group that has figured out a way to see the monsters, and maybe even save his family.

The dread was so heavy in this book, if I had been turning the pages, Id have had to heft them, the way he wrote this, you knew John, and felt his desperation, and fears.

The ending on this one, was everything I needed and some things I didn't know I even wanted. ( vague I know, but spoilers )

I'm going to go real bold here and say of all his work, this might be my favorite.

Wow! This one really kept me reading - I found myself still looking at my Kindle as I walked around the house. Frightening, engrossing, thoroughly entertaining, and quite inventive. Great science fiction horror, grounded in our current world. Recommended!

Veil by Jonathan Janz
Five stars!

“The creature back there.
Could you smell it?”
I nod

Nothing can save you from what you can’t see.

👀Horror
✨️Suspense
👽Science fiction
🫣Invisible threats
😫Vanishing people
😭Emotional distress

People are vanishing. John's son vanishes right around the corner in the middle of a disagreement. Nationwide, people are disappearing at an accelerated rate. John’s wife is next dragged away into the woods by an invisible force. Bunkering down at home, John and his thirteen-year-old daughter hope they are safe. They are… for now. When things get bad and his daughter is taken, John is desperate. He must find his family and save them. He’ll try anything, even risky brain surgery, that should enable him to see the creatures.

What a book! Whew!
It was fast to start the abductions, and it really kept the suspense up for the whole book. I didn't feel any lulls in the pacing. As a parent, it was a stressful book. The thought of people, my kids, and spouse being dragged off by invisible beings with no way to help anyone was dreadful. And it just gets worse. I wanted to read it all in one go. I was so invested in what was going to happen. It really captured what could happen in real life and how people would react to these types of phenomena. How awful people could be to each other. It felt well researched for the more complicated science parts and facts throughout the story. My emotions were all over for this book; I even found myself crying in public (don’t judge me. it hit hard, okay).
It was not my first Jaz book. I really enjoy his writing style. His writing had such a good way to make you feel for these characters. There is a need to find out what is going to happen. I do think this is one of my top books now. This would make a fantastic adaptation to the screen. It was so good.

I was provided an early copy to read and honestly review. Thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley.

You know that feeling on a roller coaster when you're riding in the front car, and for a split second, you peek over the edge, and you know there is no turning back?

Yeah. That's a Janz novel.

This book is non-stop action and violence and suspense. There were moments I held my breath with the characters, moments I celebrated with them, and moments I grieved with them. I went through all the emotions throughout.

No one does it quite like Janz. I can't wait to see what he brings us next.

An amazing horror/ science fiction survival story. A fresh take on alien invasion and what it might look like combined with excellent character development and fast action make this a book worth reading and re-reading. The ending, while satisfying did leave some doors propped open ( IYKYK) and could be a great topic for a book club. Overall a highly enjoyable, fast moving, and memorable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the books publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced readers copy. I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.

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

I’ve been reading and reviewing long enough to remember the YEAR OF JONATHAN JANZ. If you’ve not heard that, well you missed out on getting a couple new Janz releases plus I think almost a dozen re-releases, all within the same year. This was maybe 2017 or 2018 and it was a gloriously amazing time to be a Janz fan! Throughout Janz’s literary career, one thing has become absolutely paramount in every single story he writes. The man cares about his characters. What I mean about that, is it’s very very veeeerrry rare to find a one-dimensional character in his story. There’s not a lot of folks just there to be there and not move the story along and you’ll learn what makes them tick.

That was what had me so excited when ‘Veil’ was announced. Janz hasn’t been afraid to subgenre hop in the horror world – he’s done everything from werewolves to vampire’s to spooks and specters and ghosts and everything in between. But he’s not done anything truly in the alien/sci-fi world, and fresh off the alien desecration that Adam Nevill unleashed with ‘All the Fiends of Hell,’ I couldn’t wait to see what Janz had up his sci-fi sleeve.

What I liked: The story follows high school teacher John, who is dealing with a heavy life. He’s separated from his wife Iris, constantly fighting with his older son and trying to stay connected to his younger daughter. And on top of that, he feels like a lesser person, dealing with a significant limp from a leg length discrepancy from an accident when he was younger. But that all pales in comparison to what’s begun to happen around the world. Without any sort of rhyme or reason, people are going missing, plucked from the sky by something… never to be seen again.

We’re thrown into the deep end immediately. John and his son go for a walk to the store, discussing father and son issues, and what’s happening in the world, when his son rounds a corner and is just… gone.

That moment, quite early on, is the launching point for the world to turn upside down as the sky opens and hundreds of thousands begin to be plucked and disappear. Video footage emerges, curfews are enacted and after John’s wife also gets taken, him and his daughter hunker down and do their best to survive. Of course, there’s a nut job vigilante in the neighborhood, wanting to make sure all the dwindling supplies are stored in one place – for safe keeping naturally – and its those moments were we see how the novel also alludes to real life events – Covid and political upheaval and even presciently to what’s happening with ICE in the US right now. Janz does a phenomenal job of twisting this from first being an abduction novel and turning into a story about a father doing everything and anything it takes to try and find those he loves the most.

As it progresses, we learn what has arrived and what they’re doing and there’s a hard line that gets drawn between here and there and Janz plays those cards perfectly, showing us what just may await those who pierce the veil.

The final quarter of the novel is a full sprint. It’s tough to really describe everything without having spoilers, but I will say it worked really well to have this earth and non-earth juxtaposition where we feel grounded and then frantic.

The ending is a mix of heartwarming and heart wrenching and honestly that’s exactly what this book needed.

What I didn’t like: Two things stuck out to me. The first was that I found the son disappearing felt almost like it happened too soon. It was the rare moment in the book where I felt like we didn’t get enough of the father-son dynamic to really grab a strong grasp of their relationship before the son was gone.

The second was that the aspect of here versus there seemed like it was too easy to traverse across. Again, I don’t want to be a Spoiler McSpoilface, so I’ll leave it there.

Why you should buy this: Horror and sci-fi have been pals for ever since books began to be written and movies filmed. So, it should be noted that while this is ‘sci-fi’ it’s grounded in the horror genre and shows Janz’s horror sensibilities time and time again. This was frantic. Chaos infused claustrophobia. It was a father desperately trying to find his family and things from elsewhere arriving and wrecking havoc.

Janz is an elite writer, one who has honed his writing voice and mastery of prose over decades now, and once you begin a Janz book, you know you’re in sure and steady hands.

This book was achingly perfect and is sure to connect with long-time fans and bring in plenty of new fans and I expect to see this book – especially with that cover – become a mainstay on social media for many years to come.

People are getting mysteriously snatched- seemly out of thin air. When John’s son is taken from right in front of him, John is set on a path to get his family back together- one that will stretch him to near breaking and bring him to the edge of insanity.

I absolutely loved this sci-fi creature feature with so much soul! My middle school students are not quite ready for the violence and language, but I would absolutely recommend this for high school and up if you love real science based science fiction (Andy Weir fans this IS your next read) and fantastic monsters.

