We Are For the Dark
by Gretchen McNeil
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Pub Date Sep 01 2026 | Archive Date Aug 24 2026
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Description
What starts as a missing person investigation morphs into something much darker when an FBI-agent-turned-Catholic-priest and a junior constable arrive on a remote Newfoundland island
This murder-mystery-turned-nail-biting-horror is perfect for fans of religious horror like The Possession of Alba Díaz and the cult-classic movie The Wicker Man.
An isolated town. A missing priest. An ancient, hungry darkness.
When Father Shane Ryan is summoned to a meeting with His Eminence Cardinal Jacobs, he’s confused. A recently ordained priest at a small Maryland parish, Father Ryan has no idea why His Eminence would want to meet him. When he arrives, the Cardinal opens by laying out Father Ryan’s past as an FBI analyst. It seems a priest has gone missing, and the case is…unusual.
Weeks ago, Constable Miriam Rideout from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary fielded a frantic call from a priest on a remote Newfoundland island. He begged for help, but then the line went dead, and no one has since been reported missing. When permission to perform a wellness check is denied by her superiors, Miriam takes some vacation time and books a ticket on the ferry.
Thrown together with friendly but cagey locals, Miriam and Father Ryan soon learn that something about the island isn’t right. There’s a fishing port without boats, a town with no stores and no cars, and strange, bulbous purple wildflowers are growing everywhere. The two don’t trust each other, but they begin to learn that an alliance, however uneasy, is a necessity. Because something evil lurks beneath the island—something ancient, eternal, hungry—and neither it nor the uncanny islanders have any intention of letting these newcomers leave.
A growing sense of dread intensifies until it explodes in this pulse-pounding supernatural horror.
Marketing Plan
- National print and online publicity campaign
- Launch event in LA
- Cover launch on Ginger Nuts of Horror
- ARC mailings to booksellers, librarians, media, and influencers
- Giveaways on Goodreads and Storygraph
- Summerween and Spooky Season promotion
- Social ads targeting readers of religious horror and A24 films
Average rating from 27 members
Featured Reviews
Travis B, Reviewer
We Are For the Dark
By Gretchen McNeil
Pub Date: Sep 01 2026
This book starts out as a mystery but flips the script into a horror novel. I don't see that very often it was a surprise for me. I really liked this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the opportunity to read this book early in return for my honest review.
Courtney J, Reviewer
This book wasn’t anything I expected. It was really good. The ending was very sad but good at the same time. It makes you question how far you’re willing to go for someone you love. Would you sacrifice yourself to save them? How things are deeply rooted in tradition and it can be impossible to break.
Bookish K, Reviewer
⛪️ We Are For the Dark ⛪️
📖 Bookish Thoughts
I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.
🩸 What to Expect
• Religious horror
• Remote island
• Missing priest
• Folk horror
• Ancient evil
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: September 1, 2026
📝 Thank you to DAW and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Reviewer 1563772
We Are for the Dark is a blend of gothic mystery and subtle horror that kept me fully engaged from start to finish. The atmospheric descriptions of the island create an immediate sense of unease and the villagers cryptic, unsettling response only deepen the tension. The pacing is great. It is slow and deliberate in a way that allows the dread to build naturally as the mystery unfolds. The relationship between Miriam and Shane develops in a way that enhances the story instead of distracting from the central mystery. It adds emotional depth without taking away from the suspense. I think fans of the movies Midsommar and The Wickerman would appreciate this book. While I enjoyed the journey, the ending didn't land for me. I obviously wanted a different ending but it was understood why it had to be that way. Overall, I would recommend this book and would be interested in reading more from this author.
Michelle L, Bookseller
I was captivated by this book after reading the first line in the summary.
The atmosphere in this story is top-notch. As a Canadian, I really enjoy stories that take place in my country, but this one was just incredible with its isolation and history. Fantastic dual-approach between the priest and the officer. Great backstory for both!
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this story, but I loved it. Will definitely recommend my customers at the store to pick up a copy!
Sam S, Reviewer
This is a creepy religious thriller novel, the rich descriptive writing style perfectly serves up tension. I felt it was well paced and kept you guessing where the story was heading. It works well as a horror / crime cross genre, I really enjoyed it and highly recommend.
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