Thank you NetGalley!

A novel about aliens that allows us to glimpse the best and worst of humanity, Jonathan Janz’s “Veil,” is an action-packed, nerve-fraying, brain-sizzling, sci-fi horror triumph. I only started reading Janz about 5 months ago, and this is my fourth by him so far- it’s also the fourth time that he has blown me away, this time, literally to another dimension. I’d read the man’s shopping list. Gorgeous writing delivered alongside break-neck, whiplash-inducing pacing and one of my favourite protagonists, well ever, “Veil,” is a novel full of heart and love and hope- for people, for stories, for humanity to do better- and I for one would like to see not only a sequel (PLEASE Jonathan, make it so) but also a movie. Coming September 16th from Blackstone Publishing, “Veil,” is a smooth blend of King’s “The Mist,” with Lebbon’s “The Silence,” with Star Wars, and it is sure to frazzle the synapses of nerds everywhere.

We follow John Calhoun, a biology teacher, a book-store owner, and most importantly, a father and a husband. These are relationships that are strained, with his wife Iris due to their finances, and on that fateful evening, with his son Sam because of the curfew he’s imposed upon him. These very domestic tensions give way to something far bigger however, when Sam storms off around a corner, and vanishes completely. As more and more people go missing, seemingly from the face of the earth, as lockdowns are imposed and conspiracies are created, it becomes increasingly unlikely that Sam has simply run away from home, and increasingly unlikely that he’s coming back anytime soon.

The action scenes Janz writes are truly something else. Otherworldly (if you will) denotations of tension and character, of nerve and nerve-ending. A horrifying, cloying motorway scene reminiscent of that from C.J Leede’s “American Rapture,” a truly tense home invasion, and a very claustrophobic underground brawl, are just a few scenes that jumped out, amongst others. Janz’s pulse-pounding, propulsive writing that is as tightly choreographed as it is sweat-inducing, makes for a reading experience that is paced like a heart-attack and about as relaxing as a root canal… it’s just how I like it.

There’s one scene in particular I have to highlight though, which takes place in the parking lot outside Aldi. What struck me harder in this passage was not the inter-dimensional threat overhead but the humans beneath it. Having, like most, had to sit in my home and watch COVID-era videos of super-spreader protests against masks and vaccines, of people fighting over toilet roll and bashing each other with cans of food, this chapter in particular, clearly shaded by that same experience, horrified me the most. The grotesque selfishness that blooms when humans are cornered and unchecked, and the self-interested acts of many of the characters, really does hold up a mirror, and what’s reflected in it, at times seems far more monstrous than any alien invader.

That’s not to say that the alien invaders are not absolutely terrifying too. In the first half of the novel Janz does something genius. King did it in “The Mist,” and Malerman did it in “Bird Box,” and that’s withholding the visual element. Yup, the aliens are invisible. Having people abducted, snatched off of the ground, is deeply scary anyway, especially for our protagonist as a father, but when the only inclination that this is coming is a thrumming, vibrating sound, and a nasty smell, well that’s a whole bunch scarier. The reader is forced to fill in the blanks, populate the void, with our imaginations, and when the curtain, or indeed the veil, is pulled back- it is of course far ghastlier than we thought.

What I fear I’ve done is presented this book to you as one that is about interdimensional kidnappings and the failings of humanity, and whilst both of those things are apparent in “Veil,” as I suggested in my introduction, it’s a book with a beating, human heart at its core. John Calhoun is a wonderful man, a wonderful dad and a wonderful protagonist, flawed, human, but unwaveringly decent. With explicit references to his love of King and “Providence,” by Caroline Kepnes (which I, along with the majority of readers certainly appreciated) I can’t help but wonder if this character is so well-developed and fleshed-out, because… John is Janz. John and the gaggle of good guys he befriends serve as a reminder that amongst the selfish and uneducated, there is such greatness within the human race, and that we are right to expect far better from it.
A truly masterful novel, that is about what it is to endure as a father and a human being, Jonathan Janz has yet again demonstrated that he can write just about anything. I feel it’s high time we let him write just everything. Novels, manifestoes… screenplays. Somebody call Hollywood.

Holy smokes, what a nonstop action ride this one was!! 🙌

Gave all the creepy scifi horror vibes!!! I can totally see this one becoming a movie!! Pulled me in from the very start and didn’t let go!! This one is definitely in my top 5 reads of the year!! Highly recommend, especially if you love scifi horror!! 👏

Thank you to Jonathan Janz, Blackstone Publishing, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!! New favorite Janz novel!!! ❤️

Veil throws you into a chilling new world where people are vanishing, and no one knows why. We follow John as he tries to protect his family and uncover the truth, only to find something far more terrifying than anyone could have imagined.

Janz’s writing completely immerses you in this eerie apocalyptic setting. It reminded me so much of the early COVID lockdown days, which made it feel even more real and unsettling.

Now I have to admit… aliens terrify me. As a kid, I had vivid dreams of being experimented on, so this book hit a personal fear of mine. And honestly, I loved it. The sci-fi horror blend was everything I’ve been craving lately.

This one creeped me out in the best way, and I’m seriously hoping we get a sequel. There’s definitely more story to tell.

Veil by Jonathan Janz is Predator meets Falling Skies and The A-Team all rolled into one wild ride!

What starts out as a simple story of John Calhoun, a father desperately trying to keep his family from falling apart, turns horrific as first his son, then his separated wife, and finally his daughter are abducted in the midst of nation-wide series of unexplained disappearances. Rumors spread that the abductions are part of an alien invasion as reports surface of people literally vanishing into thin-air. As the world around him devolves into chaos, John wants nothing more than to bring his family back together, and joins with a small group of misfits who have a risky and radical plan to find and battle the abductors and bring their loved ones home.

With Veil, Janz has crafted a tension-filled story that evolves into an action-packed thriller, with strong and interesting characters and skillfully applied echoes of government and citizen reactions to the 2020 pandemic.

I'll be looking for more books by Jonathan Janz, Recommended!

I have to admit this is my first sci-fi book that I’ve read and I’m glad this was the first one I tried. Please bear with me as I am not very good at writing reviews but definitely wanted to try to write a little bit more for this book. I think this book hit me a little bit different because I’m a parent and you can see the love that John has for his children. You can see the love that he has for his wife and how he wants to do better as a husband and a parent. This book was nonstop adventure and at no point slowed down. This book kept me captivated and I would have finished a lot sooner if I didn’t have to work or be a mom 😂. Never did I think that I would be sobbing at 2 AM finishing this book but I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s a great story where a dad will do anything to get his family back and realize what he took for granted and wanting to change and do better. Also, don’t believe Tommy, the Cubs don’t suck.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I finally got my hands on this book. When I found out what it was about, I had to read it. Janz did not disappoint. The concept was brilliant, and the amount of potential it had leaves tons of room for you to be let down. I wasn't let down once. Mark my words: This will be a movie soon.

📖 People are literally getting snatched and vanishing in thin air. All over the world. John loses his entire family. He meets a group of survivors, and one of them can see the creatures because of a brain injury from a car accident.

Suspenseful, entertaining, terrifying, and satisfying. Literally destroyed this book. Janz got a new fan 🤙🏼.

Thank you, netgalley, black stone publishing, and the man himself, for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review. (Made a Netgalley account for this book.)

Veil by Jonathan Janz is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and is perhaps the best alien invasion/abduction book period. It also almost claimed the title of my favorite Janz book, but Children of the Dark still holds that title. If you knew how much I love that book you’d understand what a compliment it is to say Veil nearly stole that honor. And I will not to be the least bit surprised if many claim this is Janz’s best, especially any fathers out there.

The lead of the story, John Calhoun, is such a great character. It is impossible not to sympathize with him and the torment he goes through. People are disappearing. Not just missing, but literally disappearing. It starts slow, and no one knows what is happening, but then it happens to John’s son while he is out with him one night. His son rounds a corner and when John catches up, only a few steps behind his son is gone…and there is no time nor anywhere he could have run off to, he’s just gone. And not just him, dozens go missing around the same time, with more disappearances happening each night…then it’s not just in the night, it’s happening during the day to. And before long there are witnesses, people being grabbed by invisible forces, dragged away and then just disappearing. This is an alien invasion unlike any I’ve ever read about before. This is an amazing story, chronicles the lengths a father will go to for his family and the scary but all too real likelihood of how much of society might react to such a situation. While there is a satisfying ending to the story, there is also room for more to come, and I truly hope Janz plans on continuing this saga.This is one of those books I know I’ll read again and again over the years. It also cements my belief that Janz is one of the best out there writing today. Thanks so much to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

I really liked this book! The world building was creative and it inspired a bit of fear similar to how it was to read/watch Bird Box and A Quiet Place. I won't spoil anything but I love how the worldbuilding is revealed throughout the story and it doesn't feel forced. I loved the relationships between characters and how they grow and change throughout the story.
Thanks NetGalley for providing this awesome book!

Delicately crafting a sci-fi horror for those that was a COVID-esque era story mixed with aliens, Jonathan Janz has yet again terrorized me in the best way. This is abrutal, read, where the main character John is bounced between an alienr ace kidnapping thousands across the globe, and the evil of humanity. For those of us who remember the anti-maskers, the toilet paper hoarders, the formula shortages (I for one have cried in an empty formula aisle), the human element is almost more brutal than the aliens. Janz does a fantastic job at showing the duality of human nature, and the ties that bind us. And that ending....man there better be a sequel.

Jonathan Janz does a great job in writing this book, it had that horror element that I was wanting and worked in a genre concept. I enjoyed the way John was used and how he had that do anything to save his family. It had a strong plot in the genre and was glad it had that overall feel that I was expecting. It was beautifully done and had that alien element and bringing back the characters loved ones.

High-octane, high-speed, literary thrills. This book moves like a rocket, and yet manages to have well developed characters and a strong emotional resonance. It's King X Spielberg with that wonderful Janz literary flavor that marks each of his works. Highly recommend.

My thanks to the publisher/author for providing me with an e-arc from NetGalley.

Jonathan Janz’s Veil starts off strong with John Calhoun and his son, Sam, having an argument while walking. They turn a corner and Sam is gone, just like that.

Gone

He shouldn’t be. Sure, there is the corner of the building, some bushes, but there’s plenty of open spaces and no reason for Sam to have gone missing. But he’s not the only one. Worldwide, it starts off as a small epidemic of people going missing. Just like Sam. This sets off a situation that’s reminiscent to COVID-19. In this situation, however, people don’t have to quarantine. Instead, they’re told to stay inside. Stay together.

Of course, some people don’t agree with this, and this is one part of the novel I thought was masterfully done. Because Jonathan Jans chose to display a side of humanity that a lot of other authors might not have even thought about, or may have avoided altogether

I’ll stop there to avoid any further political discussion, and also avoid mentioning more plot points to avoid spoiling anything. It’s good going as blind as possible.

Veil is a high contender to be one of Jonathan Janz’s best books to date. Janz is known for his character work. In Veil, he goes above and beyond exploring the protagonists’s mind and emotions as he worries over and fights for his son, his family, and society. The novel also feels very personal to the author, which gives it even more of an authentic feel.

I loved this book from beginning to end. I could relate to the protagonist nearly every step of the way. What it comes down to is Veil is a human story for modern times. Our hero faces spectacular circumstances, and while staring deep into the abyss of hopelessness, hope is found. The story is about unconditional love, grief, and never giving up. But it’s also a top-notch horror-action thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Five solid stars!

I love a good alien invasion yarn and Veil is one of the most impressive I have read in ages. Jonathan Janz has been writing top quality horror for the best part of two decades and so this is a fascinating change of direction and a smart dive into the world of science fiction. Although far from an expert on his work, I enjoyed Children of the Dark (2019), which is probably his best known novel, Exorcist Falls (2017) and The Siren and the Specter (2018).

Veil covers all the alien invasion bases in style and will be enjoyed by horror, science fiction, dystopian and anybody who gets kick from end of the world fiction. If you are seeking further action driven alien invasion novels then check out these personal favourites; Larry Niven’s Footfall (1985), Scott Sigler’s Infected (2009), Will McIntosh’s Defenders (2014) or Robert McCammon’s The Border (2015). If you are seeking a more current (and rather different) alien invasion romp then check out Mira Grant’s Overgrowth (2025) for some plant fuelled action.

Veil can be split into two halves, the first is tension and anxiety driven, as the planet reacts to mass disappearances, without any idea what might be behind them. This plays out beautifully, with a single family being the focus of the story. The pacing is terrific, with Janz dropping regularly new revelations every few chapters, whilst the worldwide crisis deepening. The second half changes direction into full-blown action novel as the true enemy is revealed and the true dangers faced. Again, Janz keeps things local focusing on a small group of characters rather than the worldwide situation. Although the action sequences were skilfully handled I much preferred the tension filled first half to the second, where an unassuming high school science teacher becomes an unlikely John Rambo, aided by a group of badass sidekicks and a lot of large guns.

Science teacher John Calhoun loses his son on the first night of the disappearances and Veil is off to a killer start. Feeling overwhelming guilt, he soon realises 3000 other people also vanished on that first night and soon everybody remains inside as the snatching only occurs after dark. Written in the first person, we get to know John very quickly, separated from his wife, running on a short fuse, he vows to find his son. Things go down quickly as the disappears increase, including other members of his family.

The slow escalation is one of the strongest feature of the first half of the novel as the manner in which disappearances occur vary, adding suspense whilst ramping up the fear factor. As militias form, food shortages occur, John hides out with his teenage daughter. The story also has a thoughtful commentary on Covid-19 and how different groups reacted to it; I really liked the idea of ‘tethering’ and how some railed to it seeing it as government control.

I do not want to say too much about the plot, Janz deliberately avoids the War of the Worlds trope of giant spaceships pulverising Earth and instead focuses on a single family and the lengths a father will go to protect it. John is also the owner of an unsuccessful bookshop ‘The Constant Reader’, which Janz uses to namecheck a few of his favourite authors, not just Stephen King. The manner in which Janz gives his characters an edge against the invaders in the second half was clever and along the way throws in shed loads of gore as the bullets fly.

Overall the story has a great balance between strong characterisation, family drama and blockbuster action, with it becoming very easy to become invested in his family, particularly the relationship with his daughter. The author is also a science teacher and I felt elements of his character bleed all over the page. It was also terrific to see a man with a disability have a leading role, with flashbacks and him questioning his own abilities. It also has a terrific ending which might lead to a return to the Veil universe as those creatures are vicious and far from defeated. Buy me a ticket now as the battle for bragging rights to Earth is only just beginning!

Veil was a suspenseful, fast paced story with heart. Likeable main characters and thorough descriptions of the scenery made it easy to slip into the world of Veil. The story did have parallels to the COVID 19 pandemic, with lock downs, scarcity of resources, global fear, and protestor of government regulations, making the story very relatable, too. Scary monsters and another bizarre dimension top off this novel, with an open ending that offers a promise of hope.

Some books feel like they’re written to keep you up late, flipping pages with that mix of dread and wonder you get from peak Stephen King; Veil is one of them. Jonathan Janz has crafted a story that’s as intimate as it is apocalyptic, fusing alien horror with the kind of raw human desperation that makes every page wonderful.

The premise is terrifyingly simple: people vanish. First, people vanish at night; then, they disappear in broad daylight, being dragged into the sky, into water, or into nowhere. Nowhere is safe, and nothing can stop it. At the heart of the chaos is John, a father who loses his family and still refuses to give up. That fierce, relentless love drives the novel, and that’s what keeps you rooted.

Janz excels at atmosphere and pacing. He builds a world that feels lived in, immediate, and terrifyingly plausible. The invisible creatures stalking humanity aren’t just monsters; they’re metaphors for every unseen dread that can shatter ordinary life. Like King at his best, Janz knows how to weave together the personal and the cosmic: he captures the small details of a family torn apart against the backdrop of an alien invasion that no one fully understands.

We’ve all lived through the eeriness of empty streets, government uncertainty, and the fear of an invisible threat during COVID, and Veil taps into that memory. The way people vanish without explanation feels terrifyingly plausible because we’ve seen how quickly life can change overnight. The panic, the isolation, and the desperate clinging to family all mirror something we’ve already survived, making the horror too real.

I’ve read many books by Jonathan Janz. I love his relatable characters and relentless action sequences. And now Veil (coming September 16 from Blackstone Publishing) is my new favorite. It’s a genre meld of everything I love — horror, sci-fi, action/adventure, and human drama.

An unknown — and seemingly unknowable — force is making much of humanity disappear, first one by one and then en masse. Is the terror manmade? Extraterrestrial? Inter-dimensional? Who can say? But a small group of survivors is determined to find out and to bring home the loved ones they’ve lost.

Janz writes our narrator John — a father so determined to save his family that he willingly endures almost unimaginable horrors — with such authenticity that I couldn’t help conflating him with my own dear brother (girl dad extraordinaire!).

Of course this deep investment in John and his courageous friends made Veil maybe not the best choice for bedtime reading. Some of the scenes are written with such sustained intensity that I’d find myself reading with my shoulders up around my ears and would have to remind myself I was supposed to be unwinding!

In summary: Veil is a thrilling ride and I loved and highly recommend it. BUT if you require any kind of heart medication, make sure your prescription is filled and close at hand before you dive in!

This novel is pure nightmare fuel—relentless, chilling, and unforgettable. From the first abductions to the horrifying realization that nowhere is safe, it taps straight into primal fear: the terror of being hunted by what you cannot see. John Calhoun’s grief-stricken fight to save his family drives the story with raw emotion, while the survivors’ desperate plan to literally alter their brains in order to glimpse the invisible creatures adds a wild, nerve-shredding twist. Equal parts survival horror and cosmic dread, this is the rare book that truly scared me.

I received this as an e-ARC from NetGalley and was so glad to have been chosen. This is a great emotional read that raises many moral and ethical questions about the breakdown of society, parenting, social responsibility, and what would you do if you had truly lost everything. It's a great summer read or a book club discussion starter.

I am certainly going to read more titles by Jonathan Janz. This was well written and could easily be adapted to visual media. 5 starts for sure.

Absolutely hooked from the beginning and now I'm dying for a sequel before the first book is even officially released.

Yes - it was THAT good.

Every page of Veil is charged with danger lurking just out of sight. The tension, vivid detail, and immersive storytelling make it feel like a movie on paper. Definitely in my top 5 reads of the year - maybe even the top spot. 5 stars easily.

PLEASE - please release a special edition of this book with sprayed edges. The cover art is so beautiful, The only thing that could make it better would be this. 🙏

Veil
Jonathan Janz
09/16/2025
Blackstone Publishing

Full disclosure – I picked this based on the cover and blurb and I was soo right about this one.
Jonathan Janz’s Veil grabbed me with unseen talons from page one and never let go. It begins with the unimaginable—the sudden vanishing of loved ones in the night—and escalates into an all-out nightmare where no place is safe. Parks, homes, city streets, even the daylight itself offer no refuge from the unseen creatures tearing holes in our world. The creeping, all-consuming dread builds with brutal efficiency, and I found myself unable to look away. It’s part sci-fi horror, part apocalyptic thriller, and it feels so terrifyingly real that I could almost hear the screams as people were dragged into the void.
What impressed me most was how Janz nails the human element. The desperation of John Calhoun, a father shattered by a divorce and then by loss of his family to the unknown finds himself still burning with defiance and grief and love and that is something that hits on a primal level. When the survivors discover a way to pierce the veil, the book shifts gears into full-throttle action, brimming with sacrifice, resilience, and shocking revelations. It’s impossible not to draw parallels to our own world—society under stress, turning inward and fracturing in the face of fear. The way Janz captures those responses, the chaos and the unraveling of humanity, makes this alien invasion story feel eerily believable.
For someone who rarely touches sci-fi and has never read alien fiction, I devoured this novel like oxygen. Janz paints his world so vividly that I could see every detail play out like a film reel in my mind—this book needs to be a movie. Veil is pure adrenaline: action-packed, relentless, and horrifyingly emotional in all the best ways. While it stands alone, the ending left me desperate for more, and I truly hope Janz isn’t done with this world yet.

Just finished a pre-release copy of:

Jonathan Janz: VEIL
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Very, very cool. Quick read and great flow... It's got great characters, sci-fi horror action, quick pacing, and some awesome post-apoc vibes. Lots to love about this book. When you're done reading this, you might even be looking at all your neighbors a little differently too... I am.

NOT A SPOILER, but there's a support character named DEAN and from the start I kept picturing actor Dean Norris from Breaking Bad... which could be great casting if this cool novel ever becomes a film.

Holy crap!! This book was phenomenal! Veil is pure adrenaline from start to finish: action packed, fast paced, and a flawless fusion of SciFi, thriller, and horror. Alien invasion stories have always fascinated and terrified me, and Janz nails that creeping, all consuming dread. The tension here is so thick you could cut it with a blunt spoon.

The writing is razor sharp and the pacing never lets up, but what really elevates the book is the character work. John, our main character, carries an emotional weight and grief that feel raw and real. You’re not just reading about an alien apocalypse, you’re feeling it right alongside him.

I genuinely could not tear my eyes away from the pages. And honestly, how have I never heard of Jonathan Janz before now? If Veil is any indication, his back catalogue just rocketed to the top of my TBR. This is exactly the kind of genre blending I live for. Do not sleep on this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Jonathan Janz, and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

If you all listen to anything I say here, mark my words- THIS WILL BE A MOVIE! Call @netflix because…hello?! I am a HUGE Janz fan. If you haven’t read a novel by Jonathan yet, you are missing out big time.

The concept, world building, character development and overall descriptive nature of this novel had me sat. I read it in basically one sitting and it isn’t a short novel. It is so cinematic I was taken out of this world and placed SMACK DAB into the middle of Johns life. Aliens scare the $h*t out of me and this novel was terrifying. I loved every second of it.

Janz always puts pieces of himself in his work. Parts of his real life are present in this one which made it even more beautiful. Sci-Fi is not really my thing and I will say this is one of the best books I have read all year. I will not forget it and Janz BETTER be writing a Part 2 as we speak because… I need it and I need it now! Thank you @netgalley for my advanced copy!

This was an EXTREMELY good sci fi/horror read.

The themes of loss and grief were almost overpowering at points, but ultimately that was on purpose and forced the reader to think about how THEY themselves would react in such a situation.

People disappear. No, really. People are disappearing left or right. Loved ones. Friends. Coworkers. They’re gone.

John must overcome the sorrow of losing his wife and children to find them, save them, and well.. save the world at the same time.

With a group of survivors (literally, from both injury and abduction), John leads the charge against whatever is targeting humanity.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It's surprisingly hard to find good sci-fi horror, and even harder to find good alien sci-fi horror. But wow, Janz has written a great one.
Veil is fast-paced without sacrificing heart, original while still playing on the established tropes we know and love, and cinematic enough to make me visualize most scenes (not something I can typically do while reading). This is one of those rare gems of a book that I knew would be a favorite while I was reading it.

i absolutely ate this up!!!! 👏👏👏

the writing style, the plot, the characters? everything was well done!!! going to read everything this author writes.

can we get the movie???

Jonathan Jana delivers an absolute thrill ride with this book that also manages to tug on heartstrings and absolutely shock equally. People are going missing and no one knows why, how, or where they are going. At first it seems to only be happening at night, but soon thousands upon thousands are being sucked away by invisible predators. One man has to do everything he can to protect his estranged wife and children, but has to face the reality that he might not be able to protect them when the invaders come for them. This book is absolutely incredible, scary, and contains some truly original and nightmarish imagery!

[Snack-Size Review] Veil, by Jonathan Janz

Quick Bite: An intense family drama. With aliens.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

What It’s About: Hundreds, then thousands, then hundreds of thousands of people are viciously yanked into the sky and disappear, including John’s wife, son, and daughter. John will do anything to get them back, but first he has to figure out how to fight what he can’t see.

A Word From The Nerd: First off, yes, grief horror is having A Moment, and although I think the market is a little (read: a lot) oversaturated, and although this book had a whiff of grief horror about it, I checked it out anyway, and Nerdlings, you should too. Mr. Janz has done more than craft a damn fine set of characters and drop them into a brilliant sci-fi nightmare, he has also held a mirror to us as a society and let me say that what it shows is uncomfortably true.

The Nerd’s Rating: FIVE HAPPY NEURONS (and some treats for Kershaw, he’s a Good Boy.)

The best thing I can say about Jonathan Janz, after having read eight or nine of his books over the years, is that he writes the kinds of books I love to read. They're entertaining, weird, scary, unexpected, action-packed, and they end better than most. He excels in blending genres (Dust Devils, a vampire/western) and taking big swings (The Dismembered, a Gothic horror novella). Veil may be the best book he's written to date.

After one of my favorite shows, Resident Alien, ended last month, I needed some new alien content. Veil did the trick. It's about a husband and father, John, who loses his wife and kids, one by one, to invisible forces that literally drag them away, never to be seen again.

And just like in Resident Alien, one person has the ability to see them — in this case, following a brain injury in a car accident. Now John wants to replicate the same brain trauma (it's a bit of a stretch, but go with it), because he's desperate to bring his family home.

You will fly through this tightly paced book. While it does take its time getting started, it's time well spent on character development. The book concludes leaving you wanting more. Veil could easily be adapted as a movie or streaming series. Highly recommended for sci-fi/action fans.

I don't really know what to say about this one.

It's good. It's really freaking good. It may likely be one of my top reads this year.

People getting taken by the unseen, citizens turned vigilante, rampant theories about what's happening, pure, unadulterated fear.

How far would you go to protect your family or get them back? To what lengths would you extend yourself?

👽👽👽👽👽 Do NOT miss out on this. Releases 9/16.
23m

Jonathan Janz has sci-fi horror nailed down

To call Janz a rising star would be disingenuous to his body of work, but for me, his upcoming release, Veil, was the third book of his I have read and with each one, he's gotten better and better. I think it'll be hard, when I read the rest of his works, to unseat Veil as the best Janz book... for now. I can see a future where Janz has plenty of books superseding this one, but today is not that day because Veil, is a certified banger.

If you have read the Children Of The Dark books, age them up, and make it even more sci-fi, and you'll get something close to Veil, but even that is only scratching the surface of just how awesome this book really is. Janz was firing on all cylinders and you can clearly see the heart and effort he put into it. You can also see how much of himself is riddled throughout these pages and that makes it even better, imo.

Veil is relentlessly intense from the page 1 till the very end. I read it in a few days and couldn't put it down. The way Janz keeps the mystery veiled (hehe) was masterful and the intrigue only grew as the story progressed. Our characters are wonderful and complex and the emotional impact throughout is top-notch. I was crying hard at one point.

On top of all this, Veil is action packed and visually STUNNING. I felt like every scene was playing out right in front of me on the big screen - heart racing, eyes wide open, jaw on the floor.

Veil was an extremely solid 4.5/5 for me and the accompanying chapbook, Stretch-Neck was so awesome, so creepy, and a perfect, necessary backstory to a character in the novel, also a solid 4.5/5.

Veil hits stores everywhere on September 16th!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Veil by Jonathan Janz is a first person-POV sci-fi horror. People have started disappearing without a trace around the world, right in broad daylight and in wide open spaces. When John’s son also disappears on a trip to Insomnia Cookies, John huddles up with his estranged wife and daughter but then his wife disappears and eventually so does his daughter. To get his family back, John will infiltrate the world of the creatures taking the humans and what their plans for them are.

The plot is fairly slow-paced with the blurb covering roughly half of the book. Jonathan Janz spends a decent amount of time building the world and showing how it has changed since the disappearances started happening. The focus on the ways in which the world is falling apart helps make the story feel like it’s happening in the middle of an apocalypse or we’re in the middle of the opening narration of Pacific Rim. The atmosphere and feeling of increasing hopelessness is a big part of the book as well as it all adds to the desperation that leads John into doing everything he does to find his daughter.

When John pairs up with other people who have lost someone, the book moves from an apocalyptic horror into the sci-fi aspects that feel more like the rest of Pacific Rim. It’s very hard to seamlessly shift a novel from one genre to the other, but I think that the book does ultimately fulfill the promises of its premise and the opening pages as well as the promise made by that stunning cover. I wish I had more to say, but I feel that the book is very much what it says on the tin, it takes its time to really build everything up, and then it goes full steam ahead in the second half with the other half of its genre blend.

I would recommend this to fans of apocalyptic horror who also enjoy sci-fi and readers who loved Pacific Rim

This top notch science fiction horror thriller grabs the readers and drags them into a terrifying world that doesn't let go. John, a high school biology teacher who also owns a bookstore sees himself primarily as a dad. His kids are the center of his life. When teens suddenly start disappearing from their town he keeps an even closer eye on his 15 year old son who nonetheless goes around the corner of a building and disappears.

The world as we know it seems to end with invisible aliens snatching people on the streets and highways, John's wife leaves taking their daughter with her. He follows them and witnesses the disruption as the invisible force drags people and parts of people into invisibility. While his wife is taken, he saves his daughter and they hunker down in the family home. In the middle of vigilantes breaking into their home, they discover the aliens can even snatch people from inside the house when they pull his daughter through what looks like a rip in plain air.

Recruited by a group of people with a theory about the alien abductions targeting family members and a plan to rescue their stolen loved ones, he joins them in an adrenaline fueled sortie into another world.

Veil perfectly brings together a mix of realistic horror and science fiction.

It starts with people disappearing, missing persons cases multiplying far more than usual. John Calhoun's son is one of the victims of this epidemic, disappearing in a time so quick that it should be impossible. He tries his hardest to keep the rest of his family safe, but once the disappearances amp up and people begin vanishing in front of others' eyes, it proves harder and harder to keep his wife and daughter by his side. He's determined to stay on this earth and find what happened to them.

This story is told in three acts, each one just as incredible as the last. We're introduced to characters that we love, characters that we loathe, and a plot so intriguing that you can't help but read just one more chapter even when you say you're going to stop. Janz builds tension, terror, suspense, and a world that you can see playing out like a movie in your mind. That being said, if this doesn't get turned into a movie, Hollywood will sorely miss out on something amazing.

Veil is by far my favorite book of the year, and I'm so excited that I'll finally get to talk about it now that it's released!!!

Another fantastic book by Jonathan Janz!

People are disappearing all over the world! Sometimes vanishing right in front of their loved ones. First, John Calhoun's son disappears and then his wife. He hides out with his daughter until she is taken too. He is rescued by a group of survivors who are looking for answers and will do whatever it takes to get their family back. even if it means putting their lives at risk to fight an invisible alien invasion.

This is a very original, action packed story that is not shy on emotions. I was going through it as I read. I was scared, sad, pissed off, frustrated and hopefully. The love that John and the other survivors have for their family is deep and flows off of the pages. I highly recommend this book for all horror and sci-fi lovers.

The hype is reaaaaal. I have seen many others posting about this one so I’ve been pretty stoked to read it. I haven’t read anything by Jonathan Janz prior, but definitely won’t be stopping with Veil. The story was horrifying, original and had a great sci fi vein without being too abstract. Veil is the story of the Calhoun family; John, his estranged wife, Iris and their two teens, Sam and Emma. Sam disappears on a walk with John and soon the Calhouns realize an apocalyptic war has begun with an adversary that cannot be seen. Despite several disappearances being captured on cameras, nothing can detect where or how they are occurring. And swiftly this book delves into a really fantastic blend of horror, thriller and sci fi.

I loved the characters. Janz doesn’t lean heavily into some of the “typical woman” tropes other horror writers may employ. Emma was fantastic. Miranda, Jae, Tommy and Beatrice were all well crafted. I appreciated John as a character. Dude was willing to do anything to save his family and his character arc felt right. I also love love loveddddd when our protagonists go on their journey. Envisioning alternate world possibilities is one of those things that keeps my brain spinning relentlessly (like a really wonky top tbh, not a wheel 🥴).

The ending did feel a bit abrupt. I’m guessing Janz is angling for a sequel with Veil and that will definitely be welcome. One piece of the story reached its resolution, but there are still so many questions and it really feels like this is just an intro to a really dope series. I do hope we get some more from Janz in this world. If you vibe with sci fi horror where you can still keep your feet planted on the ground, give Veil a go. Highly recommend.

Jonathan Janz's Blackstone debut signals a level-up for one of horror's biggest voices. Veil borrows concepts from staples like Bird Box and A Quiet Place, then wraps them in Janz's unique blend of warmth, hostility, and immaculate pacing. The book does a phenomenal job of taking away safety from the characters, leaning into the mantra that there is nowhere you can hide. Veil promises to be one the fall's biggest releases and turn a new swathe of readers onto Mr. Janz.

This book was absolutely perfect. I loved every bit of it. I could hardly put it down. It was quick read and I already can't wait for more. The plot was unique and wild. The characters were easy to follow their story, so you really feel for what they are going through.

Editor’s note: This review/roundup will publish Sept. 27, 2025 in newspapers in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Florida

20 titles: Fiction begins fall with darkness, hope and worlds in between

By Tom Mayer
tmaeyr@rn-t.com

As autumn edges in, an early season’s look at fiction releases beckons with suspense, magic and deeply human reckonings. New titles and new authors invite readers to step into hidden corners of small towns, cross broken realms, face ghosts seen and unseen, and to wrestle with legacy and love. Whether you prefer a page-turning thriller, a lyrical journey of identity or a fantasy rich with myth, this month’s crop offers solace and surprise in equal measure.

Please Don’t Lie (Thomas & Mercer) by Christina Baker Kline & Anne Burt
Hayley Stone moves with her husband to an isolated Adirondack home, hoping to leave tragedy in her past — but the mountains carry darker secrets than she expected. Two years earlier, she lost her parents in a fire and watched her sister succumb to an overdose; now her husband becomes distant, neighbors whisper accusations and trusted friends reveal hidden motives. As winter closes in, Hayley is trapped not just by the landscape, but by the growing sense that someone is watching. What's the appeal: for readers who relish atmospheric tension and intimate psychological twists.

Livewire (Blackstone) by Sarah Raughley
Amanda McKee is a psiot who can command machines and peer into a secret digital realm, but her adoptive father, Toyo Harada, wants to keep that latter power private. When Matsuoka Sho arrives from the future to stop her from destroying humanity, Amanda must decide whether to resist his warning or embrace her full potential. After Harada is kidnapped and dragged into the Digital World, Amanda ventures after him, forced to confront hidden truths. What's the appeal: for sci-fi readers who love power struggles, moral dilemmas and romantic tension.

Tracer (Blackstone) by Brendan Deneen
In a post-virus world where plastic is transformed into oil, resource wars rage and citizens live atop giant landfill cities. Tracer, adopted and raised as a mercenary, is dispatched on a mission to a distant domain, only to discover she’s part of a deeper conspiracy. As she navigates shifting loyalties and hidden danger, her journey becomes one of self-discovery and survival. What's the appeal: for fans of dystopian speculative fiction with action and intrigue.

Into the Storms: A Hell Divers Prequel (Blackstone) by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
Centuries before the Hell Divers, the Machine War lays waste to Earth and three men confront its aftermath: Tyron Red inherits his father’s industrial empire and fights to reverse the devastation; Santiago Rodriguez returns to family life only to be drawn back into conflict in Korea; and Cecil Pepper and his wife retreat to the North Carolina mountains, unaware that dormant machines are stirring. When peace collapses and ancient threats awaken, these three must face enemies that seek humanity’s extinction. What's the appeal: for lovers of high-stakes sci-fi and world-building origin tales.

The Board (Blackstone) by Katy Farber
Liv relocates with her daughter to a small New Hampshire town after divorce and job loss, only to find local school politics more hostile than she anticipated. Her daughter struggles under a strict, army-like regime, and Liv begins to suspect that the school board is using intimidation and coercion to silence dissent. When she digs deeper, she faces legal battles, personal grief and community resistance. What's the appeal: for readers interested in domestic thrillers, conspiracies in small towns and maternal resolve.

Tiger’s Trek (Blackstone Publishing) by Colleen Houck
In the second volume of the Tiger’s Tale series (set in the Tiger’s Curse universe), five companions enter the dreamworld filled with shadow monsters and magical threats. To stop the ruthless Draughtsman, they must confront their fears, forge alliances, and unlock the secret power of tigers. Their quest becomes a race against time to restore balance to both their empire and the natural world. What’s the appeal: for fans of fantasy epics, magical beasts and devotion in the face of danger.

The Grave Artist (Thomas & Mercer) by Jeffery Deaver and Isabella Maldonado
At a wedding reception, one newlywed dies under suspicious circumstances, but what seems an accident is part of a darker pattern. Carmen Sanchez and Jake Heron unravel clues pointing to a serial killer who crafts macabre installations from graves, targeting both survivors and the bereft. As the “Honeymoon Killer” turns his attention toward them, they must race to stay one step ahead of a killer who treats grief as art. What's the appeal: for readers of forensic thrillers, psychological suspense and chilling twists.

Waseem (Arcade) by Lilas Taha
In a Lebanese refugee camp, Waseem, disabled and mostly nonverbal, builds a world of small routines and deep feelings, especially for his friend, Ameena. They share hope and quiet dreams of returning to Palestine, even as reality presses in. Their bond is tested by obstacles both internal and external in a story that blends pain, wit and resilience. What's the appeal: for readers who value emotional depth, stories of exile, and the strength found in human connection.

You Are the Detective: The Creeping Hand Murder (Ten Speed Press) by Maureen Johnson and Jay Cooper
London, November 1933: seven strangers receive cryptic letters and gather in a grand home, where one is fatally stabbed in front of the group — and none claim responsibility. The reader is invited to parse letters, witness statements and clues to unmask a murderer who seems to have acted invisibly. The format weaves narrative and puzzle, urging readers to become the sleuth themselves. What's the appeal: for mystery fans who love interactive stories, classic whodunits and theatrical intrigue.

Veil (Blackstone) by Jonathan Janz
Strange vanishings begin at night and in daylight — people ripped from homes, parks and the skies with bodies never again seen. John Calhoun loses his wife, then his son and then fights to save his daughter alongside a group of survivors with unusual perceptive abilities. They believe a brain injury can open vision into a hidden realm, giving them a chance to detect and fight unseen invaders. What's the appeal: for those who relish creeping terror, supernatural threat and emotional urgency.

Fiend (Putnam) by Alma Katsu
The powerful Berisha family has long seemed untouchable — but their wealth is bound to an ancient, malevolent force. As cracks in their legacy emerge, each sibling must reckon with secrets, ambitions and a curse that might undo them all. What once seemed a blessing now threatens everything they hold dear. What’s the appeal: for readers drawn to family drama intertwined with horror, moral ambiguity and symbolic evil.

Circle of Days (Grand Central Publishing) by Ken Follett
Amid Bronze Age Britain, Seft the flint miner journeys across plains in hope and fear; Joia, his beloved’s sister, is a priestess with a vision to bring people together. As drought looms and tribes quarrel, Joia dreams of uniting them through the building of a monumental stone circle … a la Stonehenge? But tensions escalate into violence and betrayal, and the dream of unity teeters on disaster. What's the appeal: for historical fiction readers with an appetite for epic scope, mythic ambition and deep human stakes.

The Mysterious Bookshop Presents the Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2025 (Penzler) edited by John Grisham
From more than 3,000 eligible stories published in the past year, John Grisham curates 20 of the finest mystery and suspense tales, spanning styles from classic detective puzzles to psychological thrillers. The anthology includes both celebrated names and emerging voices, capped by a “bonus story” from the bookshop’s rare archives. What's the appeal: for those who enjoy short mysteries, discovering new authors and seeing how varied a single genre can be.

Crooks (William Morrow) by Lou Berney
The Mercurio clan’s crime legacy drives this multi-decade saga: siblings wrestle with identity, ambition, escape and blood ties across settings from Las Vegas to Moscow. Buddy and Lillian begin as small-time criminals; their children — Jeremy, Tallulah, Ray, Alice and Piggy — each must navigate their role in the family and decide whether they can break free. Betrayal, loyalty and the seductive pull of power ripple through generations. What's the appeal: for readers who favor sprawling crime sagas, morally complex characters and family secrets.

Shadowman (Blackstone) by Shola Adedeji
Jack Boniface abandons his voodoo-rooted New Orleans past for rationalism in New York — until supernatural visions force him home. Beneath the city lies the Deadside, warred over by voodoo gods. When Freda, a central Lwa, disappears, the balance between worlds falters and Jack discovers he may hold the mantle of Shadowman, charged with maintaining equilibrium. He must control new powers and face spiritual conflict to save his city. What's the appeal: for urban fantasy lovers and readers drawn to mythic lore and cultural depth.

The Secret of Orange Blossom Cake (Berkley) by Rachel Linden
Jules Costa, a social media chef, returns to her family’s olive farm in Italy when professional disaster forces her to rely on her roots. Her Nonna’s magical cookbook reveals only one recipe at a time, concealing the lost orange blossom cake recipe tied to family secrets and her future. Amid heartbreak, reconciliation and gastronomic magic, Jules must decide whether she can heal old wounds — and reclaim her dreams. What's the appeal: for readers who savor food, heartwarming transformation and a touch of enchantment.

The Formidable Miss Cassidy (Harper Perennial) by Meihan Boey
A Scottish governess in 1890s Singapore, Miss Cassidy carries extraordinary skills in languages, crisis management — and the uncanny ability to face supernatural forces. When hired by a Chinese widower whose family is cursed, she confronts demonic influences, spirits and unexpected feelings of the heart. Her wit, bravery and inherent mystery guide her through. What’s the appeal: for fans of historical fantasy, strong female leads and stories where societal constraints meet the supernatural.

Play Nice (Berkley) by Rachel Harrison
Clio Louise Barnes, a stylist and influencer with a carefully curated life, inherits her childhood home after her mother’s sudden death. While her sisters view the house as the site of old wounds, Clio sees a chance to turn it into a glossy renovation project for her brand. But as she digs into her mother’s writings and the family’s past, she begins to suspect the house may hold darker forces than she ever admitted. What's the appeal: for readers who enjoy a blend of psychological suspense, family drama and supernatural chills.

Reacher: The Stories Behind the Stories (Mysterious Press) by Lee Child
Lee Child pulls back the curtain on his Jack Reacher series with a collection of essays tracing the origins of each novel he wrote solo. From the debut of “The Killing Floor” in 1997 to “Blue Moon” in 2019, Child shares the inspirations, personal moments and global events that shaped his enduring action hero. The book also features a brand-new Reacher short story, the first entirely written by Child in years, along with reflections from crime fiction authority Otto Penzler. What's the appeal: for longtime Reacher fans as well as readers curious about the craft and career of one of crime fiction’s biggest names.

Sisters in the Wind (Henry Holt and Co.) by Angeline Boulley
Lucy Smith has spent years dodging the foster system, clinging to the idea of freedom even as it keeps her rootless and alone. When a determined caseworker and his formidable ally track her down, they reveal long-buried truths about her Ojibwe heritage, her siblings and the family she never knew she had. But with dangerous figures from her past closing in, Lucy must decide whether to keep running or fight for the home and future she has always longed for. What’s the appeal: for readers who are drawn to fast-paced stories of identity, resilience and the enduring strength of family bonds.

Veil is a captivating read that draws you in from the very first page. The story is beautifully written, with vivid descriptions that make every scene come alive. The characters are well-developed and relatable, making their journeys both engaging and emotional. The plot unfolds with just the right balance of tension and surprise, keeping you eager to see what happens next. Overall, it’s a compelling and memorable book that I highly recommend.

I know we’ve been hearing a lot about this book lately, but it’s THAT good! I’m up to 133 books for 2025, and I can easily say that Veil by Jonathan Janz is in my top 5 of the year.

When John’s son goes missing, he is devastated and is determined to do whatever it takes to find him. But when people start vanishing to the point there aren’t many left, he realizes there’s a lot more to these mysterious disappearances than he originally thought. Where are they going? Can they be saved? He sets out with a group of survivors in search of their loved ones, only to discover a terrifying new world and the shocking mystery behind the disappearances. Everything about this book is incredible - the story, the writing, the nail-biting ending. Definitely recommend picking this one up!

Ok, I have to be really honest. I thought this book was going to be a really cheesy sci-fi version of War of the Worlds. I have a deep love of cheesy sci-fi movies, so I would’ve been happy with that. This ended up being so much better. I was hooked from the very beginning. It reminded me a bit of the movie The Darkest Hour, except instead of the aliens disintegrating people, they just make them disappear. But where do they go? Are they just dead? Well, things aren’t that simple, or the book wouldn’t be over 300 pages. I am so jazzed about this book! It was fantastic! The author clearly did his homework with the science aspects of it, and the direction he went with it was nothing less than spectacular. The characters were all so so good, and when they take the fight to the aliens—as they must do in every alien invasion books—Janz took it to another level. Brilliant. Really great stuff. The ending did leave some question as to whether or not this would be a series, and if so, I would love it! I will definitely be reading the next one if there is one coming!

Huge thanks to Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

A truly fun read. VEIL is an apocalyptic alien invasion story, full of Earth-shattering existential horror, but the scope is intimate: just a man hoping to protect (and then rescue) his family. Just, in this case, from another dimension. Almost cinematic pacing, memorable cast of characters, relatable, naturalistic humor – the protagonist John's terrible relationship with his in-laws, conversations with his daughter, or rage towards power-drunk HOA members – I just really enjoyed this story and think Jonathan Janz did a great job in rolling out this world and narrative. Feels like the book concludes with an openness to a sequel which I really hope Jonathan considers.

Everyone needs to read this book. I am not a huge sci-fi fan, but this one won me over. I chuckled at parts, I cried, I had my fingers crossed for the characters. I loved the slow unfolding horror about what was happening. I don't even know how to properly review this book! I want to reread it again already.

John is walking with his son, Sam, and they are fighting. Sam rounds the corner and then he is gone. What follows is mayhem, as more and more people disappear. First just at night, but soon in the day, from out of the air, from homes. Nowhere is safe. John will do anything to protect his family. The atmosphere, the pacing, everything was just right in this book. Alien and alien-like forces terrify me and this book did nothing to comfort me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Jonathan Janz and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC!

5 stars

Couldn’t put it down. Definitely played out like a movie in my head, I would love to see a movie adaptation in the future.

Whether intentional or not, I enjoyed the subtle commentary on how the world was during covid lockdowns. Usually, I have a hard time enjoying content that hints at covid times but this book did it really well.
I wanted a more concrete ending on the story but it seems like it’s been set up for a sequel which is something to look forward to and I really hope comes to fruition. Can’t wait to read more books by Jonathan Janz. His writing has me hooked.

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this digital arc.

Janz is a master of his craft. He has written an incredibly believable scifi horror.  When people start to vanish and push society to the edge. The action was non stop, the emotion is heart felt, and the characters are so relatable. This was an extremely fun and engaging read that will keep in flipping the pages.

When people start disappearing by the thousands, dragged away rapture style by some unseen predator, John Calhoun tries his best to stay calm and rational and protect his family. After losing them one at a time despite his best efforts, he runs into a group of science-minded survivors who are determined to fight back and quickly joins their cause.

This book was an easy five star for me. It's so hard to do crazy premises in a way that feels real, but Janz does it masterfully. Setting the stage by creating a societal collapse that feels very much like the start of the pandemic, you are immediately fully bought in and won't be able to put it down. While this one is definitely sci-fi horror, I'd recommend it across the board if you like action or a good everyday hero.